Thread: Square "D" breakers

Have square d breakers always been clearly marked with a "D" on the breaker? Had a panel today that they looked like square d breakers, however they were not marked with the typically yellow "D". Don't know the age of the panel or breakers.

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Richard,

Not sure. Might be a counterfeit.

Connecticut Electric Recalls Counterfeit Square D Circuit Breakers Due To Fire Hazard

Cutler-Hammer & Siemens have UL "Classified" replacement breakers for SQ D QO frame breakers.

Only in recent years has the labeling been in color. Older Square D were completely black.

Originally Posted by Rollie Meyers

Cutler-Hammer & Siemens have UL "Classified" replacement breakers for SQ D QO frame breakers.

If they are not listed for use in the panel, by the panel manufacturer, and listed on the panel as acceptable for use in the panel - they are not allowed to be used.

Ken,you re-open an endless debate, one that cen only be settled by whom you want to believe.

The opinion you express is the one put forward, with great vigor, by Square D. Even assuming that their opinion is valid, it would apply only to Square D producte.

"Classified" breakers are perfevtly fine to put in the panel, regardless of whatever the sticker on the panel says. That, at least, is the opinion of UL, and applied to all breakers that are 'classified' specifically for the purpose of going into someone else's panel. Naturally, UL's opinion applies only to products listed by UL - which happens to cover Square D, as well as most other makes.

Now, not every breaker with a UL lable is classified for use in panels of anothers' make. For example, there is a near certainty that you'll not see a GE breaker that has been evaluated for use in a Homeline (Square D) pnel; it just happens to fit. By contrast, a breaker made by Cutler-Hammer that happens to fit in a Square D panel has almost certainly been classified by UL for that specific purpose, as ordinary Cutler-Hammer breakers will not fit into Square D panels.

This 'cross listing' of breakers is one area where the trade has done a 180 .... before (appx) 1995, no one had ever submitted breakers to UL for evaluation in panels made by others. Now such a submittal is routine.

Personally, I'll take the opinion of UL over that of Square D any day.

It's a lot easier to get valid opinions when you provide a photo of the item in question along with an establishing shot of the area around it.