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Residential electrical panels

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    copperhound started this thread.
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    Residential electrical panels

    I've been buying wire from an electrical contractor for some time now. He started giving me loaded electrical panels. My question is what to do with them. Does it make sense to break them down to get metals out or resell them as panels. Also where to sell used breakers. Any info appreciated. Ty



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    Ecycle Atlanta's Avatar
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    I have a bunch of panels i took out of an industrial building. 400 amps some with breakers, all were working when removed. Also have a lot of switches/disconnects. I just listed them on Craigslist as a big lot, see what happens and will let you know. I imagine there is a market, but they probably cant be used for new installations.

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    SuperDave's Avatar
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    Most electricians don't want used panels or wire. Most only use new. Break 'em down some good barebright and magnesium and/or al.

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    jghilino's Avatar
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    I buy and sell used breakers. What types of breakers do you have? I primarily sell fpe stab lok, but am open to anything if the price is right.

    You all need to make a a detailed list of your breakers and email it to me. I can pay alot better than lot or scrap price for them.
    I buy and sell all types of scrap and escrap. I buy specialty and hard to sell escrap. I buy resale items. PM me or contact me at jghilino@hotmail.com
    I AM ACTIVELY BUYING ESCRAP OF ALL TYPES. BOARDS, RAM, CPUS AND MUCH MORE

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    happyscraper's Avatar
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    I break down every electrical panel I can get, lots of copper in them, The bar that the breakers are hooked to are copper, they are coated with something and looks like aluminum, hit with a grinder and you'll see the copper. The screws can be APITA to get out, just hit them with a hammer and break the plastic.

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    billygoat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jghilino View Post
    I buy and sell used breakers. What types of breakers do you have? I primarily sell fpe stab lok, but am open to anything if the price is right.
    I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but the Federal Pacific stab lok panels and breakers are known to be a fire hazard. Whenever I got a call to service one of these panels I always did my best to convince the customer to replace the panel ASAP with a Square D. In any event, I would never install a used breaker of any kind unless I was the one who pulled it out of another panel.

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    Copperhead, You should be able to get electrical breakage for any breakers and starters from your yard. Last I checked the yard I am working in was paying 46 cents a lb for it.

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    PartTimeScrapper's Avatar
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    Theres a place her in denver that buys used breakers. I think they refurb them and resell them. Also if you look on ebay there are tons of house breakers for sale.

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    jghilino's Avatar
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    lol i think i can beat 46 cents a pound for them, i buy and sell 100's of breakers a year

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    I'm aware of how old this post is, but I didn't want to post another thread asking "What do I do with these???" I just picked up two panel boxes the other night, and was unsure if it was worth trying to list the old breakers on ebay. I decided NO. also, I tried to remove two of the silver contacts and decided I won't be going that route either...
    I stumbled across relectric.com, so I gave em a call. They want pictures, so I'll send a few. Again, I only have about 40 or so breakers, just looking forward to find the best way to make money off them. Some of you guys probably have hundreds of these things, it might be worth checking into.

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    MattInTheHat's Avatar
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    Brasscatcher has a thread about taking apart breakers, and it has been mentioned before.

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    jghilino's Avatar
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    the ones i cant resell or that come in broken i break them down my self, have a nice pile of silver contacts ive accumulated over the years

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    I don't think I have the patience to try and harvest the silver contacts, I'm a BFH, baseball bat, and sawzall kinda guy. I'm just gonna stash em somewhere, if I come across more, I'll maybe decide to do something with them. They are all a mixed bunch of old ones, mostly single and two poles, but again, probably only about 40 total...


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