Circuit breakers as switches for single outelts / fixtures

[jt20]

I have a ceiling outlet in my garage that I am utilizing with a drop cord and a fluorescent ballast.

my only switch for this ballast is the breaker.

to my knowledge, it is the only thing that is energized when I flip the breaker.

i found this: forum discussion


what do you guys think? The breaker should be fine with regular use, correct?

[PaulC]

I like keeping my paws out of breaker boxes as much as possible - too many amps.

[kerry]

Why not plug in an extension cord with a switched outlet strip and control it with the switch on the outlet strip?

[E150GT]

most single pole breakers are switch duty rated, so theres no problem there. What brand is the breaker?

[jt20]

Originally Posted by E150GT

most single pole breakers are switch duty rated, so theres no problem there. What brand is the breaker?

challenger

it is SWD

[jt20]

Originally Posted by kerry

Why not plug in an extension cord with a switched outlet strip and control it with the switch on the outlet strip?

that would be the more intelligent approach....


I tend to let my wallet impede my critical thinking sometimes... nay, often.

and I don't really have an extension to spare. If you guys vote against it... I will do as you suggest.

the switch gets cycled less than once a day during the warmer months. ANd barely at all during colder months.

[E150GT]

Originally Posted by jt20

challenger

it is SWD

Well there you have it. I wouldn't bother doing anything else to it. You can throw the savings into the Benz!

[cmac2012]

I do that with the office heater at my warehouse space. It's hard to reach the control knob on the baseboard heater (behind a desk) so I just use the breaker which is right around the corner. Breakers cost more than switches but it's not a huge amount of $ so I'll probably continue doing it. Have been for at least 3 or 4 years and no problems.

[cmbdiesel]

Been using the breakers as switches for the overhead lights in my brothers shop for years and years. There are no switches, so there are no alternatives. Have not had to replace a breaker yet.

[jt20]

perfect... good enough for me.

[barry123400]

Not uncommon and the load is a very light draw as well. I can not think of any safety issues either..

[2.5Turbo]

Originally Posted by jt20

challenger

it is SWD

If you have half width Challengers, make sure you don't have the singles (or 240V doubles) that have the clip(s) on the side that connect to the bus. These have a tendency to burn up due to bad contact...my house has a Challenger box from the late 80's that once was full of these. I had at least three of them burn up (one fried the control unit in my range) before I replaced all of them with Siemens breakers which are drop in replacements.

[barry123400]

It is a little off the posters request. Some cheap off brand electrical panels have an inferior contact system with their breakers.

I never saw so many poor electrical components until I worked on a few premade two section houses. If the builders can save fifty cents anywhere they sure took advantage of it.

It actually takes one breaker to side brace the next breaker or it will almost fall out of the panel if beside an emply space. The outer panel cover is the only thing that holds them in basically. They cannot self support very well at all.

Semi dangerous and junk. I do not know how they got ul labs and csa certification. what really bothered me it is such an easy thing to design for proper breaker plugging in and I could not see any cost increase to do it better.

I always liked square D over the years. Now I use seimens occassionaly although I do not like them as much. Siemens seems to be dominating the Canadian market locally now. I am not a working electricial just do some projects from time to time.

[mgburg]

Normally, under the circumstances you describe you're working with, I wouldn't give it a second thought. But, recently, an acquaintence showed me an item that would give me pause in what you're doing now.

He showed me a "Square D" breaker and asked me if I thought there was anything wrong with it. It looked like a "SD" breaker and operated (manually) like a "SD" breaker.

Problem was? It was a counterfeit. Made in China/Tiawan.

As a matter of fact, I went and checked my breaker panel when I got home...sure enough, there were 3 out of 14 breakers (20 Amps-Single Phase) that were fakes.

If you have any questions about any breaker you're using/have, go to the manufacturers' website and query about counterfeits/clones and pay CAREFULL ATTENTION to the description of their product vs. the clones.

BTW, most breakers have a "cycle life" as a measure of their durability. However, I can't speak as to whether it refers to using the breaker as a simple switch or it refers to its "life" as to how many times it can reliably "trip" as it was designed to do.

My opinion? If it were my garage or home, I'd install a simple light-switch downstream from the breaker and let the breaker do its intended job and use the switch for what it was designed for.

Remember...insurance companies can't give outrageous bonuses to their CEOs/CFOs if the investigators at the remains of the insured found an improperly wired and once-operating circuit that contributed to the loss and ignored it, now can they?

I'm just saying...

( BTW, I did spend about $20.00 and changed out the fakes...I sleep MUCH BETTER now! )

[jt20]

Originally Posted by mgburg

Normally, under the circumstances you describe you're working with, I wouldn't give it a second thought. But, recently, an acquaintence showed me an item that would give me pause in what you're doing now.

thank you.

this and the mentioning of Challenger's longevity / imperfections will certainly be taken into account.