Siemens acquired ITE in 1981, but ITE-branded breakers remain in service across commercial and industrial facilities built through the 1980s. Whether you need current Siemens product or legacy ITE replacements, this guide covers the full picture.
ITE (Industrial Terminal Equipment) was a major American electrical manufacturer that Siemens acquired and absorbed over the 1980s. ITE's circuit breaker designs were largely continued under the Siemens brand, meaning many ITE part numbers have direct Siemens equivalents today. However, some older ITE product lines were discontinued without direct successors.
For maintenance buyers, the key question is: does my ITE part number still have an active Siemens cross-reference? Siemens' technical support can answer this directly, or you can check Siemens' online catalog using the ITE part number as a search term.
The QP series is Siemens' workhorse residential plug-in breaker, used in Siemens and Murray load centers. These are the most common Siemens residential breakers in the field. Part numbers: Q115 (1P 15A), Q120 (1P 20A), Q230 (2P 30A), Q250 (2P 50A), Q260 (2P 60A).
QD breakers are full-size (wider) versions of the QP for tandem applications and certain panel configurations. Less common than QP but important for specific load center models that require the wider form factor.
Siemens acquired Murray in 1994. The Murray MP series is functionally equivalent to the Siemens QP series and fits the same panels. Many distributors still stock Murray-branded breakers that are interchangeable with Siemens QP. If you have a "Murray" panel, QP breakers work — and vice versa.
Siemens makes AFCI breakers (Q115AFCNP, Q120AFCNP) and dual-function AFCI/GFCI breakers (Q115DFNP, Q120DFNP) for NEC compliance. The "NP" suffix indicates the neutral pigtail required for AFCI/GFCI operation.
The BL series covers Siemens' commercial bolt-on breakers for panelboards like the PL and NQOD. BLD indicates a 3-pole configuration. Common in commercial construction through the 2000s and 2010s. These are widely available both new and from surplus dealers.
Siemens' heavy-duty MCCB line for industrial and large commercial applications. The middle letter indicates frame size (E=smaller, F=medium, J=larger). These correspond roughly to Eaton's HLD/HJD and Square D's LAL/LAF series for cross-reference purposes.
Siemens' current-generation industrial MCCB line, branded as Sentron. The 3VL series covers 16A through 1600A and replaces older ITE/Siemens industrial breaker series. If you're sourcing replacements for 1990s-era ITE industrial breakers, 3VL may be the current equivalent — verify with Siemens' cross-reference documentation.
| Part Number | Series | Poles | Amps | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q115 | QP | 1 | 15A | Standard residential |
| Q230 | QP | 2 | 30A | Standard residential |
| Q120DFNP | QP | 1 | 20A | Dual-function (AFCI+GFCI) |
| BLD3B100 | BLD | 3 | 100A | Commercial bolt-on |
| HEG3B070 | HEG | 3 | 70A | Industrial MCCB |
For discontinued ITE part numbers without a Siemens equivalent, the surplus electrical market is often the only source. Surplus dealers carry inventory from decommissioned ITE equipment — typically tested, warranted, and available at a fraction of what new equivalent equipment would cost.
When sourcing surplus ITE breakers: verify the interrupting rating still meets your application's available fault current, check that the physical condition shows no signs of previous fault interruption (evidence of arcing, discoloration, or deformation), and ensure the unit tests properly before installation in life-safety applications.
Post one RFQ and get competing quotes from suppliers with both new Siemens product and legacy ITE inventory.
Get Siemens Quotes →Siemens residential breakers (QP series) are typically priced competitively with Eaton BR and Square D Homeline — all three sit in a similar tier for standard residential applications. The premium lines (CH, QO) command higher prices for their improved reliability ratings and longer warranty terms.
For commercial and industrial product, Siemens prices are competitive with Square D and Eaton. The differences between manufacturers at this level are more about local availability, distributor relationships, and project specifications than meaningful price gaps. Posting an RFQ that accepts any of the three typically surfaces the best combination of price and availability.