Understanding Price Trends of Circuit Breakers
Pricing trends in used circuit breakers have fluctuated a lot over the past 15 years, mostly due to the popularity of them online.
15 years ago, the only way to purchase breakers was through a local or regional supplier.
However, as more and more suppliers move their inventory online via their own websites or online auction sites such as eBay, there are many options for buying, and the prices continue to drop.
In 1995 when I started my career as an electrical engineer the list price of a Square D KA36200 breaker was $1350.
Today, that list price is $1820! A huge increase for sure, but the really interesting calculations come when comparing the price of a use done.
15 years ago there were only a couple of suppliers that sold used breakers and the average prices were around $400 for a used KA36200.
15 years later, the list price has gone up but the average cost on a used KA36200 has remained about the same.
The last time I purchased this breaker a few weeks ago the price was $470.
With many companies selling used breakers online now, the price has been driven down, and best of all used breakers are now easily available to everyone including end users.
So how are so many companies selling used breakers now? The simple answer is high demand.
When a breaker fails at a factory, the factory is forced to make a decision.
Spend $1820 on a new breaker or buy a used one for $470.
The used breaker comes with the same warranty and has been inspected, repaired, and tested.
Given today's difficult economic climate, it's a no-brainer to buy the used breaker.
Since these parts are available online now, end users are capable of purchasing them whereas 15 years ago suppliers were very strict about who they sold to, and often had high minimum order policies.
Suppliers today sell to everyone and generally have no minimum order guidelines.
One of the most common questions about used breakers is what type of reconditioning and repair process they go through.
I contacted one of the suppliers I work with to find out, and was surprised how strict the reconditioning process really is.
First, the breakers are completely cleaned and inspected.
The breakers are then completely repaired, and sent to a test area where the breaker is put through a series of tests to ensure that it operates correctly.
Once the breaker is fully functioning it is labeled as inspected and put on the shelf to sell and listed in their inventory.
Most suppliers have thousands of breakers in stock and can even supply large quantities.
Buying from an online auction like eBay is another option.
Often electricians have surplus inventory leftover from jobs and sell the parts in an auction format.
If there are breakers you have to replace often, this is a great resource and method to buy them as they are usually less expensive at auctions.
Another situation where you may be faced with buying used breakers is when you are replacing an old obsolete circuit breaker.
There's been many times when I am called out to a business for an electrical problem and open their breaker panel to find breakers that are obsolete and have not been available for many years.
When this happens, there are only two options: buy a used breaker or replace the entire panel with new breakers.
For most business owners the best solution is to buy a used breaker.
Replacing an entire panel can cost thousands of dollars in labor and parts, and lead to much longer downtime for the business.
For some businesses this is not a big deal, but for companies such as factories and manufacturing facilities, an hour of downtime can equal thousands of dollars in lost revenue and labor.
As you can see, used breakers have maintained their affordability, become more popular and more readily available over the past 15 years.
As more and more people use them, they will only gain in popularity and hopefully maintain their low price.
At the time of writing this article, there are 12 companies online that offer the KA36200 Square D breakers, all of them for about the same price.
Before you order online, check to make sure the used breaker you're buying has been reconditioned and comes with a warranty.
Buying reconditioned parts will ensure they last just as long as a new one.
15 years ago, the only way to purchase breakers was through a local or regional supplier.
However, as more and more suppliers move their inventory online via their own websites or online auction sites such as eBay, there are many options for buying, and the prices continue to drop.
In 1995 when I started my career as an electrical engineer the list price of a Square D KA36200 breaker was $1350.
Today, that list price is $1820! A huge increase for sure, but the really interesting calculations come when comparing the price of a use done.
15 years ago there were only a couple of suppliers that sold used breakers and the average prices were around $400 for a used KA36200.
15 years later, the list price has gone up but the average cost on a used KA36200 has remained about the same.
The last time I purchased this breaker a few weeks ago the price was $470.
With many companies selling used breakers online now, the price has been driven down, and best of all used breakers are now easily available to everyone including end users.
So how are so many companies selling used breakers now? The simple answer is high demand.
When a breaker fails at a factory, the factory is forced to make a decision.
Spend $1820 on a new breaker or buy a used one for $470.
The used breaker comes with the same warranty and has been inspected, repaired, and tested.
Given today's difficult economic climate, it's a no-brainer to buy the used breaker.
Since these parts are available online now, end users are capable of purchasing them whereas 15 years ago suppliers were very strict about who they sold to, and often had high minimum order policies.
Suppliers today sell to everyone and generally have no minimum order guidelines.
One of the most common questions about used breakers is what type of reconditioning and repair process they go through.
I contacted one of the suppliers I work with to find out, and was surprised how strict the reconditioning process really is.
First, the breakers are completely cleaned and inspected.
The breakers are then completely repaired, and sent to a test area where the breaker is put through a series of tests to ensure that it operates correctly.
Once the breaker is fully functioning it is labeled as inspected and put on the shelf to sell and listed in their inventory.
Most suppliers have thousands of breakers in stock and can even supply large quantities.
Buying from an online auction like eBay is another option.
Often electricians have surplus inventory leftover from jobs and sell the parts in an auction format.
If there are breakers you have to replace often, this is a great resource and method to buy them as they are usually less expensive at auctions.
Another situation where you may be faced with buying used breakers is when you are replacing an old obsolete circuit breaker.
There's been many times when I am called out to a business for an electrical problem and open their breaker panel to find breakers that are obsolete and have not been available for many years.
When this happens, there are only two options: buy a used breaker or replace the entire panel with new breakers.
For most business owners the best solution is to buy a used breaker.
Replacing an entire panel can cost thousands of dollars in labor and parts, and lead to much longer downtime for the business.
For some businesses this is not a big deal, but for companies such as factories and manufacturing facilities, an hour of downtime can equal thousands of dollars in lost revenue and labor.
As you can see, used breakers have maintained their affordability, become more popular and more readily available over the past 15 years.
As more and more people use them, they will only gain in popularity and hopefully maintain their low price.
At the time of writing this article, there are 12 companies online that offer the KA36200 Square D breakers, all of them for about the same price.
Before you order online, check to make sure the used breaker you're buying has been reconditioned and comes with a warranty.
Buying reconditioned parts will ensure they last just as long as a new one.
