Failure or outage
Breaker, cell, control, protection, contactor, disconnect, bus interface, or other equipment is not operating as intended.
Existing and Obsolete Switchgear Support
A failed breaker, aging lineup, missing component or planned outage should begin with exact identification—not a guessed crossover. Send clear nameplate information, drawings, ratings, condition and the required return-to-service date so ETSCO can evaluate the next step.
Do not collect information from energized equipmentDo not remove covers, defeat interlocks, enter restricted approach boundaries, or perform troubleshooting for the form. Use qualified personnel and the facility’s electrical-safety program. Submit only information already safe and authorized to share.
Common reasons customers contact ETSCO
Obsolescence or parts risk
The installed family is unsupported, documentation is incomplete, spares are uncertain, or an exact device is difficult to identify.
Planned modernization
The owner is evaluating repair, replacement, retrofit/retrofill, control updates, additional sections, or complete replacement around an outage.
The first review narrows the decision tree
| Potential route | Information to provide | Questions that remain |
|---|---|---|
| Exact replacement | Complete device identity, suffix/revision, ratings, mounting and mechanism | Source, condition, compatibility, modifications, test status, price, warranty and approval |
| Repair | Failure symptoms, test results, visible damage, identity, service history and safety status | Root cause, repair process, parts, acceptance tests, listing implications and remaining risk |
| Retrofit or retrofill | Lineup/cell details, breaker and cradle, bus/control connections, protection, interlocks and studies | Engineering, mechanical/electrical fit, fault duty, field evaluation, installation and commissioning ownership |
| Phased modernization | Complete lineup, loading, available fault current, outage sequence, spare strategy and future-state design | Interface control, protection/coordination, construction phasing, temporary conditions and responsibility |
| Complete replacement | One-line, room/site constraints, ratings, environment, listing, studies, dates and downstream interfaces | Basis of design, approvals, removal/installation, schedule, testing and energization plan |
Capture the exact equipment identity
Preserve every character. Manufacturer family, catalog number, serial, date code, suffix, revision, frame, trip unit, sensor, control voltage, drawout/fixed construction, and interlock details may all matter.
What to send with an existing-equipment RFQ
Identity and ratings
- Overall lineup and context
- Main assembly, section/cell and device labels
- Manufacturer, family/model, catalog/part, serial, suffix and revision
- Voltage, current, phase, frequency, interrupting/withstand rating and BIL if applicable
- Breaker frame/trip/sensor, mechanism, mounting and control voltage
Condition and commercial need
- Operating, de-energized, locked out, removed, damaged or unknown
- Symptoms, alarms, visible damage and tests already performed
- Desired outcome and acceptable alternatives
- Site location, access and environmental conditions
- Outage window and required return-to-service date
A blank is safer than a guessed crossoverIf identity, ratings, compatibility, condition, availability, or listing status is unknown, mark it unknown. Similar appearance is not proof.
Start with the installed equipment you actually have
The structured intake preserves the identifiers and dates needed for technical triage. Do not submit restricted drawings through the website form; ask ETSCO about secure transfer.