Todd Dorer
Member
- Location
- Tampa
Can a 2 pole breaker be used for single pole operation?
2 pole breaker use
- Thread starter Todd Dorer
- Start date
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boboelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- Eighty Four,Pa.15330
Yes,using one pole.They trip whenever either leg sees its limit.
glene77is
Senior Member
- Location
- Memphis, TN
Yes.
Some old ones were coupled only by the handle-ties.
Most newer ones are coupled internally
by a little rod passing through touching the trip lever inside.
I broke open a bunch over the years to see what made them 'tick' and what had failed.
(1) I found the sliding trip-lever with a square edge was was becoming rounded,
so that slamming the panel door might cause it to trip (for example).
(2) I found that the contacts were carboned up and pitted, increasing resistance,
so that heat was created, spreading through the case and finally getting to the thermal bi-metal sensor, adding to the circuit current, and causing a 20Amp to trip at 12Amps.
Both conditions (1 & 2) could be caused by being used as a 'switch' for a device under load,
and the second condition (2) by repeated 'bolted' shorts.
Once, we had to place sheet metal on the outside of the utility room door because the sun in the Virginia afternoon was making the little panel room 'boil' with heat. The extra heat was tripping various breakers.
Good practical topic.
Some old ones were coupled only by the handle-ties.
Most newer ones are coupled internally
by a little rod passing through touching the trip lever inside.
I broke open a bunch over the years to see what made them 'tick' and what had failed.
(1) I found the sliding trip-lever with a square edge was was becoming rounded,
so that slamming the panel door might cause it to trip (for example).
(2) I found that the contacts were carboned up and pitted, increasing resistance,
so that heat was created, spreading through the case and finally getting to the thermal bi-metal sensor, adding to the circuit current, and causing a 20Amp to trip at 12Amps.
Both conditions (1 & 2) could be caused by being used as a 'switch' for a device under load,
and the second condition (2) by repeated 'bolted' shorts.
Once, we had to place sheet metal on the outside of the utility room door because the sun in the Virginia afternoon was making the little panel room 'boil' with heat. The extra heat was tripping various breakers.
Good practical topic.
Last edited:
Todd Dorer
Member
- Location
- Tampa
thanks for your help. i would have sworn this would not be allowable. now i must stop arguing with the prime.......
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