ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area HID breaker question

Yesterday on an inspection, I came across an Square D HID breaker.

The breaker was not "imprinted" with the usual data (HID, temp, VAC, etc.).

Molded into the case was the Square D logo and a couple of other miscellaneous numbers that did include "220" which corresponds to a specific line.

On the side was a "sticker" that had the part number, which of course correctly corresponded to the QO-HID line.

Normally, I can ID a breaker (a newer breaker) from the panel without removing the cover. Once this breaker is installed, it will be imposssible to determine rating data.

Now for the question, this is the first time I've come across a new breaker without very much data imprinted on the "face" of the casing, is this common?

This was the common method.

I think Square D has only been silk screening the front of the breakers for about 10 maybe 16 yrs.

Looks like the breaker was on some shelve for a long time. Don't immediately blame the electrician or the local supply house, Square D might have taken it in as a return and then resold it.

Thanks JD. I was thinking that it might be a resell or refurbished unit.

When I called Square D, they said that if it had the embossed logo, it was unlikely that it was counterfeit.

I was curious though, without this nondescript sticker that could have come out of any ink jet printer, how would you know that this was an HID breaker? The part number was the only clue in this circumstance.

It was just puzzling at the time, especially for something that was just delivered from the supplier. I happened to be on-site when they received the shipment of the new breaker.

Heck, I told the owner they needed to upgrade the existing breakers because I didn't believe that the correct units were originally installed, but, now I'm wondering. Maybe they are the right units, but, the sticker was removed or never there in the first place.

Curiouser and curiouser.