Eaton acquired Cutler-Hammer in 1978, but the Cutler-Hammer name lives on across decades of installed electrical equipment. Whether you're sourcing new Eaton breakers or hunting down legacy CH parts, this guide covers what you need to know.
After the acquisition, Eaton continued marketing products under the Cutler-Hammer brand for many years. Starting in the mid-2000s, Eaton began consolidating under its own name. Today, new products ship as "Eaton" — but parts ordered under Cutler-Hammer catalog numbers are typically still available, now cross-referenced to Eaton part numbers.
For maintenance and replacement purposes, this means: if you have equipment labeled "Cutler-Hammer," you can usually order the replacement part using the original CH catalog number and Eaton will supply the current-production equivalent.
The BR series is Eaton's standard residential load center breaker — the equivalent of Square D's Homeline series. BR breakers are single- and double-pole units for 120/240V residential panels. Common catalog numbers: BR115 (1P 15A), BR120 (1P 20A), BR230 (2P 30A), BR240 (2P 40A), BR250 (2P 50A), BR260 (2P 60A).
BR breakers are used in Eaton BR-type load centers. They are not compatible with CH-type panels without verification.
The CH series is Eaton's premium residential breaker line, used in CH-type load centers. CH breakers have a different bus connection geometry than BR breakers. Common catalog numbers: CH115 (1P 15A), CH120 (1P 20A), CH230 (2P 30A). CH panels and breakers are generally higher-quality than BR and preferred for custom home builds and premium residential work.
The BAB series covers bolt-on breakers for commercial panelboards, particularly the Eaton PRL1a and similar commercial load centers. These are a step up from residential BR/CH in interrupting capacity and build quality.
Eaton's heavy-duty MCCB line covers 15A through 800A in 2- and 3-pole configurations for 240V through 600V applications. The series designation indicates frame size and interrupting capacity:
Eaton's Series G breakers are designed for use in their Pow-R-Line panelboards — common in commercial construction from the 1990s through 2010s. Many maintenance buyers are sourcing Series G breakers for existing commercial buildings. These are available new from Eaton and from electrical surplus dealers.
Eaton's residential part numbers follow a pattern: [Series][Poles][Amperage][Suffixes]
| Part Number | Series | Poles | Amps | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BR115 | BR | 1 | 15A | Standard residential |
| CH230 | CH | 2 | 30A | Premium residential |
| BRCAF120 | BR | 1 | 20A | Dual-function CAFCI |
| HLD3100 | HLD | 3 | 100A | Commercial MCCB |
| HMCPE100T3 | HMCP | 3 | 100A | Motor circuit protector |
Eaton maintains an authorized distributor network that includes Rexel, Anixter, Graybar, Wesco, and hundreds of regional electrical distributors. For current-production breakers, authorized distributors offer the most reliable supply chain with manufacturer warranty intact.
For legacy, discontinued, or surplus Eaton/CH breakers, the surplus market carries significant inventory — particularly for the older CH series breakers that remain in millions of installed panels. Surplus units from reputable dealers are typically tested and warranted.
On competitive RFQ platforms, Eaton breakers typically generate 2–4 competing quotes, with pricing ranging from 15–45% below list depending on part number popularity and quantity.
Post your RFQ on BreakerQuote and get competing quotes from verified electrical suppliers. Any Eaton product line, any quantity.
Get Eaton Quotes →For practical procurement, the answer is usually "whichever is already in your panel." Mixing breaker brands in a panel is not generally permitted unless specifically listed as compatible. If you're doing a new panel installation, all three brands produce high-quality products — the choice often comes down to local availability, price, and installer preference.
Eaton's CH series has a strong reputation in the premium residential market. Their commercial MCCB line is competitive with Square D's PowerPact and Siemens' 3VL series. On commercial projects, the decision is often driven by panel brand already specified in the drawings.