Electrical equipment provides vital safety functionality in nearly every application. Counterfeits are intended to mislead consumers, installers and inspectors. Failing to meet required standards, these products put people’s lives and homes at risk – dramatically increasing the risk of fire, injury or property damage.
At Eaton, we’ve focused on electrical safety for over a century. Our solutions meet rigorous third-party standards, certification and testing requirements to ensure they will operate as intended. We work closely with industry and government leaders to help stop counterfeit products and raise awareness of the dangers they pose. Take advantage of our tools and resources to help ensure that you’re always using authentic Eaton products.
Eaton’s testing of counterfeit and reconditioned products has shown these products to be unsafe. A breaker failure means the loss of protection, possible equipment damage and the increased risk of worker injury at the time of failure or during maintenance.
With Eaton’s Asset Manager, you can easily authenticate specific products using our proprietary anti-counterfeit system. The product scanner will let you know whether our product is genuine or suspect.
Spot the signs of a moulded-case counterfeit circuit breaker
Learn how to identify counterfeit circuit breakers to ensure safety in your home and buildings by checking for clear, scannable and properly adhered labels
Do not use suspected counterfeit or knock-off electrical products. If the device has already been applied, it should be removed from service. It is important to report it to the manufacturer listed and your local authorities. You can report suspected counterfeit Eaton products to “report_fakes@eaton.com”. If you cannot find a brand contact, contact the IPR Center who will disseminate the information at IPRCenter@dhs.gov or +1 866 477 2060.
These are fakes that are made to look like they were made by a trusted manufacturer but do not provide the advertised functionality or meet the required standards for safe operation.
Counterfeit circuit breakers are often poorly constructed, use inferior parts and are unlikely to meet published specifications. They could misrepresent the actual voltage, current and interrupting ratings, often failing independent testing to applicable performance standards such as UL489.