OEM GE AKR Retrofit Supplier

Many facilities are still operating with legacy air circuit breakers that are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, repair, or source replacement parts for. Breakers such as GE AK/AKR, WavePro, Westinghouse DB, older ABB SACE Emax models, and other obsolete platforms continue to power critical infrastructure every day - but aging protection systems create growing reliability and safety concerns.

The challenge for most facilities is not finding the newest breaker platform. The challenge is finding a practical replacement solution for the breaker they already have installed.

That is where retrofit and retrofill breaker solutions come in.

At Bay Power, we help facilities modernize aging switchgear by replacing obsolete breakers with modern ABB SACE Emax 2 retrofill breakers and other engineered retrofit solutions - often without replacing the entire switchgear lineup.

As an authorized dealer for ABB SACE Emax 2 breakers, Bay Power is proud to offer the cutting-edge Retrofill solutions designed to breathe new life into aging switchgear—without heavy replacing or reconfiguration.

What Is the Emax 2 Retrofill Circuit Breaker?

The SACE Emax 2 Retrofill Circuit Breaker is engineered to replace legacy breakers (such as GE AK/AKR/WavePro, ABB Emax, BBC K-Line Plus, Westinghouse DB models) directly into existing switchgear cubicles—often with zero modifications to the cubicle bus, racking, or conduits. These retrofill breakers match or exceed the original short-circuit interrupting ratings, and are tested to meet ANSI, NEMA, and IEEE standards.

 

Why Industries Are Retrofitting Old GE AKR Breakers

Industrial Plants & Manufacturing

Legacy breakers still protect heavy machinery and production lines, but risk downtime or obsolescence. Emax 2 retrofits deliver modern protection, improved safety, and enhanced longevity—all with minimal disruption.

Utilities & Infrastructure

Aging utility switchgear can now benefit from advanced functionalities like predictive maintenance and energy monitoring without costly system overhauls.

Data Centers & Commercial Buildings

With high uptime demands, data centers and commercial sites can upgrade protection systems safely and swiftly—reducing arc-flash exposure via through-door racking and remote operation capabilities.

Renewable Energy & Power Gen

ABB’s enhanced trip units support generator protection, load shedding, power control, and energy measurement—crucial features for renewable energy setups and modern distribution scenarios.

 

Replacement Solutions for Obsolete Breakers

If your facility is currently operating with breakers such as:

• GE AK / AKR
• GE WavePro
• Westinghouse DB
• BBC / ABB K-Line Plus
• Older ABB Emax breakers
• Other discontinued low-voltage power breakers

…you may already be experiencing issues with:

• Limited parts availability
• Long lead times
• Reliability concerns
• Arc flash safety risks
• Aging trip units and protection systems
• Difficulty finding qualified service support

Rather than performing a complete switchgear replacement project, many facilities can modernize their existing equipment using engineered retrofill breaker solutions designed to fit within the existing switchgear structure.

 

Modernize Protection Without Replacing the Entire Switchgear Lineup

One of the biggest misconceptions around obsolete breaker replacement projects is that the entire switchgear lineup must be replaced.

In many cases, that is unnecessary.

Retrofill solutions allow facilities to replace the existing breaker with a modern drawout breaker while keeping much of the original switchgear infrastructure in place. Depending on the application, this can significantly reduce:

• Project costs
• Installation time
• Facility disruption
• Engineering complexity
• Downtime

Modern ABB SACE Emax 2 retrofill breakers are engineered to replace many obsolete breakers directly within existing switchgear compartments while maintaining critical system functionality.

 

Reduce Downtime During Facility Modernization Projects

For many facilities, downtime is more expensive than the equipment itself.

That is why staged modernization projects have become increasingly popular.

Instead of shutting down an entire facility for a full switchgear replacement, retrofit solutions can often be implemented section-by-section during scheduled maintenance windows. This allows facilities to modernize electrical infrastructure over time while keeping operations running.

In many applications, individual sections can be upgraded in phases instead of requiring a complete outage of the entire lineup.

This approach is especially valuable for:

• Manufacturing facilities
• Data centers
• Hospitals
• Water treatment plants
• Commercial campuses
• Critical infrastructure environments

 

Upgrade the Trip Unit and Protection Features

Many legacy breakers are still mechanically functional, but the protection systems and trip units are outdated.

Modern retrofit solutions allow facilities to gain access to newer protection technologies without replacing the entire switchgear assembly.

Depending on the system and application, upgrades may include:

• Modern programmable trip units
• Improved selective coordination
• Arc flash reduction features
• Energy monitoring
• Load management
• Remote communication capabilities
• Predictive maintenance functionality

In some cases, facilities can modernize protection capabilities simply by updating or replacing the trip unit programming and associated retrofit components instead of rebuilding the entire electrical distribution system.

 

Why Emax 2 Retrofill Breakers Are Gaining Momentum

 

• Cost & Time Efficiency: Keeps existing switchgear structure, wiring, door framing intact. Also preserves UL listings—meaning fewer permits and quicker deployments.
• Minimized Downtime: The retrofit fits existing mechanisms, reducing cubicle modification and shortening project timeframes.
• Enhanced Safety & Protection: Incorporates ABB’s advanced Ekip trip-unit technology—offering zone-selective interlocking (ZSI), reduced energy let-through (RELT), arc-flash mitigation, and visible trip indicators.
• Connected & Smart: Compatible with ABB Ability™ Energy Manager’s PREDICT feature for predictive maintenance and remote diagnostics via Ekip Connect software.
• Sustainability: Extends useful life of equipment, avoids full switchgear replacements, and reduces waste—aligning with greener operational practices.

 

 

Bay Power: Your Partner in Power Modernization

At Bay Power, we not only supply the ABB SACE Emax 2 Retrofill Circuit Breakers—we back them with expertise and service: Seamless Integration: Our team evaluates your current switchgear and recommends the best retrofill path—whether direct replacement, cradle-in-cradle, or hard bus retrofill.

 

• Customized Solutions: We guide you in selecting the right breaker and kit (e.g., for GE, Westinghouse, ABB legacy systems), ensuring compatibility and quick install.
• Installation & Commissioning Support: From wiring design to on-site integration with Ekip Connect and ABB Ability™, we help you minimize downtime and maximize return.
• Ongoing Reliability: We can implement predictive maintenance programs powered by ABB Ability™, helping you stay ahead with remote diagnostics and energy insights.
• Long-Term Service: As ABB-authorized partners, we guarantee valid warranties and access to parts—reducing lifecycle costs and safeguarding compliance.

 

Ask Us About Retrofill Breakers

Contact us today to explore how the Emax 2 retrofill can transform your power distribution setup, as well as other modernization electrical solutions, ABB breakers, and ABB solutions. We can help you come up with a plan for your specific situation.