Should we advise the customer to opt for a full panel swap due to faulty breakers in a 70s construction, or just replace them with Eaton BRs?
Asked by Carole Barnett 
6 months ago
Last Updated: June 7, 2024
Hey guys, I have a question for you. I’ve noticed that some of our breakers aren’t working properly, either not tripping at all or not disconnecting faulty connections downstream. It seems like the breakers themselves might be faulty. Since this panel is from the 1970s, do you think we should suggest a full panel replacement to the customer? Or should we just replace the faulty breakers with Eaton BRs, even though they aren’t specifically listed for this panel?
Wow, can you believe that panel? It definitely needs to be replaced right away!
Realizes he bid too low.
Let’s hope we don’t accidentally get paint on the cover.
Thinks they should have had something covering it, even if it was just cardboard, before painting.
I mean, it’s just surprising to me that they would bother to take off the cover and then paint the bus.
Mentions that painters usually stuff paper in there.
Slowly step back and get in touch with an Electrician.
The BR series is considered a suitable replacement for Bryant according to Eaton documents. Those Bryant units appear to be in good condition. When you mention ‘down the line,’ I find it confusing as to whether the issue is related to overload or overheating, regardless of the fault location.
I seem to recall that you’re not supposed to clean the bus bars! It’s been a while since I was in the industry, so things may have changed since then!
I would definitely change the panel first. And you know what? I really don’t trust those colored handled Bryant breakers. I’ve come across a bunch of them that just won’t trip. They tend to get super hot, arc, and end up burning up. So whenever I encounter these specific breakers, I always switch them out with Eaton BR. I once had a panel full of those breakers and some circuits weren’t functioning. They looked okay from the front, but as soon as you took them off, they were all burnt up and falling apart where they connect to the buss. But going back to my original point, just replace the panel.
Just keep in mind that there will be challenges when replacing that panel. Some wires might give you trouble. But go ahead and swap out the panel.
Just go ahead and replace it to avoid any further issues.
Rip out that nonsense and put in something new. Add new branch circuits and try to reuse the existing conduit to save some money.
If you have a Bryant panel, using Eaton BR products is a good idea. However, it seems like that panel may have some larger issues to address.
The panel needs to be replaced
Consider hiring a professional for the job.
I think the NEC would be a good guideline to use here.
Definitely swap it out. I can’t even imagine the issues that thing has. Swap it out, swap it out, swap it out.
You can’t use Bryant breakers anymore because they’re not UL listed. Switch to Eaton BR breakers instead.
Switching out the entire panel
Hey, just so you know, any electrician offering advice on here might be legally responsible
Upgrade
Make sure to replace all breakers, unless the buss is burning. Remember, breakers are the items that wear out over time.
I mean, why would the client want to change the panel when the entire building likely needs to be torn down and rebuilt?