Finding old or obsolete General Electric circuit breakers can be challenging. GE has produced circuit breakers for over 70 years, which can make it difficult to match the right models and model numbers to your needs. At Breaker Outlet we carry products from the world’s best-known and most-trusted electrical component manufacturers, including GE. Browse our selection of GE breakers on this page and search for other GE electrical panel components for whatever job (commercial, industrial, or residential) that you’re working on.
We only sell breakers, buttons, busway plugs, breaker panels, and pullouts that are either brand new or refurbished and checked for safe operation. If you don’t see the exact GE breaker or electrical panel part that you need, contact us to see if we can get it.
GE Breaker History and Evolution
GE’s “Slate back” line of type AE and AL air circuit breakers was its first product line utilizing one of the first true inverse time elements to obtain automatic “resettable” overcurrent protection. These breaker lines have generally been upgraded since the original series overcurrent trip units with solid state trip units or retrofilled with more modern breakers.
Sometime later, technological improvements prompted a redesign. GE responded by introducing the AK line of breakers. In the 1980’s, GE redesigned the AK line and gave the product line the AKR prefix. Although they may initially seem similar in appearance to the older style, the AKR design has been improved and is not interchangeable with previous versions.
Understanding AK and AKR Breaker Numbers
All of the digits in an AK or AKR model number identify important characteristics of the breaker. When it comes to reading and understanding an AK or AKR breaker number, let’s start by using an AK-25 circuit breaker as an example. At a glance, with the door closed, most AK-25’s look the same, but the missing digits between the AK and 25 reveal important information that is needed to assure a safe and proper fit. After the 2 or other trip unit number there could be an “A”. For more information on how to understand what each letter or digit of the model number means, we’ve developed a guide.
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Residential Breaker Brands and Compatibility
There are a lot of questions about brands and compatibility. In short, Square D compatible breakers are Siemens, Cutler Hammer, Eaton, GE Breaker, Murray, Westinghouse, and Home Fitline. The brand also makes a bolt-on kind called QOB. Square D vs. Cutler-Hammer and the Eaton family of products are the same and compatible. Eaton vs. Eaton owns Cutler-Hammer, acquired in 1978. Most manufacturers categorize their breakers by types. Not every manufacturer uses that term, but most have some type of type or category to distinguish the breaker’s purpose.
Common Breaker Types
- BR Series: Residential, plug-in type, commonly found in newer home panels.
- CH Series: Premium residential and light commercial, bolt-on style.
- QP Series: Most common plug-in residential breaker.
- THQP Series: Thin-style breakers.
Breaker Compatibility Chart
Ensuring the compatibility of circuit breakers with their respective panels is crucial for safety and compliance. Below is a general compatibility chart for common residential circuit breaker brands.
How to Choose the Right Circuit Breaker for Your Home
| Panel Brand | Compatible Breaker Brands | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eaton / Cutler-Hammer | Eaton (BR Series), Cutler-Hammer (BR Series), Westinghouse (BR Series), Challenger (BR Series) | These brands share similar designs, making their breakers interchangeable. Ensure the breaker matches the panel’s specifications. |
| Siemens | Siemens (QP, QT Series), Murray (MP Series) | Siemens and Murray breakers are often interchangeable. However, always verify with the panel’s documentation. |
| General Electric (GE) | GE (THQL Series), Siemens (QP Series) | GE breakers are primarily designed for GE panels. Some Siemens breakers may be compatible, but it’s essential to check the panel’s labeling. |
| Square D | Square D (QO Series), Square D (Homeline Series) | QO and Homeline breakers are not interchangeable. Use only the specified series for your panel. |
| Leviton | Leviton breakers | Leviton panels are designed specifically for their proprietary breakers. |
UL Classified Breakers: Some manufacturers produce breakers classified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for use in competitors’ panels. For instance, Eaton’s CL Series breakers are UL-classified for use in various panels, including certain Square D, Siemens, and GE models.
Physical Fit vs. Electrical Compatibility: A breaker may physically fit into a panel but may not be electrically compatible or safe.
Consult Manufacturer Documentation: Panel labels and manufacturer guidelines provide the most reliable information on compatible breakers.
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Obsolete Breaker Brands
- Federal Pacific: Known for the “Stab-Lok” line, Federal Pacific Electric’s circuit breakers were primarily manufactured between 1950 and 1980. Due to safety concerns and design flaws, these breakers are considered obsolete and are no longer in production. It’s recommended to replace these panels entirely with modern equipment from manufacturers like Eaton, GE, Siemens, or Square D.
- ITE: Acquired by Siemens in the 1980s.
- Westinghouse: Acquired by Eaton Corporation in 1994. Many original Westinghouse circuit breakers, such as the EL300 series, have been discontinued and are considered obsolete. Eaton now produces compatible breakers that can serve as replacements.
- Zinsco: Acquired by GTE-Sylvania in 1973, and the product line was later rebranded as Challenger. Due to design flaws leading to safety concerns, Zinsco panels and breakers are considered obsolete. Replacement with modern panels from manufacturers like Eaton, GE, Siemens, or Square D is recommended.
Part Numbering Conventions
Circuit breaker manufacturers utilize specific part numbering conventions to convey essential information about their products, including series, amperage, poles, voltage rating, and special features. Understanding these conventions aids in selecting the appropriate breaker for a given application. It also helps you know what breaker you are looking at just by having the part number. This is the part number for a type “QO”.
Understanding a little bit about breaker nomenclature helps me determine whether I have an adequate part description or possibly I have the wrong item number for a given item description.
Examples of Part Number Elements:
- Digits (e.g., 1520, 2020): Represent the amperage rating of the breaker.
- HOM2100CP: A 100A, double-pole breaker in clamshell packaging.
- KA (Kilo Amps): Often used as a shorthand for KAIC.
- KAIC (Kilo Ampere Interrupting Capacity): The maximum short-circuit current a breaker can safely interrupt without damage.
- Nomenclature: While not specific to only breakers, this term is often used when discussing part numbers. It is the correct term when referring to the rules or system used for naming or numbering parts, including circuit breakers.
- Thermal Trip (Overload): Slower trip based on sustained overcurrent (e.g., 135-200% of rated load).
Note: While these conventions are standard, it’s essential to consult the manufacturer’s documentation or a licensed electrician to ensure the correct breaker selection for specific applications.
Creating Inventory Stocking Lists
When creating inventory stocking lists or flat-rate pricing books, the item description is important.
Note: The part number at the end is optional. Personally, I like to include it. If you include it, I recommend enclosing it in brackets. Many contractors create a generic part number for their technicians. This works when you control what breakers they stock on their trucks and where the technician does not need to worry about detailed breaker specifications. A 2-pole 20-amp breaker might have the following part number: BKR220. You may use “BKR220E” for Eaton and “BKR220CH” for Cutler Hammer.
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There are a lot of “correct” ways to do this.
Common Questions About Breakers
- Question: Can I use any brand of breaker in my panel?
Answer: No. - Question: What’s the difference between QO and Homeline?
Answer: QO is Square D’s premium line with more features; Homeline is the budget line. - Question: Can I replace a tandem breaker with two single breakers?
Answer: Only if the panel has space and allows two breakers. - Question: Can I mix AFCI and GFCI protection?
Answer: Yes. - Question: Are old panels compatible with modern breakers?
Answer: Often not. Older panels may require obsolete or special-order breakers.
Commercial Breakers
This article is mainly written for residential and cross residential/commercial breakers.
PowerPact® Family:
A family of molded case circuit breakers (MCCBs) by Schneider Electric, designed for commercial and industrial use.
PowerPact Q®
A specific model within the PowerPact family. The Q-frame breakers are 240V-rated, available up to 250A, and commonly used in light industrial and commercial panels.
Important Considerations
From the standpoint of any panel manufacturer, they NEVER list their panels to be used with anything other than their own breakers. You cannot approach it from the GE panel side, their answer will always be the same: GE. But from a BREAKER manufacturer's standpoint, you WANT to list your breakers in competitive panels, IF YOU CAN, and if it is economically feasible.
To get a breaker listed in a competitive panel, you must test it with EVERY possible panel that the original breakers were listed in. On average, the testing cost is around $25,000 per line item, per test. So let's say that GE makes 20 different panels that their THQP breakers work in. If Sq. D wants to sell a Homeline breaker that can be UL listed to plug into any GE panel that would accept a THQP, that means $25K per breaker (frame), per GE panel. So assuming at least 2 breaker frames in residential plug-ins (typically 15-60A and 70A and above, even if they look the same on the outside), that is 40 tests at $25K each; $1,000,000 in UL testing costs!
You have to be able to sell a LOT of replacement breakers to afford that. But people do it all the time, there is a lot of demand for "interchangeable" aftermarket breakers, as evidenced by the Chinese trying to counterfeit them all the time. So you need to look at the breakers themselves to see if they SPECIFICALLY say they are UL listed to work in YOUR SPECIFIC panel, there are no short cuts.
PS: UL kind of talks out of both sides of their mouths on this issue. From the PANEL side, they will say that the panel must be listed with the specific breakers, so that will be the panel mfr's burden and they will only list it with their own products. But at the same time, UL allows BREAKERS to be listed in other panels, as long as someone does the above testing.
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