Spa Panel: Too good to be true?

[CoalCracker]

Saw this on ebay for a killer deal. Seems too good to be true. Anyone have any insight?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Midwest...uit_Breakers_Transformers&hash=item3ccc50c156

 

[Chris7687]

Looks like the same exact one from HD, but 1/2 the price (after shipping).... can anyone else verify? If it's the same I'm grabbing one too!!

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[LandoLincoln]

The HD reviews on this panel are pretty poor. Lots of faulty breakers. Hmm. Not good.

 

[LiquidFlame]

Still need to buy my spa panel and was planning on getting the one from HD, because I thought everyone pretty much got theirs from there. If not where are people getting theirs.

 

[Chris7687]

I bought one from the link. We'll see how it goes. Bad reviews on HD site? 4.3/5 stars is a good review in my book.

 

[LiquidFlame]

Does the ebay one actually come with the GFCI breaker?

 

[CoalCracker]

It appears to. There is nothing saying otherwise. I'm debating on what I want to do. It's a new build so I have plenty of room in my panel for the breaker. However that is a 100 dollar bill for the GFI panel breaker Vs. the price of this spa panel + a 30 amp non GFI breaker. The Spa panel is clearly much cheaper. Just less stream lined.

 

[LiquidFlame]

I bought one from the link. We'll see how it goes. Bad reviews on HD site? 4.3/5 stars is a good review in my book.

Let us know how it works out

 

[Chris7687]

Hey CoalCracker, I am following a similar build to johndon and he used the same setup. He has pictures too showing how he has everything running.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f170/my-official-e-biab-build-thread-269164/

Let me know what you do. I am going to start wiring and assembling everything the first of the new year!

 

[CoalCracker]

My BIL is an electrician. I'm going to talk it over with him tonight.

 

[Chris7687]

Let me know what he says. Don't want to have a panel I can't use!

 

[LiquidFlame]

What questions do you have about wiring up the spa panel?

 

[CoalCracker]

None, just which he would prefer if he were doing it.

 

[jeffmeh]

If it is the same spa panel as the HD one, in working order, it should be fine to use.

 

[rangrr4834]

I just bought one from the site. The reviews from recent on HD seem good. The reviews from 2010 and earlier are questionable but worth the chance IMO.

 

[scottstribling]

In the description it said the fuse is not included.

 

[grandequeso]

My understanding is that it offers gfci protection. the "non fused" means that it doesn't provide overcurrent protection. That means its fine to use it down line of a properly sized breaker for gfci protection. not okay to yank it out and use it in your house panel.

 

[CoalCracker]

Just ordered one.

Next I'll order the 30a panel breaker and I'll be set.

 

[Chris7687]

CoalBreaker, are you putting the 30a breaker in your main house panel to run the 50a spa panel off of?

 

[CoalCracker]

Yes.

 

[Chris7687]

Just curious, as I am not to electrical savvy, but why not put a 50a in? If your running 30a and can only run 80% of the load you are limiting your 50a panel.

 

[CoalCracker]

Because the panel is only supposed to run at a max of 30amps and that's at 100%. Ideally it should never hit a full 30 amps. In the event that it does, you want the breaker to trip so that it protects the equipment.

Breakers protect equipment, GFI protect lives.

 

[LiquidFlame]

That is if you are making a 30A control panel

 

[CoalCracker]

Right! If you have a 50a panel, throw in a 50a breaker. This is really equipment specific.

 

[kal]

FWIW a breaker is about the last thing I'd buy off eBay given that you really don't know the source.

There have been some (somewhat) recent issues with counterfeit breakers.

Example: http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1112/111208jacksonville.htm

Who knows where they're floating around now. I doubt they captured all of them that were already sold.

This ebay seller (like many) is likely just a liquidator who sells things they find at a good deal, not knowing exactly what they're selling. It's not their fault.

Saw this on ebay for a killer deal. Seems too good to be true.

Yes it does. Whenever I see something too good to be true, it usually is.

Kal

 

[Chris7687]

Keeping my fingers crossed on the authenticity of this panel.

 

[CoalCracker]

Ditto

Edit: Just tracked it. Should be delivered today.

 

[kal]

Keeping my fingers crossed on the authenticity of this panel.

But how will you know it's authentic and doesn't use counterfeit parts? The point I was trying to make above is that there's been some counterfeit breakers going around that from the outside appear like and seem to work the same way as "real" ones. They just did not undergo the rigorous CSA/UL testing and certification like real breakers. (The CSA/UL stickers or printing is fake).

Because you can't ever tell if it's authentic or not is the reason why I'd never buy safety related devices (like breakers) from unknown sources, especially if the price seems too good to be true.

This is not like buying a cheap Chinese knockoff of some product that, when it breaks, you say "oh well" and toss it. If this breaker doesn't work right it could kill you.

Of course, it could be completely legit too. I don't know. Impossible to know.

Kal

 

[CoalCracker]

I sent the seller a message to find out the origin of where he acquired the panels and if he could guarantee that the item is not counterfeit in any way. I'll take the answer with a grain of salt. But we'll see what he comes back with.

 

[kal]

Good idea. They're most likely (hopefully) just overstock from somewhere and he's liquidating.

Kal