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Canada's Number One Circuit Breaker Specialist

Category Archives: Equipment

17Jan

From Home-Builders to Electricians: Civic covers most all electrical supplies

Posted by Scott Wearmouth at 10:51 | Articles, Equipment
From home-builders to electricians: Civic has you covered for electrical supplies

When you need electrical supplies fast and for less, Civic Recycling has you covered. A single breaker has stopped working? Civic has you covered. Need to replace an entire service in a commercial building? Civic definitely has you covered. Jobs big and small, simple or complex, common or obscure: Civic has you covered.

Since 1995, we’ve provided high-quality equipment to electrical contractors, wholesalers, industrial suppliers. We serve the oil, manufacturing, and agricultural industries as well as the general public. Whether you are looking for a brand new 15-amp residential circuit breaker or an obsolete 3000-amp molded case breaker, a box of teck connectors, a custom-built motor control centre, or a complete service, we’re here to help you!

Not sure where to start? Feel free to give us a call at anytime. We’re Canada’s #1 new/used circuit breaker dealer. But circuit breakers are just the beginning!

Electrical supplies: What we sell

1. Circuit breakers

From 15-Amp residential breakers to 3000-Amp mains to run an entire plant. We stock new and reconditioned units from nearly every brand under the sun.

Need a European or Asian breaker? We have those, too! Even better, we ship anywhere in Canada, fast, from our massive warehouse in Calgary.

2. Transformers

You won’t find many shops selling transformers, and especially not at our prices. We stock single-phase and three-phase from 50VA to 750KVA. We’ve got distribution, auto, open type, epoxy potted, isolation type, control and current transformers, general purpose, indoor and outdoor. Odds are, we have what you’ve been searching for – reconditioned and ready to go.

3. Motor control units

We have Motor Control Centres in stock from all the major manufacturers. Need a replacement bucket, doors, operators, or handles? We’ve got you covered. What’s more, we can even build you a custom MCC, from 400 amp to 3000 amp, breakered or fused. Let us know!

4. Combination Starters

We stock combination starters from every manufacturer around the world, plus all the replacement parts you’ll need. Your manufacturer is out of business? We can help you out. Magnetic, Manual, Contactors: we have them in stock.

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29Nov

How Surplus Equipment Can Help You Predict the Future

Posted by Scott Wearmouth at 19:02 | Articles, Environment, Equipment
How Surplus Equipment Can Help You Predict the Future

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by any excess electrical equipment? Upgrading your operation, decluttering a shop, or converting a workspace can leave you with equipment you don’t want or need. This can leave you feeling frustrated or overwhelmed.

At Civic Recycling we can help you put this surplus equipment to work for your business. Instead of taking up space in a landfill or causing clutter in your operation it can be converted to positive cash flow that will have an immediate impact on your bottom line.

Civic Recycling Purchasing and Testing

We are known throughout Canada for meeting a wide variety of wholesale electrical needs and for finding unique solutions to our customers’ problems. Purchasing used, unwanted, and surplus electrical equipment is just one of the many services we offer our customers. After we purchase the equipment is tested rigorously to ensure quaility.

There are several different ways to initiate the surplus purchasing process:

  • Online – If you’re interested in selling unused or unwanted equipment you can fill out our online form and upload a file with equipment details. One of our customer service representatives will contact you after receiving the form to discuss the equipment, its cash value, and the next steps to complete the transaction. We’ll walk you through the entire process.
  • Via Phone  – For immediate assistance, you can call us at 1-888-502-4842 to discuss the equipment you’re interested in selling. We’re on hand to discuss every part of the selling process and the equipment you have available.
  • In person – If you’re located in Calgary you can visit our shop in person. We can typically make you an immediate offer on your unwanted equipment. For equipment that is still in use or to evaluate a large volume of items, we are available to visit your business location.

Surplus Equipment at Civic Recycling

Purchasing used, unwanted, and surplus electrical equipment is an important part of our operation at Civic Recycling.  By acquiring this equipment we are able to give it new life and keep it from having a negative environmental impact and clogging up landfills. We uniquely understand the impact that surplus equipment can have on your cash flow and business model. If you’d like to learn more about this purchasing service we invite you to reach out to one of our customer service representatives. We can answer any questions you may have about how your unwanted equipment can be put to better use.

Thanks for reading!

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16Aug

Top 5 Electrical Safety Tips for Homeowners & Landlords

Posted by Scott Wearmouth at 11:38 | Articles, Equipment, Safety
Electrical Safety Tips Homeowners home safety

Electrical issues need to be addressed. Not only can homeowners receive quite a shock from overloaded circuits or worn-out insulation (no pun intended), but an electrical problem, such as an outdated breaker, can lead to a fire. Homeowners need to be aware of how to keep their home safe from electrical problems and keep an eye out for a range of electrical hazards. It is also important to realize when to call for professional help.

Homeowners and landlords can address a number of these issues and avoid dealing with a potential fire hazard in their home. Protect yourself and your family with the following electrical five safety tips.

1. A Stubborn Breaker Should Not Be Forced

You reset the breaker. It then immediately trips. Do not attempt to reset it again. This problem could be due to one of two reasons. On one hand, the electrical load on that breaker could be too large. On the other hand, tripping could be a result of a severe electrical problem. Force that breaker again and you may be dealing with a fire in your home. Tripping of breakers is meant to protect the homeowner. Call an electrician to investigate the problem.

2. A Warm Outlet Could Be A Sign Of An Overloaded Outlet

Do not ignore a warm outlet. This does not always apply to dimmer switches, which are often warm and generally not a hazard. But as a general rule, never ignore a warm outlet. There can be a few reasons for a warm outlet. As a homeowner, you may be dealing with a loose electrical splice, undersized wiring or a large electrical load on a single outlet. Cut the power before checking into the issue. Keep an eye out for melted connections, burned insulation or a loose splice. In addition, evaluate the wattage of connected devices. It may be necessary to switch the device to another outlet.

An electrician may be needed if the issue continues after a basic assessment is made – electrical issues can be tricky, so don’t hesitate to call on a professional in cases where you may feel unsafe.

Better safe than sorry!

3. An Outdated Breaker May Cause a Fire

Outdated panels and breakers can overheat wires and lead to a house fire. Homeowners need to replace old, outdated panels and circuit breakers such as older FPE panels, Zinsco Panels, split-bus panels past their expected lifespan and modified fuse boxes. Modifications on fuse boxes can lead to blown fuses and compensatory changes like larger fuses can create a fire hazard.

A homeowner with an outdated panel and breaker should have it professionally inspected and in the most instances, replaced.

4. A Wobbly Outlet or Switch Receptacle May Have Come Loose

When outlets or switches are loose, this is generally an indication that the box is not properly affixed to the stud, or it could mean the device was improperly mounted. Cut the power, remove the faceplate and check mounting screws. You may need to tighten the mounting screw, shorten long screws to have them fully set, or tighten the box’s connection to the framing. This should address the issue.

Again, f you are unsure contact an electrician to inspect the outlet. Safety first!

5. Do Not Use Water to Put Out an Electrical Fire

All residents in the house should know how to put out an electrical fire. Water should not be used to address an electrical fire as the water will only help it get larger. A chemical fire extinguisher can be used on small electrical fires. If a fire has grown too large, exit the home and call the fire department once safely outside.

Keep Your Home Safe With the Right Equipment and Expertise

Not only is Civic Recycling the place for necessary electrical equipment, reconditioned breakers, tested components, and much more, the Civic Recycling team answers your questions, providing expert advice when it comes to identifying and addressing electrical malfunctions. Businesses and homeowners in and around Calgary have relied upon Civic Recycling, their supplier of new, used, and reconditioned electrical equipment since 1995.

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27Jul

Circuit Breaker History from Civic Recycling: Part 1 (of 3)

Posted by Scott Wearmouth at 15:25 | Articles, Equipment, Homepage blog
circuit breaker history thomas edison breakers

Civic Recycling is a business based around products, delving into the history of circuit breakers is not something we do very often. But we thought it would be fun and informative to take a look at the history of circuit breakers, where they came from, who invented them, and where they’re going.

Parts of the story are incredibly interesting and there are some names that everyone will recognize from history who had a part in the creation of the modern circuit breaker.

History of Circuit Breakers

Being merely the introduction, today we’ll touch on a few of the notes that predated the modern circuit breaker and leave off with where things were headed at the onset of the 20th century. With that said, let’s jump into the earliest incarnations of the circuit breaker and why its invention was necessitated.

According to the book Edison’s Electric Light: Biography of an Invention, Thomas Edison, the vaunted inventor of the late 19th and early 20th century, had developed an early form of the circuit breaker according to a patent application from 1879. The purpose of his invention at the time was to protect lighting circuit wiring from accidental short circuits and overloads. Now, Edison’s version never quite took off to the extent he had hoped, as his invention was largely in sketches and the idea patented, without a true working product ever coming to fruition. But with these ideas out there, someone eventually picked up on the circuit breaker and brought it into a more commercial light.

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12Apr

Shop online for circuit breakers & your equipment ships free!

Posted by Scott Wearmouth at 12:12 | Articles, Equipment, Homepage blog
Shop online for electrical equipment canada electrical breakers online civic online store

If there’s something we can all agree on, it’s that free things are good. Not the type of “free” things that come with caveats, but things that are truly free. That’s why we like to offer free shipping for any orders over $500 to anywhere in Canada. Shop Online with us to save time and money.

Free shipping for orders over $500!!

Sometimes it can be difficult to find what you need in store. This means that one must default to shopping online. Many people don’t like shopping online, due to the incessant advertising as well as the overwhelming number of options. We, however, like to think that we have found ways to combat these issues on our own site by offering unique ways to expedite the process and save money.

Outstanding Stock In Store AND Online?

As with any shopping experience, be it online or at a brick and mortar, we believe that simplicity and ease of access to products are the keys to success. On our site, there are a lot of options for which product to purchase, but that doesn’t mean it’s overwhelming. When searching for a product there are a number of different parameters that can be set to narrow a search. This includes being able to narrow down a search by volts, amps, poles, and manufacturer. Having this ability takes out the needle in a haystack element to online shopping, and simplifies the process.

Shop Online for Reconditioned Equipment

What our online shopping experience also features is a “my account” function, allowing products and previous purchases to be saved and revisited. When searching for products, they can be “favourited” and revisited upon the next visit to the account. Once a product has been “favourited,” it will be automatically saved on the site and can be seen again from any computer. It makes choosing products much easier and streamlines the process for the next times a purchase needs to be made. With a lot of product options on the site, it’s nice to have the peace of mind knowing that past purchases can be referenced. This will go a long way in saving time for subsequent purchases and guiding future decisions.

Free Shipping from Civic Recycling

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22Feb

How Reconditioned Breakers Can Help You Live A Better Life

Posted by Scott Wearmouth at 11:22 | Electric Industry, Environment, Equipment, Homepage blog, ITE
reconditioned breakers circuit breaker ITE push to trip CR civic

We spend a lot of time talking about the time and effort we take into reconditioning our circuit breakers, why this is important, and what separates us from other companies doing the same thing. This has been discussed at length, and rightfully so; it’s important to know what goes into a product that has been previously used and how reliable it can be. With that said, something we don’t discuss as often is some of the other tangible and intangible benefits that come along with purchasing a reconditioned product from a company like ours. Some of these things seem obvious, some less so.

We thought today, we’d take the opportunity to discuss these benefits and why they should mean something to you. Again, some of these benefits will strike you as quite obvious, but we also thought this to be a fine opportunity to explain why some of these benefits are unique to our company. Circuit breakers may seem like a simple tool, but there is a lot that goes into them and there is a lot to think about when purchasing them. So, with that in mind let’s discuss 4 major benefits to buying reconditioned breakers, and why they will only serve to help you live a better life. Here they are!

1. Electrical Breakers (and peace of mind):

Something that we take pride in, as has been discussed here before, is the amount of work and rigorous testing we put into our reconditioned breakers. What this testing process produces, aside from a reliable product, is peace of mind for the person who is purchasing the breakers. There’s an inherent skepticism that comes along with used products, often times rightfully so, but with our process being as thorough and transparent as it is, there’s no reason to doubt anything ever purchased. Peace of mind, especially in regards to electrical equipment, goes a long way and allows you to purchase great products at a reduced rate without having to doubt their veracity.

2. Used Electrical Supplies (they’re green):

Another benefit to buying reconditioned products is their effect on the environment. Reconditioning products versus manufacturing new ones is always going to have a net benefit on the environment. Not only that, but when breakers are reconditioned and tested, older pieces are often replaced by newer, state of the art ones. What this does is allow the breaker to become much more efficient. It’s a pretty simple and beneficial concept, something that is certainly worth considering.

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21Jan

Circuit Breakers – When Amazon Is NOT The Best Place To Buy

Posted by Scott Wearmouth at 19:22 | Articles, Brands, Equipment, Homepage blog, Square D
square d circuit breakers yellow warehouse civic recycling switch on off electrical products shop

As the world changes, so do the ways in which we shop. With technology constantly evolving many people have begun to do a lot of their shopping online. When there is the option to shop from sites like Amazon, who seemingly carry any and every product available, it streamlines life and makes shopping for hard to find items a lot easier. Having the ability to get some of your groceries and clothes and a baby seat all in one place makes life a whole lot easier. It would appear, on the surface at least, that buying everything from a site like this is a no-brainer. So what about Circuit Breakers? Maybe safety is another factor we should consider as well.

Benefits of a Specialty Service

While there’s truth to a lot of what was just mentioned, occasionally purchasing a product that requires more thought from a place like this is a little risky. While a site like Amazon caters to everyone, it lacks the specific advice and personal touch some of these products require. Buying certain things, like circuit breakers for instance, require knowledge to ensure the right product is being purchased for specific jobs. Some buying circuit breakers know what they’re looking for, many others, however, do not. Going into Amazon and arbitrarily purchasing a circuit breaker in the hopes that it will get the job done is not a smart way to operate.

When purchasing circuit breakers, whether new or reconditioned, there needs to be a certain expectation that it’s the right product for the job and that it’s going to work to the levels expected. Where sites like Amazon fall short is ensuring that all of these prerequisites are met. Amazon does a lot of things extremely well, offering nuanced advice and guidance specific to circuit breakers doesn’t happen to be one of them.

Why Choose Breakers from Civic Recycling?

When purchasing a circuit breaker, doing so from a place that specializes in such products is the best plan of attack. There are a number of reasons why looking at sites like our own, Civic Recycling, specializes in circuit breakers and have an intimate knowledge the products, will bear fruit in the long run. There are a number of reasons why specialty sites will be beneficial when purchasing products such as these, and here are a few of them:

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27Oct

5 Ways To Build Better Electrical Safety Management Systems

Posted by Scott Wearmouth at 12:48 | Articles, Equipment, Homepage blog, Safety
Electrical Safety Management system blog post electric current cr civic recycle

Electrical Safety Management Explained

Just about every business uses electricity. In fact, the use of electrical power is so commonplace that it’s easy to take for granted in some respects. Any electrical system has the potential to cause harm to both life and property and accidents do occur. These mishaps happen every day, whether here in Canada or elsewhere, and often it is because proper procedures in the treatment and use of electricity aren’t followed.

Personal injuries may be suffered in a variety of ways, including:

  • Direct contact with either an energized electrical conductor or a live circuit. The human body is an efficient electrical conductor and when an electrical charge enters the body the energy will travel through it seeking a ground. This can be fatal, as the electricity can cause a malfunction of the heart, the lungs, and other muscles.
  • Electrical energy can arc or jump from an exposed circuit or conductor through the air to a person who is grounded, causing similar death or damage as that of direct contact.
  • Thermal burns may be suffered from the heat generated by electrical arcs as well as burns received from materials catching on fire as a result of contact with arcs or the heat created by electrical currents. Contact burns caused by being shocked may show little damage to your skin yet create significant damage to internal tissue.
  • Receiving a shock while on a ladder or otherwise working above ground can cause a fall that may result in serious injury.

Your Electrical Safety System

Every business should have an electrical safety management system in place that provides basic training regarding ways to avoid being injured or killed by electricity and ways to prevent property damage or destruction.

Here are some tips on building a better electrical safety management system for all:

  1. Conduct semi-annual safety meetings for all employees stressing the dangers of electricity and how to protect against property damage/personal injury.

  2. Ensure personnel know what to do in an electrical emergency.

  3. Ensure all extension cords are of the proper size for the appliance they’re used to power, that they’re only used for temporary use, not coiled in use and inspected before use.

  4. Ensure all circuit breaker panels are properly labeled and any breakers that are replaced are certified safely operational.

  5. Conduct regular workplace assessments to ensure safe practices are being utilized throughout.

  6. When it’s time to replace a piece of electrical gear, utilize the services of a certified professional for replacement parts.

 

Learn more about how we test our electrical products, safety is our top priority. Civic Recycling is committed to delivering fantastics products to our customers across Canada. Think of us for Electrical Equipment and breakers including:

Thanks for reading!

 

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26Sep

Civic Is For Builders, Electricians, & Home Renovation Experts

Posted by Scott Wearmouth at 11:23 | Articles, Equipment, Homepage blog, Power, Testing
electricians outstanding stock warehouse shelves civic equipment

As a builder, electrician or expert renovator, it’s important to understand your needs. Whether you’re going to be buying in bulk for a business, performing smaller residential projects, or simply tackling something on your own.

Knowing what you need and what you don’t, no matter the job, can’t be overstated. All this leads us to talk about the services we offer at Civic Recycling. Some places specialize in supporting larger scale businesses, and some places specialize in supporting the little guy and the handyman.

At Civic we have the products and the infrastructure to support anyone who’s looking for a quality product.

 

Civic Recycling: Outstanding Electrical Stock

What makes our stock so great is not only the variety- we have circuit breakers, transformers, fuses, motor control- but the fact that we offer all of these products at varying prices. This, paired with our knowledgeable staff, will assist you in finding the product that perfectly suits your needs. Whether you’re a wholesaler, working in oil and gas, or in the agricultural industry, we have the products and services that will suit the needs of any person or business. A brief conversation with any of our well-versed sales team will position you to purchase the best product for your needs.

 

Professionally Reconditioned Equipment

In addition to our wide selection of electrical products and services, we offer professionally reconditioned and refurbished circuit breakers. While some may be put off by the idea of a second-hand piece of electrical equipment, our breakers go through rigorous testing. Not only that, but each breaker is reconditioned by a Certified Breaker Technician, come with a written test, and are backed by a one year 100% guarantee. Not only will the product perform to the highest of standards, as you would expect, but the product guarantee offers peace of mind as well.

 

Breaker Testing and Inspections

To further provide peace of mind and quality, each breaker once cleaned goes through a 36-point visual inspection. Once the visual inspection has taken place, each breaker goes through a three different tests to further inspect its reliability and quality. The three tests are an insulation resistance test- to verify the condition of the breakers insulating materials, a contact resistance test- to verify the current path of the breaker, and an overcurrent trip test- which verifies the time-current characteristics of the breaker.

What we’re trying to say here is that even though these breakers are reconditioned, the vigorous testing and thoroughness of each test guarantees that the product will operate exactly how a new product would. The refurbished product also realizes a cost saving which is passed along to the customer.

At the end of the day, no matter who you are and what size your business is, we have the products and the knowledge to take care of your needs. As we said, our fantastic selection and the option to purchase reconditioned products means that there is going to be something here for everyone at every price point.
Should you have any question regarding what the right product for you is, don’t hesitate to contact our sales staff with any and all of your queries. We’ll get you properly outfitted with the product and services that are right for you.

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30Aug

Electrical Infrastructure in Canada: What’s Up Next?

Posted by Scott Wearmouth at 09:07 | Articles, Certified, Electric Industry, Environment, Equipment, Government, Homepage blog
electrical infrastructure canada hydro water dam cr civic blog post

New Blog Post: What’s Next for Electrical Infrastructure in Canada?

As the world changes, Canada changes with it. The slow move away from fossil fuels is in progress, and this provides us the opportunity to take a look at where Canada is moving as well. As the economy works around energy generation it’s important to have a firm grasp on where things are going and also where they are coming from.

We thought it would be an enlightening topic of discussion to take a look our own electrical infrastructure and see where things are headed.

Electrical Energy Generation in Canada

Canada is quite diverse in its energy generation, being the second largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world. With the demand for electricity, especially in the industrial sector, only expected to grow, Canada has some interesting ways with how it’s going to keep up with demand. Change in electrical infrastructure, generation and production are always subject to government changes, and what parts of the country are most and least in demand.

In terms of generation, according to the government of Canada, the country is expected to continue producing hydroelectricity at high levels but will see its share decrease from 55% to 51% of total production by the year 2040. Where the slack will be picked up is in wind generation, which is expected to rise from 7% of total electricity produced to 11% by 2040. We will also see a rise in production from biomass, solar, and geothermal, which will account for about 5% also by 2040. We will also see natural gas rise from 15% to 22% over that same time span. In terms of decreasing production, nuclear energy is expected to shrink down to about 6% from 10% by 2040.

On top of that, the country is linked to a number of exciting projects moving forward, including smart grids, small-scale renewable and clean energy products, and ecoEnergy. Diversification and a smaller reliance, if ever so slightly, on the types of energy Canada has always produced seem to be what’s going to be the norm in the coming decades.

Electrical Infrastructure and Civic Recycling

I guess this all begs the question of what does it all mean? Well, it’s important to know where Canada stands on energy as there are a great many jobs and investments that rely on what the future may hold. With climate change also becoming a greater concern, finding ways to combat its effects is an important discussion and process to begin. We also must ask; how does this impact us? As an electrical supplies company, we always need to know what comes next, whether that means changes in commercial or personal sales. The rules of the game are always changing and if you can’t keep up then you’ll get left behind.

At Civic Recycling we strive to be a part of Canada’s future energy goals while maintaining the things we do that we feel make us great. The world’s, and Canada’s, consumption of electricity and electrical infrastructure will change over the coming years and we plan on being right there with it.

 

Thanks for reading and we hope to chat with you soon.

Contact us here or learn more about how we test our electrical products, safety is our top priority. Civic Recycling is committed to delivering fantastics products to our customers across Canada.

Think of us for Electrical Equipment and breakers including:

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