The History of GE AL Circuit Breakers, GE AK Circuit Breakers and GE AKR Circuit Breakers
In 1945 after the war effort had ended, GE sold the first resettable fuse- a Circuit breaker. The GE AL line of circuit breakers we were large heavy circuit breakers mounted on slate. They had dash pot trip units that were revolutionary at the time and unfortunately became very unreliable as time passed. The 600 amp GE circuit breaker was called an AE-1-25. The 1600amp breaker was a GE AL-2-50, followed by the GE AL-2-75 3000 amp frame circuit breaker and the GE Al-2-100 4000 amp circuit breaker.
In 1955 circuit breakers became smaller and faster. GE introduced the AK line of circuit breakers. The GE AK circuit breakers were smaller, lighter, and more reliable than their earlier GE AL counterparts. These models featured electro-mechanical trip units and plastic pole bases. GE continued to make the AK circuit breaker for the next 30 years. These models included: 600 amp GE breakers AK-1-25, AK-2-25, AK-2A-25, AK-3A-35, AK-4A-25, AK-5A-25, AK-6A-25. 1600 amp circuit breakers manufactured over the same time period were: AK-1-50, AK-2-50, AK-2A-50, the AK-2A-50S high-speed circuit breaker, AK-3A-50, AK-4A-50, AK-5A-50 and the AK-6A-50. At this time GE also introduced a 2000 amp frame size, the GE AKT-2-50. In 3000 amp sizes selection there was the GE AK-1-75, AK-2-75, AK-2A-75, AK-3A-75 AK-4A-75, and AK-5A-75. The largest circuit breakers made during this time period (1955-1986) were the GE AK-1-100, AK-2-100, AK-2A-100, AK-3A-100 and AK-4A-100.
Around 1985 GE introduced the AKR line of circuit breakers. This was a major design change, and led to the GE AKR circuit breakers being able to communicate information back to a central pc. There were several variations on the AKR line of circuit breakers, mostly upgrades the solid state trip units and changing the racking mechanisms. The model numbers for these types are as follows.GE AKR-5A-30, AKR-5B-30, AKR-6D-30, AKR-7D-30, AKR-8D-30, AKR-9D-30, AKR-10D-30. Fused models were the GE AKRU circuit breakers, and high interrupting models were always signified with an 'H' at the end of the serial number (such as AKR-7D-30H). 1600 amp frame sizes were the next size. 1600 amp AKR air circuit breakers are known for serial numbers that begin with "AKR', some model types you might find are as follows: AKR-5A-50, AKR-5B-50, AKR-5D-50, AKR-6D-50,AKR-7D-50, AKR-8D-50,AKR-9D-50, AKR-10D-50. Around this time popular models included the fused 1600 amp air circuit breakers AKRU-6D-50 and H model high interrupting circuit breakers. Low voltage power circuit breakers in the 3000 amp frame size were GE AKR-5A-75, AKR-5C-75, AKR-5B-75, AKR-6D-75, AKR-7D-75, AKR-8D-75, AKR-9D-75. 4000 amp frame size circuit breakers followed a similar pattern, GE AKR-5A-100, AKR-5B-100, AKR-6D-100, AKR-7D-100, AKR-7F-100
The GE AKR low voltage air circuit breaker line was very popular and reliable. The current GE line of GE circuit breakers are called the GE Wavepro Series, these circuit breakers introduce a completely new technology to switchgear.