The breaker to our bedroom is bad and needs to be replaced. It is a Siemons GFI 20amp breaker and I want to know if I can switch it out for a cheaper breaker.
2007-01-30 13:57:59 · 7 answers · asked by aliceannwonderland 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
You should stay with the Siemens, they are a very good brand. when you replace a breaker, many times you don't have alot of choice because different manufacturers use different styles. Also, it may be a situation where you get what you pay for, a cheap after market may be less effective, cause nuisance trips, or even not work when they really need to.
2007-01-30 14:07:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
making it simple , yes you can, but not reccomended because there are a lot of different types of breakers and you don't know if they are rated the same, if you pick the wrong one you have a pretty good chance of having to go to the hardware store and buy the original one. also as an advice you should check why that breaker became bad there could be more that just a bad breaker to it.
2007-01-30 14:30:48 · answer #2 · answered by carlitus23 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why do you have a GFCI breaker for your bedroom? Does the same branch circuit also go to a bathroom or the kitchen? If you determine that the branch does NOT go to a bathroom or kitchen, you can probably replace the GFCI breaker with a conventional breaker at half the price. But I would stay with Siemens.
2007-01-30 16:30:30 · answer #3 · answered by Tech Dude 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I kind of doubt it. The new breaker will have to fit back in the same panel and I don't know if you can install one brand of breaker into another brand of panel. I suspect the cost is due to the GFI part of breaker. Which is a ground fault breaker, for safety around water, used in bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor outlets.
2007-01-30 14:08:20 · answer #4 · answered by Roadkill 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Your breaker is expensive because it is a GFCI (ground fault current interrupter) which is probably protecting your bathroom.
If your bath is on a separate circuit, it would be safe to replace it with a cheaper, non-GFCI breaker (made by the same company, to fit your power panel),
2007-01-30 16:21:52 · answer #5 · answered by I am, I said 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes you can most definitely use a cheaper breaker as long as it is rated at the same amperage
2007-01-30 22:36:59 · answer #6 · answered by JOHN D 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will have to be the same brand to fit your breaker box
2007-02-02 14:19:21 · answer #7 · answered by Billy T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋