Electrical Wiring in the Home/electrical panel

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Expert: Bill Lutz - 6/3/2008


Question
QUESTION: My electrical panel box is "Siemens" brand and I have 22 breakers in it that are "Challenger" brand.  Nothing was brought to my attention during home inspection prior to purchase of this home built in 1996 but a licensed electrician said this was wrong and couldn't believe it wasn't found during inspection.  Is this true?  Is this against code in Georgia? What can happen if not changed?  Thank you.

ANSWER: Technically it is wrong because the panel boxes are only UL listed or tested with their own brand of breakers in them.

I not sure of the exact way the industry developed but I belive that Challenge was the first brand to make that style of breaker. Then every one else backwards engineered their breaker to fit in each other boxes.

This is a very common condition. I personally would not lose any sleep over it but if you want follow the letter of the law the breakers should match the panel.

Bill Lutz
Generation 3 Electric, Inc.
www.Generation3electric.com
http://electrician-in-philadelphia.blogspot.com/

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What problems can arise from having different breakers & panel?

Answer
In 20 years I have not come across any real problems but I'm not a testing agency. I know there are still a lot of old timer electricians that do that sort thing regularly. "What breaker is on sale this week"

It has only been recently that home inspectors and some electrician are pointing this out to home owners. It is technically correct that the breaker and the box should match. It makes home inspector look like they know what they are doing and for electricians it is a good up sell.

I have not seen the ill consequences from breakers that magically fit into the panel boxes of different manufactures. I would think that if it was really a bad thing and people were getting hurt there would have been some major law and manufactures would not copy each other. I personally believe this is just a marketing scheme but as I said before I'm not the testing agency.

Bill Lutz
Generation 3 Electric, Inc.
www.Generation3electric.com
http://electrician-in-philadelphia.blogspot.com/
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Electrical Wiring in the Home

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Bill Lutz

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Any questions about being an electrician or doing electrical work. I can help advise people on their wiring needs, what kind of outlets and switcher to use, explain what an electrical service is and how their breakers work. I can also help them with their lighting needs. . I CAN HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR LOOKING AT.

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My Father apprenticed to his Father-and I apprenticed to mine, repeating an invaluable tradition of child labor and a great place to learn a trade. Beginning at the age of 13, I worked with my dad every weekend and summer vacation in homes throughout Philadelphia repairing and rewiring all levels of residential electrical systems. Studying electrical engineering and earning a degree in architecture has given me a solid advantage in solving the myriad of residential electrical problems. Generation 3 Electrical, Inc. takes pride in every job - building confidence by how we do things - by being prompt, thorough and leaving every job site finished and clean.

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