Lock-out relays provide reliable protection of critical utility equipment and personel. Electroswitch lockout relays can accommodate nearly any lock-out switching application in the electric power industry and can be the difference between a routine outage and the destruction of expensive equipment.

Finding these high-quality Electroswitch lock-out relays can be challenging. Even browsing switchgear providers’ catalogs and websites, or other Electroswitch distributors, can yield low or no inventory. However, National Power Equipment regularly stocks these lockout relays, including the popular Electroswitch Series 24 lock-out relays and Electroswitch Series 31 lock-out relays.

Electroswitch Series 24

This series features low resistance, double-wiping contacts with self-cleaning silver contacts for long-term reliability. They come available with up to 10 decks (20 poles) and allow for between two and eight positions. Series 24 switches are rated at 30 amps @ 600 volts.

These lock-out relays have been put to the test over the years in heavy duty applications, including military and power switching applications.

Features include:

• Double-sided, Double-wiping, Knife-type rotary contacts
• Silver Contact Surfaces
• #8-32 Terminal Screws
• Standard Three-Hole Panel Mount

Reading Electroswitch Series 24 Product Numbers

Identifying the exact part number you’re looking for can be difficult. Here are some tips on finding the exact Electroswitch part number you’re looking for:

• To better understand the lettering in the product number, use this guide:
  • A=Single LED, Amber, 48/125VDC

  • B = Two LEDs, Green/Red, 48/125VDC

  • C = Three LEDs, Green/Amber/Red, 48/125VDC

  • D = Three LEDs, Green/Red/Red, 48/125VDC (Dual Trip Coil Monitor)

  • E = Single LED, Amber, 120VAC

  • F = Two LEDs, Green/Red, 120VAC

  • G = Three LEDs, Green/Amber/Red, 120VAC

• Example: A breaker control switch with a pistol grip handle (PG), Lighted Target Nameplate, three LED’s, and 120VAC LED voltage would be part number 24PG38D

View all available Electroswitch Series 24 Relays available from National Power Equipment

Electroswitch Series 31

This series features low-resistance, double-wiping contacts in a smaller package. They are available with up to 10 decks (20 poles) and allow for between 2 and 8 positions. Series 31 switches are rated at 15 amps @ 600 volts.

Features include:

• Double-sided, Double-wiping, Knife-type rotary contacts
• Silver Contact Surfaces
• Terminal Screws
• Standard Four-Hole Mount

Reading Electroswitch Series 31 Product Numbers

Use the graphic below, sourced from Electroswitch’s “Switches and Relays for the Power Industry” Guide, to identify the exact product number that you’re looking for:

View all available Electroswitch Series 31 Relays available from National Power Equipment

About Electroswitch

Electroswitch Corporation is a leading manufacturer of electronic switches, relays, and photocontrols. The company was founded in 1946, and over the years began designing and building high-quality switches for the heavy duty industrial and electrical utility markets. Through a series of acquisitions in 1908, Electroswitch became the industry leader in electrically-operated auxiliary relays, and their products are used in virtually every major electric utility in the United States and Canada.

If you’re looking for a specific Electroswitch lock-out relay but can’t find it in our catalog, contact us or give us a call at 216-898-2680.

General Electric produced a line of medium voltage air circuit breakers called the MAGNE- BLAST for over 30 years. This product line was very popular and was produced in a wide range of sizes and ratings to meet customer’s needs.

Particular attention needs to be paid to several parts of the nameplate when you’re looking for replacement MAGNE-BLAST breakers or parts for these GE circuit breakers. This flow chart was designed to streamline the specification process and help you identify your MAGNE-BLAST designation.

Even with the flowchart, it can still be easy to miss specifics for designation There will be additional information that you will need. Rated Amps, close and trip voltage, and mechanism type can all be found on the nameplate. When in doubt, a photo of the nameplate and a photo of the breaker from the front will give your supplier a clear understanding of what you need. The following photos of MAGNE-BLAST nameplates show how important details like the letter suffixes are in determining exactly what you need.

Still confused? Contact us today or try our Mobile Ap- NPE on the Go  and we’ll help your figure it out. As a circuit breaker supplier, that’s what we’re here for.

Finding old or obsolete General Electric circuit breakers can be challenging. GE has produced circuit breakers for over 70 years, which can make it difficult to match the right models and model numbers to your needs. In this article, we’ll present a brief history of GE’s circuit breaker production and help you understand how to identify what circuit breaker you’re looking for.

A Brief History of General Electric Circuit Breakers

GE’s “Slate back” line of type AE and AL air circuit breakers was its first product line utilizing one of the first true inverse time elements to obtain automatic “resettable” overcurrent protection. This line marked a huge step up from simple fused protection. Sometime later, technological improvements prompted a redesign. GE iresponded by ntroducing the AK line of breakers. These models featured improved electro-mechanical trip units and were designed to fit both AKD and AKD5 switchgear.

In the 1980’s, GE redesigned the AK line and gave the product line the AKR prefix. Although they may initially seem similar in appearance to the older style, the AKRdesign has been improved and is not interchangeable with previous versions. This product line was designed to fit both AKD6 and the later redesigned AKD8 switchgear.

As products and technology continue to evolve through the Wavepro and AKD 10 up through and including Entelliguard and AKD 20 switchgear. These changes make it very important for users to be able to read breaker numbers to identify which type of breaker model they need.

How to Read a General Electric Breaker Number

Almost all the digits in an AK or AKR model number identify important characteristics of the breaker. It is important to either understand these details or be able to relay that information so that your supplier does.

When it comes to reading and understanding an AK or AKR breaker number, let’s start by using an AK-25 circuit breaker as an example. At a glance, with the door closed, most AK-25’s look the same, but the missing digits between the AK and 25 reveal important information that is needed to assure a safe and proper fit. You can use these quick guidelines to identify the specific model of a General Electric circuit breaker:

4 Steps to Identifying GE Circuit Breaker Model

1. The first part, “AK”, tells you the general designation of one of two switchgear vintages that the breaker will fit in - AKD or type AKD 5.
2. The last part, “25”, indicates one of the smaller feeder breakers that is rated 600 amp AC continuous and has a frame rating of 25,000 amps interrupt (AC). 
3. There are up to 4 more spaces for letters or numbers between the AK and 25 that are important.
   1. One could be a “U” which would indicate the addition of current limiting fuses.
   2. Another could be an “F” which designates a special field discharge option.
   3. There will be a number, most likely a 2 but it could be a 3, 4, all the way up to 10, which designates which type of trip unit that was installed at the factory.
   4. After the 2 or other trip unit number there could be an “A”. Absence of an “A” indicates that it is for AKD switchgear, the presence of it indicates it is for type AKD5 switchgear.
4. For more information on how to understand what each letter or digit of the model number means, we’ve developed a guide. This guide will help you identify most of the options built into your breaker from the factory and which, if any, will need to be changed or upgraded.

Other Questions to Ask When Identifying Type AK and AKR GE Circuit Breakers

In addition to knowing the brand and product number you’re looking for, here are some other questions to help identify the perfect solution for your needs:

• Is the breaker A. electrically or B. manually operated?
• If A, what is the voltage of the close coil, control relay and trip coil?
• If A, do you have a wiring diagram number? 
• Why type of trip unit is needed?
• What trip function is required?
• Are any accessories like bell alarm or under voltage protection required?

To download this chart click here: flowchart for AK and AKR circuit breakers  If you’re still having trouble or are unsure of what you need, just let us know and we’ll be happy to walk you through the process.

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

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 then 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