Reconditioned Circuit Breakers - Are They Safe?
Sometimes a governmental safety alert is publicized, and it gets people talking and rumours spreading regarding the safety of a certain product or sometimes even the practices of an entire industry. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the United States Department of Labor, released such an alert in the fall of 2011. Entitled Incorrectly Refurbished Circuit Breakers, the alert describes how a third-party electronic equipment rebuilder modified certain Eaton/Cutler-Hammer moulded-case circuit breakers while incorrectly refurbishing them. Some of the safety issues cited regarding these third-party 600 volt and 1000 volt suspect breakers include:
Circuit breakers have been altered from the original manufacturer’s design
The rebuilder reproduced exterior labels on cases in an attempt to make them look new and authentic
Frames for both 600-volt and 1000-volt units contain parts of unknown origin and specs
1000-volt covers may have been assembled onto units rated at only 600 volts
Breakers show no indication of having been approved by a nationally recognized testing organization
Conclusion: These knock-off, counterfeit, bogus breakers are a safety risk and should not be used, due to their inherent danger. OSHA recommended pulling them out of service as soon as possible.
Reconditioned Circuit Breaker - Safe to Use?
Because of instances like this, some have questioned the safety of buying and utilizing a reconditioned circuit breaker. The fact is, not only are properly reconditioned circuit breakers safe but in some instances may be even safer than new ones. This is evidenced by the number of brand-new units that have been recalled by their manufacturers as a result of improper performance or risk of fire danger. You can see examples of some of these recalls here.
Here at Civic Recycling, we pride ourselves on our unrelenting attention to detail and dedication to providing unparalleled quality in all our products and services. For more than two decades we’ve brought our customers only the best and that’s certainly helped us in becoming Canada’s number one circuit breaker provider, offering not only the largest selection anywhere but also giving fair and reasonable prices that save our clients money every day.
The Ultimate in Recycling - Circuit Breaker Reconditioning
Reconditioning electrical equipment has been called the ultimate form of recycling. It’s not only good for the environment, but it’s good for your business and your bottom line too. Companies have been using our reconditioned circuit breakers for decades with total confidence. The importance of having the equipment reconditioned by a qualified, certified firm, however, cannot be overstated.
Our highly-trained, PEARL-certified technicians are experts at disassembling, cleaning, analyzing, reassembling and then performing testing and conducting the final inspection on all types of electrical equipment, circuit breakers included. Each circuit breaker we refurbish goes out the door with a written test report, a unique, associated tracking number and a 100%, unconditional, one-year guarantee.
PEARL, which stands for Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League, has become an important force in the industry since its inception in 1997. We wholeheartedly subscribe to their stated mission of bringing the desired distinction of quality, safety and integrity to their members’ customers, with the safety of the end user representing their #1 priority.
Reconditioned Circuit Breaker from Civic Recycling – A Good Idea
Our testing and reconditioning procedures meet or exceed standards set out by PEARL, NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and NETA (InterNational Electrical Testing Association).
Having PEARL-certified technicians in house here at Civic Recycling sets us totally apart from all others in Canada. PEARL is an ANSI-accredited Standards Developer. ANSI, or the American National Standards Institute, was established in 1918 and has been setting industry standards longer than any organization.