Surge/Transient supperssors
I am planning retrofit a couple three panels with surge breakers. One is a Seimens panel, the others are GE. There are some pretty good web prices on surge breakers — well less than retail. The question is, can Murray, Seimens, or GE breakers be used in boxes by other manufacturers? In other words, if I get a good buy on three Seimens surge breakers, can I put two of them in my two GE panels?
Replies
I don't know the answer to your specific question, but you can buy a surge supressor from Intermatic that you install in the panel and it protects the whole house. It was only $40 a few years ago.
There are two different kinds of panel mount surge suppressors. One type takes a 240V breaker slot and is obviously panel-specific. The other mounts to the side of the box (kind of like a doorbell transformer) and is tied to the bus bars. So long as you can make the required bus bar connections, this second type should be insensitive to the brand of box.
Having said that, the suppressor may only be LISTED for a specific style of box.
Thanks, guys. I know about the external mount suppressors, but would prefer not to use them for this application, because if they were to explode, they would possibly start fires in my flush-mounted, in-closet main panels.
So, it looks as thogh I am stuck with panel specific breakers. I feared that was the case.
J
I think there is one variety that mounts on the side of the panel inside. Never seen them, but heard them described.And if you're really that paranoid about one exploding, build a box around it.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
The question is, can Murray, Seimens, or GE breakers be used in boxes by other manufacturers?
Maybe. The breaker must be listed for use in the panel. You'll need to check with the manufacturers. 'can probably find this info on their web sites.