Bryant was one of the leading companies in the breaker industry. However, with bad decisions after bad decisions, it has gone under and obtained by Cutler-Hammer. That is why it has become important to know what breakers are compatible with Bryant.
After all, if you don’t have a new breaker to replace your Bryant one soon, there are some huge safety risks.
Bryant Breakers Compatible Producers
As we have mentioned, Bryant is now officially out of the breaker business. However, there are still a number of breaker-compatible brands that have high Bryant breaker compatibility.
The most obvious choice is, without a doubt, Cutler-Hammer circuit breakers. At the end of the day, it’s Cutler-Hammer Breaker that bought out Bryant. It’s safe to say that all of Bryant’s tech is passed to them. That is why you won’t encounter any problem changing between the two breaker types.
Another good breaker manufacturer to consider is Siemens. In fact, we believe that Siemens can be the best choice if you only use its product in a residential setting.
This company made its name by providing impressive guards against electric shock and electrocution. Its breakers also score the most points regarding the low risk of fire, voltage surges, and spikes.
In other words, if safety is your first and foremost concern, you can’t go wrong with Siemens. Nonetheless, there is still a higher-than-average chance that your Bryant panel isn’t compatible with Siemens. You should ask a professional electrician to take a look for you before deciding.
Specific Bryant Breaker Replacement
Cutler-Hammer
We believe that the best specific product to look for is the Eaton Cutler-Hammer BR120. This circuit breaker is the perfect mix-up between what makes Bryant great and Cutler-Hammer’s inherent strengths.
To be more specific, it’s an interchangeable circuit breaker. This nature provides it the incredible flexibility that Cutler is known for and cuts out the biggest Bryant weakness, their rigidness.
However, it still retains the Bryant characteristic of a powerful 120/240V rating.
It has approval from UL, which is enough to convince even the most distrustful customers of its quality and safety. A UL approval also means that it can be a replacement breaker for all UL-approved breakers.
Siemens
As for Siemens, our recommendation is the Siemens QP 120 Single-pole Circuit breaker. It is among the easiest breakers to operate. Even someone with no experience with electricity can use it, as you only need to plug it in.
Everything else will be taken care of by the instant wire feature. This feature is an industry-leading tech that simplifies everything for the end user.
The main reason for this recommendation, however, lies in this breaker’s compatibility. Not just most Siemens PL and ES load centers, it can also fit with Bryant breaker panels. As a result, it eliminates Siemens breakers’ biggest weakness in this situation.
Is It Possible To Mix And Match Brands Of Circuit Breakers?
The short answer is that it depends. Even if your electrical panel seems to fit with other brands’ breaker models, there are still risks of breaker damage. Similar-looking electrical breakers still have significant differences in their busbar connection, mounting process, etc.
That is why we always recommend you ask for advice from a licensed electrician. There is a special case, though. If your breaker has UL approval, it can be a compatible alternative for all bad breakers, as long as they are also UL-approved.
When Should I Replace My Breaker?
You should not replace your branded breakers without any reason. Most of the time, panel owners should replace only if they consider theirs to be faulty breakers.
For example, if you see burn marks on your breaker or if there are signs of physical damage, replace them. You should always observe closely for any broken parts/cracks and burnt odor whenever you check on the breaker.
Doing so may make the inspection process more troublesome, but it is completely worth the hassle.
Homes that experience multiple spikes or surges may witness their breakers not staying on after a reset. The moment you spot this phenomenon, it’s best to immediately look for a replacement. The longer you wait, the bigger the risk will grow.
Of course, you should also change your breakers if your circuit breaker manufacturers are no longer producing. A prime example of this case is the acquisition of Bryant Circuit by the Eaton Corporation.
Conclusion
With this article, we hope that you no longer have any problem deciding what breakers work with a Bryant panel. As long as you follow our guide closely, there is no risk in changing your breaker. We do recommend changing your Bryant breakers as soon as possible, though.
The longer you wait, the more problems you will face down the line.
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