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How long should breakers last?

Posted on 1/16/23 at 5:37 pm
Posted by drfeelgood
Member since Jun 2007
3375 posts
Posted on 1/16/23 at 5:37 pm
Our home is 4 years old. Over the last 6 months, I’ve had to replace 3 arc fault breakers. They run about $75 each. I have a Cutler Hammer panel and it uses Eaton breakers.

My wife is concerned we have some electrical problems, but if the breaker trips, then it’s doing it’s job.

Should I chalk this up to “they don’t make things like they use to” or seek a professional?
Posted by TaderSalad
mudbug territory
Member since Jul 2014
24697 posts
Posted on 1/16/23 at 6:16 pm to
Arc fault is more moving pieces than traditional and more wear and tear.

Is it the same 3 or 3 fifteenth ones?
Posted by kengel2
Team Gun
Member since Mar 2004
30939 posts
Posted on 1/16/23 at 6:54 pm to
Arcfault breakers suck. Especially, the ones that were first available which may very well be what's in your house.
Posted by mingoswamp
St. Louis
Member since Aug 2017
968 posts
Posted on 1/16/23 at 10:16 pm to
Not that is has anything to do with your situation, but you'd be surprised to find out every breaker, receptacle, and switch in your house could be tightened a quarter of a turn minimum.
Posted by TTU97NI
Celina, TX
Member since Mar 2017
1125 posts
Posted on 1/19/23 at 9:50 am to
Try MI Eaton and there has been a recall on breakers, Lots of people in our hood have contacted them and gotten 6-8 free in the mail. Its on my to do list as I have had 4 go faulty over the 5 years we have lived here. Make sure you contact the US part of Eaton and not the Africa one as someone noted in our hood FB page.
Posted by AwgustaDawg
CSRA
Member since Jan 2023
7327 posts
Posted on 1/19/23 at 12:21 pm to
quote:

Our home is 4 years old. Over the last 6 months, I’ve had to replace 3 arc fault breakers. They run about $75 each. I have a Cutler Hammer panel and it uses Eaton breakers.

My wife is concerned we have some electrical problems, but if the breaker trips, then it’s doing it’s job.

Should I chalk this up to “they don’t make things like they use to” or seek a professional?


Arc fault breakers are designed to fail and will do so in 3-5 years almost 100% of the time. They ought to be outlawed and the AHJs should prevent their use in their jurisdiction....they are garbage and the ONLY thing positive to come from them is Siemens was able to get in on the ground floor of the most recent debacle in the NEC when they missed out on the GFI windfall back in the day. Thats a fact....there are reams of paper and articles written on the subject. They have not prevented a single fire or injury that can be documented and the number of such incidents that they could prevent, at best, is minimal. What ain't minimal is the number of service calls consumers are faced with....very expensive service calls. They are a load of BS that the unexpected public was saddled with for no reason other than Siemens missed out on the initial economic windfall that was GFIs.
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