Connecticut Electric UBIF015N 15 Amp Circuit Breaker for Level 1 EV Charging

The Connecticut Electric UBIF015N is a 15 Amp, 1-pole, thin-series Stab-Lok circuit breaker I recommend when installing 120V Level 1 EV chargers – especially in older homes with original Federal Pacific Electric load centers.

As an EV charger installer, I frequently run into legacy Stab-Lok panels in homes where homeowners want a simple, low-cost 12 A Level 1 EV charging setup. Level 1 chargers pulling 12 amps of continuous load at 120V (around 2.8kW) need a clean, safe, and properly rated breaker, and that’s exactly where the UBIF015N shines. Unlike refurbished options or off-brand clones, this breaker is manufactured brand new by Connecticut Electric, not reconditioned or salvaged, and it’s ETL listed to UL Standard 489 for use in both the US and Canada.

We tested the UBIF015N on a dedicated 15A circuit feeding a 12A Lectron Level 1 J1772 EV Charger, rated for 12 amps of continuous EV charging load. The 12 A EV charger delivered a consistent 2.8kW load without any voltage drops, breaker chatter, 15 A dedicated circuit breaker tripping, or signs of excessive heat over several charging cycles (40-50+ hours from empty to 80%, and 5-6 hours for a PHEV). In a panel known for unreliable contact and aging busbars, that kind of steady performance makes a big difference. During installation, the breaker fitted firmly into the Stab-Lok slot with no wiggle or contact issues, which is often a challenge with aftermarket replacements in these older panels.

The breaker’s plug-in design made the installation straightforward – even for a tight retrofit. No need to modify, upgrade the panel, or force a fit making it a good circuit breaker for 100 A panels or homes with lots of loads and only 15 A to spare for an EV charger. The circuit breaker locked into place and accepted the 14 AWG copper wiring cleanly. Given its 10,000 AIC rating, I felt confident running it in a circuit dedicated to 12A level 1 EV charging, where safety and reliability matter more than ever considering the extended EV trickle charging sessions of 40+ hours with a 12A level 1 EV charger.

Because the UBIF015N is a renewal-type breaker, it’s specifically designed to replace original Stab-Lok NC115 thin-series breakers in Federal Pacific panels. That compatibility eliminates guesswork and helps ensure code compliance, especially when working under NEC requirements for EV charging circuits in garages and other residential spaces.

I wired this breaker to support a NEMA 5-15R outlet for the 12 A plug-in Level 1 EV charger (12A Lectron Level 1 J1772 EV Charger). The circuit was installed using 14 AWG solid copper THHN wire in a ½-inch conduit, with grounding run to the panel’s bonded ground/neutral busbar as shown in the wiring diagram below. The entire circuit components including the circuit breaker stayed cool and stable through several test runs which included 40+ trickle charging sessions in a warm environment.

Here’s how I wired the 15A EV charging circuit using the Connecticut Electric UBIF015N circuit breaker for a 12A Level 1 EV charger installation: