H ydraulic breakers are powerful, productive machines used to break a variety of materials in a multitude of applications. Among the most challenging environments for breakers is the quarry, where breakers may be tasked to reduce a pile of oversized boulders or even tackle primary breaking responsibilities.

Many people incorrectly assume that "a breaker is a breaker," but choosing the correct breaker for the job involves much more than stopping by a dealership and grabbing the biggest, cheapest or most colorful breaker available. The wide selection on today's market demands careful consideration of several factors.

While choosing the right breaker is a crucial process, correct operation of the equipment and attention to maintenance are equally key components that help ensure a hydraulic breaker will be utilized to its full potential for the long haul.

Power output

When it comes time for a quarry operator to select a new breaker, power is one factor that is never overlooked, and for good reason. To perform successfully, a breaker must be able to produce enough impact energy to shatter, split or crack the rock it's working on. Unfortunately, it's a common mistake for someone who is sorting through different breaker options to rely on hearsay or arbitrary equipment ratings when deciding which can deliver the most power.

At one time, most manufacturers rated their breakers in foot-pound classes that were loosely based on the service weight of the breaker. This method was largely accepted, but it did not always provide an accurate depiction of true energy output. In an effort to reduce confusion and introduce a legitimate ratings system, several leading manufacturers developed and subscribed to a method that determined output power through a repeatable, documented CIMA/AEM test, which recorded a measurement of the power going through a breaker's working steel.

Although the test finally provided an apples-to-apples comparison of two different products, some began to discount the numbers by saying that the test could not account for practical jobsite performance, such as how much material could be broken in a day. It is certainly true that factors like operator ability, tool steel selection and carrier settings do play a role in overall production figures. However, without CIMA/AEM numbers, sometimes the only information a customer receives about a breaker's output power is a foot-pound class number, which is purely an estimate — not the result of any test.

Since different manufacturers may publish varying power ratings for essentially the same product, it is important to avoid relying on a single manufacturer's class ratings when shopping for a breaker. Always consult the manufacturer for a recommendation on a breaker that will best fit a specific carrier and ask to see the company's CIMA/AEM rating results.

Carrier match

Resources

Even a breaker with optimal power ratings obviously won't operate independently. It requires an excavator, skid steer, loader or backhoe that can supply the necessary hydraulic power. But a breaker won't function or perform properly on just any carrier. Several factors contribute to the compatibility of a breaker and a carrier, all of which should receive thoughtful consideration.