ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area defective GE breakers

I bought a case of 20 amp single pole General Electric breakers from the big box store, when I went to put them in 5 of them are in the tripped position and will not turn off so they will reset. The handle is not stuck it just moves around like it is broken off. Anybody else had trouble with bad breakers?

Jimmy,
Was the box open? The C/Bs should have all been in the tripped position. They run through a magnet just prior to shipping which trips the magnetic trip.

Big box stores take returns and unless there is a defect according to the customer, put them right back into stock on the shelves.

Always check EVERYTHING that you buy from the big box for SKUs, bar codes, prices on the receipts (sometimes double of the shelf price), and obvious defects.

Don't worry though, they will take the CBs back (and unless you tell them about the defects, will put them right back on the shelf for the next unsuspecting customer)

Even if you do tell them about the defects they will probably still put them back on the shelf.

My customer bought a ceiling fan, when I opened it the glass bowl for the light was missing. Inside the box flap, written in black marker, was "BROKEN GLASS". Someone just sealed it up and put it back on the shelf.