Hi All,
can someone here tell me what the abbrev "HACR" stands for on Sq D breakers. (for use w/ heating and refer equip., having motor group combinations, and marked for use with HACR curcuit breakers.)...so far I looked in articles 240, 404, 440, and the index. just want to know what the abbrev spelled out is.
thanks.

Heating Air conditioning and refrigeration

thanks Ryan!

This trade uses a lot of acronyms. I went for about three years before I finally asked someone what it stood for (I didn't want to look like an idiot). Waiting that long was the stupid part. That is the nice thing about forums like this, you ask a question and get (normally) an answer without anyone laughing at you.

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Charlie Eldridge, Indianapolis, Utility Power Guy

Your certainly welcome.

While we're on this topic, perhaps someone can give me an answer to this:

I have been told that any molded case circuit breaker listed under the UL 429 (I think 429???) for overcurrent devices already meets all of the requirements for an HACR device. I beleive there is something in article 430 of the 2005 that addresses this as well.

Does anyone have any input on that?

Edit to above: UL 489

Ryan, I found this in the UL White Book but didn't find anything in the 2005 NEC. This was found under CIRCUIT BREAKERS, MOLDED-CASE AND
CIRCUIT BREAKER ENCLOSURES (DIVQ).

Charlie, does that mean I can no longer use HACR breakers for everything under the sun, spare SWD (switch duty breakers)?

I don't believe you ever could.

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Charlie Eldridge, Indianapolis, Utility Power Guy

CharlieE,
that's what actually got this thread started for me. the facility I work at now swapped out a bunch of panels in 2 of our buildings a few years ago, and within the last year, about 40 two-pole breakers "froze up" in the off/tripped position. Upon replacement of said breakers, it was discovered that they were of the HACR type. I had a hunch that they wore out due to misapplication. (they were feeding lights and outlets.) either that, or they just got a bad batch off the production line?
>Will

HACR circuit breakers are suitable for any use except switching of fluorescent lights which requires an additional marking of SWD, and switching of high intensity discharge lights which require the breaker to be marked HID. All these markings are applied to a breaker that has already met the standards for use as a circuit breaker.

Some HACR equipment requires fuse protection and cannot rely soley on a circuit breaker, HACR rated or not. What you will usually see on the nameplate is "maximum size fuse or HACR circuit breaker." If the plare just says "Maximum size fuse", then somewhere in the circuit, fuse protection will need to be installed.

From the UL marking guide for molded case circuit breakers. "HACR Type — A circuit breaker that has been found acceptable for use in heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment comprising group motor installations is marked “HACR Type” in conjunction with the UL Mark. This marking alone, however, does not indicate the acceptability of the circuit breaker in these installations. For an acceptable installation, the end-use equipment must be marked to indicate that “HACR Type” circuit breakers may be used for branch circuit overcurrent protection. "

Most 2 pole circuit breakers in sizes up to about 60 or 70 amps now carry the HACR mark so that suppliers do not have to stock too many breaker types. A similar situation exists for single pole breakers in the 15 & 20 amp ratings.

Tom

thanks Tom, and everyone who replied, this does help.