Replacement Bulldog Pushmatic circuit breakers:

The article gives advice to building owners whose building is served by a Pushmatic electrical panel, and we discuss both compatibility of and concerns when using replacement circuit breakers or used Pushmatic circuit breakers sold by salvage operators.

We solicit field failure and field inspection reports of questionable or possibly problematic electrical equipment in buildings such as the Bulldog™ and ITE-Pushmatic® brands described here.

Replacement Circuit Breakers for Bulldog Pushmatic or ITE Pushmatic Breakers

Our photo (left) illustrates a typical single-pole 20-A Pushmatic replacement circuit breaker that is widely available.

Synonyms for this product include Bulldog or Bulldog Pushmatic circuit breakers, ITE Bulldog, ITE Pushmatic, and Siemens Pushmatic circuit breaker.

The photos below illustrate some of the variety of replacement Pushmatic type circuit breaker replacements and name their manufacturer and/or supplier.

Watch out: Replacement Pushmatic type circuit breakers are sold by several suppliers as well as "used" or "salvaged" - a status that should raise a question about the unknown condition, history, and thus reliability of salvaged breakers and thus of their safety.

Watch out: as we detail at PUSHMATIC - BULLDOG PANELS there are safety hazards and warnings concerning use of Pushmatic-type circuit breakers that should give pause about replacing or repairing these panels versus replacing them entirely.

Examples that suggest that the problems are more than just theoretical arm-waving can be read at PUSHMATIC BREAKER FAILURE REPORTS.

At below left is a 15-A Pushmatic replacement circuit breaker provided by ITE-Siemens.

At below left is a Bulldog Pushmatic replacement circuit breaker distributed by Connecticut Electric. At below right is at Siemens P240 2 Pole 40A Pushmatic Breaker produced by Siemens Electric.

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Above is another example of a used Pushmatic circuit breaker for sale on EBay.

As we warned above, the use history, exposure to moisture history, and thus the condition of used circuit breakers is unknown - such devices may carry an extra reliability hazard (and thus a fire hazard) beyond the other Pushmatic, ITE Pushmatic, and Bulldog Pushmatic circuit breaker hazards discussed in the article above.,

Reader Comments & Q&A on Bulldog Pushmatic Replacements

On 2017-08-23 by Heriberto Cruz

I live in Columbus Ohio who sells your bulldog pushmatic breakers

On 2017-05-28 by Jim

I did not have any certain brand in mind. I was wondering if the new ones in general had the electromagnetic protection as well now.

On 2017-05-28 by (mod) -

What is the "replacement" circuit breaker brand, Jim?

On 2017-05-28 by Jim

Do the newly made replacements have the electromagnetic protection now or just the thermal system?

On 2017-04-15 by (mod) -

They're sold online but it's not, in my opinion, something I'd buy. I'd replace the panel.

On 2017-04-15 by van

where to buy bulldog pushmatic replacement breakers in omaha

On 2015-04-18 by steve

if your renting a house and this style of breaker is what you have and the 220 20a keeps tripping when you dry your clothes is it faulty wiring or the breaker? can you request the landlord to fix it? thanks in advance

On 2015-01-09 by (mod) -

Jeff I'd like to see sharp photos of the breaker and tab you describe - email is at our CONTACT link at page top or bottom. I'd be very reluctant to modify a circuit breaker to make it fit. Often the manufacturer deliberately changes a design to be sure that a product is not shoehorned in where they think it won't work safely.

On 2015-01-09 by Jeff

this new breaker would fit in perfectly if the tab was not there. the buss bar would need a notch in it for this to fit

why is there this extra metal tab under the buss screw on this twin twin 20 amp siemens pushmatic replacement breaker

On 2014-03-25 by (mod) -

Don I guess I need some help here to be more useful to you. The article above discusses replacementy circuit breakers for Pushmatics.

On 2014-03-25 by don ansel

is there a replacement circuit breaker for a pushmatic 40amp double pole alcu & if so are there any modifications to be made for installation. (deltacat@toledotel.com)

On 2014-03-25 by don ansel

is there a replacement circuit breaker that can be used in the same panel. im told siemen makes one & if so is there any installation problems or alterations to be made.

Question: how do I turn off the power to this Bulldog Pushmatic panel so I can replace a circuit breaker?

How would one shutoff the main breaker on the attached picture to replace a circuit breaker? Would it be the switch which indicates "main lighting"? The yellow arrow indicates the bad circuit?
Your help would be greatly appreciated.- Anonymous by private email 2018/05/22

[Click to enlarge any image]

Reply:

I cannot see all of your panel nor whether or not there are other switches or breakers or panel boxes. There may be a separate external main switch that kills power to your entire panel.

If not, the three top large breakers turn off all power to the breakers below in most panels of this design.

Watch out: if you are not trained to perform electrical work, even removing the panel cover as you have done exposes you or others to fatal electric shock - you could be killed just touching the panel interior components or wires. Don't do it.

Watch out: also, about "replacing" a bulldog pushmatic circuit breaker at all. There are performance and safety defects with these breakers resulting in dangerous conditions.
Details are at PUSHMATIC - BULLDOG PANELS as well as in other articles cited just below.

Also see CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILURE RATES

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Continue reading  at PUSHMATIC - BULLDOG PANELS - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILURE RATES
• CIRCUIT BREAKER LOCKS where we discuss circuit breaker locks for Pushmatic breakers.
• CIRCUIT BREAKERS RE-CONDITIONED USED
• ELECTRIC PANEL INSPECTION
• PUSHMATIC - BULLDOG PANELS
• BULLDOG PUSHMATIC BREAKER REPLACEMENTS
• BULLDOG PUSHMATIC DESIGN HISTORY
• PUSHMATIC BREAKER FAILURE REPORTS
• WESTINGHOUSE v. BULLDOG

Suggested citation for this web page

BULLDOG PUSHMATIC BREAKER REPLACEMENTS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to ELECTRICAL INSPECTION & TESTING

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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