I just bought a house that never had a clothing drier. So since I do not have Gas service, I purchased a brand new Electric Drier. Now I need to run electric for the drier and it calls for a 30 AMP circuit breaker. The home was recently upgraded to a 200 AMP Service and the circuit box in the utility room is the brand "Challenger". I noticed that one of the other 30 AMP breakers had the code "C230" on it. Do I need a Challenger C230 brand breaker or are there other kinds that I can get. My local Lowe’s and Home Depot do not carry that brand.
2006-07-05 07:37:09 · 7 answers · asked by Nemo 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The other posters are NOT CORRECT. You cannot use any brand you like, or fits, etc.
How experienced are you with electrical work? The higher the amperage and bigger the wire, the more likely a bad installation will cause problems. A lot of people with no clue get away with it on 15A circuits. If you don't know what you are doing, get an electrician.
You need 10/3 wire for the dryer, and 4 terminal outlets (2 hot, neutral, and separate ground) are required now. You say it was just upgraded to a Challenger brand? I don't believe that. Challenger is obsolete, not anything recent. Anyway, you cannot use just any breaker in a panel, even if it physically fits. There is no point taking an existing breaker someplace to find one that is the same.
There should be a label on the panel that says what kind of breakers it takes. Probably just the C series from Challenger. If you can find the C230, that would be the first choice. However, the link I provided below says the Cutler Hammer BR breaker can be used in any Challenger panel. Note that Cutler Hammer has 2 lines, do not get the CH breaker (it wouldn't fit anyway).
In general, if you cannot get what the panel says (and there are other cases that a different company makes the same breaker, for example ITE panels take Siemens breakers), the other choice is a "classified" breaker. This breaker will specifically list the panels it can be used in. You CANNOT use another breaker, even if it physically fits.
As far as I know, Square D, Cutler Hammer, Siemens, and GE are the only makers of these products today.
2006-07-06 03:43:38 · answer #1 · answered by An electrical engineer 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Kathleen, Bluedog and Robert are correct. You need only be concerned that you have the correct style and correct amperage. GE has their own proprietary style (which costs more). Most others have a standard hook and clip style. Simply turn off your main power switch, remove a breaker that you can leave turned off for awhile, take it to your local hardware (or Home Depot) store and tell them you need a 30 amp, two pole 220 breaker in the same style. It sounds like you know what you are doing since you are doing your own wiring, but nonetheless, be sure you turn off your main breaker switch each time you enter the box.
2006-07-05 22:17:17 · answer #2 · answered by bb22251 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my GE panel I have Challenger breakers. It is the "type" that matters. You will need a 'double pole' / 'single throw' 30 amp breaker. Most likely Home Depot will have one that fits that very popular style (type)
2006-07-05 17:36:59 · answer #3 · answered by StayBeZe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to work for an electrical contractor. To the best of my knowledge, you have to use a challenger compatible breaker. Of course Challenger makes breakers for their panels. You need to make sure the breaker is compatible with the bussing/mounting hardware in the panel you are adding it to. Stab-Lok comes to my mind, but any good local electrical supply house could probably help you out. Trying looking in your local phone book -- we used to shop quite a bit at Grainger, Graybar, CED, and Pacific Coast Breaker (to name a few).
You also need to make sure that you can add a 30 amp circuit to your service. If you overload your panel, you are aksing for trouble!
2006-07-05 14:48:06 · answer #4 · answered by Barney's Betty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
about 90% of the breakers made today are made to fit several brands of breaker box. The other 10% are old out dated boxes. so pick the brand you like best and use that.
2006-07-05 18:22:59 · answer #5 · answered by Robert E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you do so it will fit in the box properly. Most Electrical outlet stores have them. (call first) The price will most likely beat the ones at Lowe's or Home Depot. If you have any other questions, ask the guys at Home Depot, even if they don't sell the brand, they are suppose to answer your questions properly and I find that they normally do.
2006-07-05 14:47:06 · answer #6 · answered by redhotboxsoxfan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if the breaker can not be matched by name have one removed by a qualified person and take it to your retailer, sometimes you can get square d or cutler hammer breakers to replace a generic type, what you are looking for is to match up how the breakers snap or bolt on you will need to match this up
2006-07-05 14:48:24 · answer #7 · answered by bluedog_scubadog 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋