[Question] Do circuit breakers need to be SABS APPROVED

[Gilberto Silva]

Hi. The company just quoted me to redo all my electrical switches on my DB board. And they bought new CBI circuit breakers . however when I expected them I don't see sabs stamps anywhere. My old one do have. Apparently manufactures were in boksburg, but now are in lesotho. Should I be worried. And thanks for any help.

[RegElec]

If any doubt exists as to the authenticity of an MCB or ELPU product, contact CBI-electric: Low Voltage on (011) 928-2000

[AndyD]

They also have pdf datasheets on their website that give details of the SABS and IEC approval of their various products. Here's the URL for their MCB's http://cbi-lowvoltage.co.za/content/...rcuit-breakers

[Sparks]

I think he could be referring to Schenker or Lear brand Andy. Nowadays CBI refers to the mounting type more than the manufacturer. People have been using them because they are cheaper. Money means more than safety.

[Gilberto Silva]

Thank you guys. I've just read this article > http://cbi-lowvoltage.co.za/content/...itical-devices
and now I'm as paranoid as ever. They don't answer their numbers now, will phone them on Monday.
I really have a bad feeling I've been scammed. The quote they gave me was to upgrade by DB board because they told me it was 20 years old. To my surprise they did nothing to the DB board and they were replacing all the switches so that I won't have problems for the next 20yrs.
When they came back all the parts looked basically the same as what I already had except no SABS approval. I thought it would be more advanced versions.

I'll put the below text in new thread if this is not the right place...

7 CBs, 2*15A 2*30A 3*20A
1 63A Earth Leakage
1 60A Switch
1 Surge Arrestor.

The whole quote came initially to R15k and they discounted me to R13.8k. Everything inside me tells me I've been scammed. I'm not having electricity problems afterwards, because they did replace the faulty Earth leakage unit.
Really depressed from this whole ordeal...

[AndyD]

Can you maybe give us some pictures of the DB and the circuit breakers they've installed? You should be able to attach jpeg's as long as the file size isn't too big.

[markthespark]

Wow this whole scenario sounds scary!! The amount of times that I've had to replace an earth leakage unit to rectify a fault is minimal! The elu is doing the work it is designed to do if it keeps tripping. Because it no longer trips does not mean they have rectified the fault. Does the test button trip the unit, Giberto, and did they produce a CoC for the work?

[bergie]

even if its genuine CBI breakers its still a rip off. if the parts are R 2500 ,thats a lot of profit for less than a days work.

[Gilberto Silva]

even if its genuine CBI breakers its still a rip off. if the parts are R 2500 ,thats a lot of profit for less than a days work.

Thats what I thought > I came to R2318 on www.cbionline.co.za. I only managed to check that the evening after the work was done which is why I started posting my questions.

[Gilberto Silva]

I've attached photo's which I took when I saw no SABS logo on the Circuit breaker. Also the main image is all the parts installed on my DB board.

Thanks again everyone.

[AndyD]

I'll double check when I've got some time to comb through the CBI datasheets but I'm pretty sure your DB has no main breaker capable of providing overload protection for the incoming supply. This would be an immediately hazardous installation, not to mention illegal. Please wait for confirmation though, there is a chance I'm wrong.

[SilverNodashi]

R14K sounds like a LOT of money to replace a couple of circuit breakers!

[bergie]

andy beat me to it . there is no overload protection on the main switch. its an isolator.

[AndyD]

Lol, Bergie beat me to confirming, I checked the datasheets and it's definitely only an isolator that's rated to 60Amp and it doesn't provide overload protection, the earth leakage breaker is also the type without overload protection so it's game set and match, no main overload protection so the setup you've shown is unacceptable.

I'd be interested to see the compliance certificate they issued if this photo was taken after they've done the work.

[AndyD]

.....they did nothing to the DB board and they were replacing all the switches so that I won't have problems for the next 20yrs.
When they came back all the parts looked basically the same as what I already had except no SABS approval.......

R14K sounds like a LOT of money to replace a couple of circuit breakers!

If they just replaced the existing circuit breakers with new replacements then yes, it sounds way overpriced to me as well.

There's a few things not adding up for me, firstly the price is either extortionate or they did a lot of work that's not been mentioned. Secondly why would the old circuit breakers all require replacing with new unless there was damage evident? Thirdly how did replacing the earth leakage circuit breaker 'fix' an earth leakage tripping fault? If the earth leakage breaker was tripping it's a 99% certainty it was working and there was a circuit with a fault somewhere unless by some small chance they ramp tested the RCD and it failed.

I'm at the stage with this where I'd recommend that a licensed and registered electrician is paid to firstly make the DB safe by installing an appropriate main OCPD device and secondly a report is done on the DB along with some quick circuit test results. I know it sounds like throwing good money after bad but without it you'll never know what other unsafe things there may be.

**edit**
Gilberto, why don't you email the same photos you attached in post #10 to CBI and ask them why there's no SABS approval stamped on their circuit breakers? I'm sure they'll be happy to confirm whether or not they're genuine (not counterfeit) and whether they're SABS approved.