The DS line of air circuit breakers has been a tried and tested product line of low voltage air circuit breakers that have been proven to be both versatile and reliable for decades. Originally, it was sold as a Westinghouse product, then the line was later sold to Square D and then Eaton Cutler Hammer.

It is widely understood that all these breakers are interchangeable regardless of label, however the same does not hold true when replacing the switchgear parts. The switchgear cabinets have been manufactured in several locations around the country which resulted in six different lines of cabinets.  Care must be taken to properly identify which style of cabinet is in question to properly identify and acquire interchangeable parts.

The History of the DS Switchgear Line

The first vintage of DS switchgear was manufactured by Westinghouse in East Pittsburgh in 1969 and continued through 1973. This vintage can be identified as having “Shop Order” (SO) numbers that start with “24Y”. The second vintage was also made in East Pittsburgh through 1984 with SO numbers that started in “27Y” and concurrently with “WPA” switchgear made in St. Louis and was designated by a “General Order” (GO) number rather than a shop order number. The East Pittsburgh gear was generally marketed to heavy industrial users and the WPA gear for commercial applications.

Two more vintages came out of the St. Louis plant, designated as vintage III and IV. Vintage III was an attempt to merge the “27Y” product line with the WPA product line and it is usually designated with a prefix of “28Y”. It was a very short production run during 1984 from May through October.

Vintage IV was made in St. Louis form October 1984 through May of 1990. This vintage continued to use the GO number system and also the “28Y” SO numbers. In 1990, production was moved to Asheville, NC and although changes had been made to the design, the “28Y” SO number system was continued.

Finding Replacement Parts for DS Switchgears

If this sounds confusing, you have a lot of company. So how does someone go about finding replacement parts to maintain their DS switchgear? There are a few options:

• If you are fortunate enough to have the original product literature (see below) it will help to some degree.
• If you know the SO number, GO number and production dates it will help narrow the focus, but even within product lines things like bus size and length will change depending on the configuration and rating of the switchgear.
• Because much of it is no longer manufactured new, you will more than likely find yourself relying on a reputable used electrical equipment dealer like NPE.

Cutler Hammer DS and DSL Low Voltage Power Circuit Breaker Renewal Parts -  Manual RP.22B.01.T.E.

Westinghouse Instructions for Low Voltage Power Circuit Breakers Types DS and DSL – Manual  IB 33.-7901G

Instructions for Type DS Metal-Enclosed Low Voltage Power Circuit Breaker Switchgear Assemblies – Manual IB 32-690-E

The fastest and most reliable way to get the right part, at the right price, at the right time will be with photos and measurements using the NPE On the Go with your smartphone. NPE "On the Go" is very easy to use – just open it up and navigate to Switchgear/Switchgear Parts, answer the product driven questions and attach photos that you’ve taken with your mobile device. This RFQ will be sent to the NPE technical staff where it will receive TOP PRIORITY! Of course, you can still contact us with your requests and questions.      

Use NPE "On the Go" Today!

800-647-0815

info@npeinc.com

NPE's staff has been specifying breakers, parts and accesories for over 40 yrs. 

Our hands on experience starts with current production equipment and goes back to equipment dated in the 1940's!

- Get more information than you think you'll need. Details matter!

- Photo's really are worth 1000 words! From the front, back, bottom they all help!

- Nameplates help but rarely have enough information and serial numbers are rarely helpful. 

- When in doubt go to our mobile ap NPE on the Go.  We'll walk you through the details and give you a place to attach some picture!

Find a Circuit Breaker Supplier That Asks the Right Questions

We realize we ask a lot of questions that's because we want you to get the right stuff- the first time

Just think what you might be getting from somone who doesn't ask these questions!

When you have questions about your circuit breakers, contact us today. If we can’t help you with your specific problem, we’ll tell you and direct you to someone who can. That’s what we are here for.

Trying to find replacement circuit breakers for your facility? It’s time to review a few facts.

• Over 75%* of Switchgear running commercial and inustrial facilities is over twenty years old
• Original equipment manufacturers consider many of these obsolete and no longer support them with new components yet the with proper maintenance will remain reliable for many years to come.
• Used equipment dealers are your source for equipment and solutions to stay up and running:
  • Safely
  • Reliably
  • Economically

National Power Equipment Inc's (NPE) warehouses are filled with thousands of circuit breakers and switchgear cabinets, and tens of thousands of parts. These product lines date all the way back to World War II, and its staff is well versed in specifying equipment for them.

National Power Equipment’s “Class One” process of reconditioning equipment brings equipment back to “like new” condition. The process includes:

• Breaker disassembled to its smallest components and inspected for wear and damage.
• Parts re-plated, stripped, and painted or buffed and polished to “like new” condition.
• Breaker reassembled with new wiring and upgrades and testing to industry standard.

Available Old, Obsolete, and Discontinued Circuit Breakers

NPE warehouses a wide variety of old, obsolete, re-manufactured, and refurbished circuit breakers, specializing in low voltage (600 Volt AC or less) through medium voltage (15KV) circuit breakers, switchgear, and parts. Our inventory includes equipment from the following circuit breaker brands:

• Allen Bradley Circuit Breakers
• Allis Chalmers / Siemens Allis Circuit Breakers
• Boltswitch Circuit Breakers
• Eaton / Cutler Hammer Circuit Breakers
• FPE Circuit Breakers
• General Electric Circuit Breakers
• GTE / Sylvania Circuit Breakers
• ITE / BBC / ABB Circuit Breakers
• Joslyn Clark Circuit Breakers
• Powell Industries Circuit Breakers
• Pringle Circuit Breakers
• Roller Smith Circuit Breakers
• Sace Circuit Breakers
• Square D Circuit Breakers
• Toshiba Circuit Breakers
• Westinghouse Circuit Breakers

Keep the Power Running with Replacement Parts

In order to maintain your equipment, you're going to need access to parts!  

These parts can include relays, transformers, trip devices, fuses, and switchgear and don't forget our Aftermarket Parts Store!

The Aftermarket Parts Store is loaded with the kind of hard-to-find parts that always seem to be needed. These parts are available as new copies of the original part, often complete with improvements that will help keep the part in service longer than the originals!

Hard-to-Find Circuit Breakers

If you’re unsure where to look for an older or obsolete circuit breaker, start with our circuit breaker equipment search or our mobile ap NPE on the GO to see if the product you’re looking for is in our inventory. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, there’s a good chance we know how to help. Contact us for those hard-to-find circuit breakers or equipment, and we’ll be happy to navigate you in the right direction. 

At NPE our motto is always, " The right equipment, at the right price- right now!"

 ED 12/22

*Based on informal survey of customers 1994-1996