Guide to Commander Breakers

Guide to Commander Breakers (CEB / Sylvania / Cutler-Hammer / Eaton)

Commander breakers have gone through several branding changes over time. Originally known as CEB (Commander Electrical Breakers), the line was later produced under Sylvania, then Cutler-Hammer, and is now part of the Eaton product family. Despite the branding changes, many of the physical breaker designs and panel compatibilities remained consistent across generations.

There are two main breaker models in this series:

The older model is the QBH, while the more recent version is the BQL.

The QBH breakers are designed to fit specifically in “B” and “BC” type panels. These panel types can be identified because the letters B or BC appear at the beginning of the panel catalogue number. These are typically earlier generation panels and are commonly found in older residential and light commercial installations.

The BQL breakers, on the other hand, are designed for “Q” and “QM” panels, which are newer versions in the same system family. These panels also clearly show Q or QM at the start of the catalogue number, making identification straightforward during replacement or upgrades.

When replacing Commander breakers, always match the breaker type (QBH vs BQL) to the panel designation to ensure proper fit, safe operation, and code compliance.