Lofrans v Generic Circuit Breaker

[CJ13]

I'm installing a new Lofrans Cayman Windlass.
I have a choice of a Lofrans 100A thermal circuit breaker or say a Blue Sea 187 100A thermal CB at half the price.
I haven't been able to find any technical data for the Lofrans CB except a statement ' it works following a specific time / current characteristic curve in order the windlass may supply the best performance'. Is this worth paying extra for or is this just a b/s sales pitch?
I suppose basically my question is will the Blue Sea CB do the same job?

http://www.lofrans.com/product.php?id=23&categoryId=5

http://www.cactusnav.com/blue-panel-mount-circuit-breaker-100a-p-15185.html

 

[macd]

When I bought and installed a Lofrans Tigres about a decade ago, the tech guy at the then UK importer told me that the price of the Lofrans breaker was silly and a generic one woud do just as well. There is a significant difference in the way breakers operate, much of it beyond me, but someone's bound to be along with technical info on that.

 

[PaulRainbow]

For your windlass a suitably rated BlueSea one will be perfectly OK. My Lofrans works fine with a generic breaker, as do millions of others i would guess.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I'm installing a new Lofrans Cayman Windlass.
I have a choice of a Lofrans 100A thermal circuit breaker or say a Blue Sea 187 100A thermal CB at half the price.
I haven't been able to find any technical data for the Lofrans CB except a statement ' it works following a specific time / current characteristic curve in order the windlass may supply the best performance'. Is this worth paying extra for or is this just a b/s sales pitch?
I suppose basically my question is will the Blue Sea CB do the same job?

http://www.lofrans.com/product.php?id=23&categoryId=5

http://www.cactusnav.com/blue-panel-mount-circuit-breaker-100a-p-15185.html

The operative word in both those is thermal which they both are.

The other type is magnetic

The very simple description is
In thermal the current heats up a bimetal strip that causes the CB to trip.
In magnetic the current causes a magnetic field to flow thus tripping the CB to trip.

 

[DownWest]

My normal view on this is: Do Lofrans make circuit breakers? Probably not, they buy in and mark up. So any similar spec one will do.

 

[nigelmercier]

My Tigres [sic] has a fuse. A breaker would be nice though.

 

[CJ13]

Hi Nigel,

Has your fuse ever blown?

John

 

[nigelmercier]

Has your fuse ever blown?

Once, but exceptional circumstances. I was fitting a wireless remote and decided to try out the latching mode.

 

[GrahamM376]

For your windlass a suitably rated BlueSea one will be perfectly OK. My Lofrans works fine with a generic breaker, as do millions of others i would guess.

+1

EC Smith used to be Lofrans UK distributors and supplied generic breakers, which they still sell.

 

[PaulRainbow]

My Tigres [sic] has a fuse. A breaker would be nice though.

Skip the next washing machine update Nigel and treat yourself to one

 

[macd]

EC Smith used to be Lofrans UK distributors and supplied generic breakers, which they still sell.

Thanks for reminding me. That's who I was referring to in post #2.

Incidentally, since I was fitting a 1kW windlass, somewhat over-rated for my 8mm chain on a 32-footer, their tech chap suggested I might fit an 80A breaker rather than the normal 100W, which I did. It tripped just once in six years, lifting a chain with links as big as your head from a Portuguese harbour bottom. Still got it to the surface, though, where it could be tied off and released. I liked the idea of being unable to over-stress the motor.