Are Eaton and Cutler-Hammer the same thing?

Yes, Eaton and Cutler-Hammer are the same thing in terms of current product lines and compatibility, though they have different historical origins. Cutler-Hammer was a respected American electrical brand founded in 1893 that became famous for circuit breakers, motor starters, and industrial controls. Eaton Corporation purchased Cutler-Hammer in 1978 and operated it as a division, maintaining the Cutler-Hammer name on products for many years because of its strong reputation with electricians. Eventually, Eaton decided to unify its branding globally and rebranded Cutler-Hammer residential products as Eaton. What was previously sold as Cutler-Hammer BR is now sold as Eaton BR, and what was Cutler-Hammer CH is now Eaton CH, with no change in physical size, trip characteristics, or panel fit. So if you have an old Cutler-Hammer panel in your home, you can buy a new Eaton breaker of the matching type and it will fit perfectly and maintain UL listing. Many electricians still refer to Eaton breakers as Cutler-Hammer out of habit. So while the corporate names changed, the products are identical in form, fit, and function, and Eaton is the manufacturer that continues the Cutler-Hammer legacy today.