circuit breaker query
 

And now for something entirely different.

The circuit breaker controlling the clothes dryer in my mother in-law's rather old house on Long Island is going bad.

My brother in-law read the folllowing information off the 2 pole 120/240 vac breaker.

8-5AL 10-000 120/240
SUELLQ 414 TYPE MP CU/AL

Anyone know the brand or where I can get one before I fly back there and replace it?

thanks

The easiest thing to do is check the brand of the panel, and whether it is a full-height or half-height breaker, and whether it is packaged with other breakers.
Siemens likes to make 4-packs of half-size breakers with twin-pole breakers in the middle.
Things like that are important. The actual numbers off of the breaker are not as important.

I'd expect just about any home depot will carry the breaker you are looking for. Expect ~$25-$40 for a 2-pole 30A breaker (dryer should be a 30A circuit).
I wouldn't worry about tracking one down before you go back there. Go in, remove the old breaker and take it to Home Depot or the electrical store of your choice.

On a related topic, what do you mean the breaker is going bad?.... Nuissance tripping? Not tripping?....

One thing to be careful about is that new wiring codes have gone into effect in many cities. They took the old three wire dryer cord's to a four wire cord in most if not all areas.

Might be a good time to change both the CB and upgrade the wiring to the dryer just to make it safer.

Joe, What's the fourth wire for?

2 hots, a neutral and a ground

Yeah, that's a good idea , Joe. I'll look into that. The house has been added onto throughout the years. There is still a fuze box with the round glass fuses in the old section. I doubt if this is a four wire dryer setup and I'll check. I'll get more info. But I think it is a Crouse Hinds box, and it has GE, Westinghouse and Thomas and Betts breakers in it. And I think it is a standard double wide 30A breaker, although he can not see any amp markings on it.

The last time I went to replace one of these breakers. I had to special order it as it was not carried at local Home Depot.

Apparently it is tripping at startup of dryer, I'll check out circuit with voltmeter. They are holding it closed after startup and the dryer will run. I may need to put in a new dryer when I am back there.

Could it be the dryer drawing too much start-up current (bad bearings in motor, friction somewhere..)? I would not hold the breaker till it runs.... the breaker is there for a reason.

Yeah, that's what I am thinking. If the new breaker trips also, then it will be a new dryer.

Sounds like that could be the problem. An electric motor at 0 rpm has no back emf, and is essentially a short circuit. If something is keeping the motor from turning at startup and you're holding the breaker closed you're asking for trouble.

you're looking for a murray (crap) 2 pole 30 amp circuit breaker. when the time for an upgrade comes go square d or cutler hammer.