3 pole breaker count once or 3 times?

[sketchy]

When calculating the 120% buss ampacity, does a 3 pole 60 amp breaker count as 60 or 180 amps toward the final calculation?

 

[texie]

When calculating the 120% buss ampacity, does a 3 pole 60 amp breaker count as 60 or 180 amps toward the final calculation?

Of course it is 60 amp. Think it through.

 

[sketchy]

I knew the answer but I wanted some affirmation. I am designing my first system and I'm over thinking everything and second guessing myself. Thanks for the reply.

 

[GoldDigger]

I knew the answer but I wanted some affirmation. I am designing my first system and I'm over thinking everything and second guessing myself. Thanks for the reply.

You are starting off with the reasonable assumption that the three pole breaker is mounted in a three phase panel with one pole on each phase bus. If this is not the case, then the answer changes.

 

[texie]

I knew the answer but I wanted some affirmation. I am designing my first system and I'm over thinking everything and second guessing myself. Thanks for the reply.

Consider a 3 phase 200 amp panel. If you use the per pole thought, it would be a 600 amp panel. Of course it is not a 600 amp panel though. Does this help?