Jumper wire between breaker terminals

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68Malibu383

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Location
Raleigh, NC
This circuit was labeled as the air conditioner and curious as to why someone installed this wire bridging the terminals. Any ideas?
 

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PetrosA

Senior Member
We have jumpered hots like that when one incomming hot has failed for some reason. The 220v equipment wont work but all the 120v loads can function until proper repairs are made. The failed conductor must be disconnected.

That seems like a crazy unsafe way to do things. Wouldn't it be better to wirenut both leads to one wire and take that back to your good lug? What if the other pole DID come back online and energize with a jumper like that installed?
 

ActionDave

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Location
Durango, CO, 10 h 20 min from the winged horses.
Occupation
Licensed Electrician
That seems like a crazy unsafe way to do things. Wouldn't it be better to wirenut both leads to one wire and take that back to your good lug? What if the other pole DID come back online and energize with a jumper like that installed?
I can't imagine why it was done in the picture.

Similar to what ptonsparky describes, I have jumpered the hots on a panel when a leg has been lost to get through the night. Always disconnected the failed wire though.
 

augie47

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Location
Tennessee
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State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
See it done often on houses (or areas) that do not have permanent power for one reason or another and someone back feeds the panel from another source (generator, temporary, etc) with extension cord. They jumper phases to make energize all circuits with 120 v.
A few times each year they forget to remove the jumper until permanent power is connected and then they reminded. :)
 
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