4 Pole Breaker??

[steve66]

Looked inside the door of a panel for a residential service yesterday (not doing any work there, it was an open house). The main breaker across the top looked like it was a 4 pole breaker - 4 handles with a handle tie.

My question is why? Otherwise, the panel looked like a standard panel. I think it had about 30 spaces.

I would assume it was a single phase service, so the only thing I could think of was that it was a split bus panel. But I don't see any reason they would of used a split bus panel. The house was about 15 years old.

 

[jamesoftn]

The older Siemens, Goulds, ITE Panels had what appeared to be a 2 pole 100 amp breaker on each buss. Therefore the Handle tie and the 4 pole breaker. This was listed equipment.

 

[K8MHZ]

The GE panels being sold at Lowe's are configured that way.

I started a thread on it a short while back. BTW, 240.8 allows it.

 

[steve66]

Sounds strange. I'll have to slip into Lowes when I get a chance and see if I can find one of these - just out of curiosity. I've seen some other breakers like these.

Just looking at the handle (without taking the cover off) I would expect to find 4 lugs on the top and 4 on the bottom. It looks like they would be 2 breakers in parallel. And looking at 240.8, it sounds like that's what they are.

Steve

 

[dbuckley]

There was a discussion about this type of breaker arrangement just last week, if my memory serves, complete with piccies.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I will post it again

 

[jumper]

There was a discussion about this type of breaker arrangement just last week, if my memory serves, complete with piccies.

Are you talking about this thread?

http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=125076&highlight=delta+breaker

I think this is something different.

 

[jumper]

I will post it again

Dennis, what thread was this? I missed it.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Dennis, what thread was this? I missed it.

Check this out

 

[jumper]

Check this out

Thank you.

Since this is my 1000th post (with 900 wrong answers before it:grin I would like to extend the Thank you to all members for their help, advice, wisdom and patience for putting up with me. God bless you all!!

 

[cowboyjwc]

Thank you.

Since this is my 1000th post (with 900 wrong answers before it:grin I would like to extend the Thank you to all members for their help, advice, wisdom and patience for putting up with me. God bless you all!!

Good job!:grin:

 

[quinn77]

isn't that done to reduce the heat at the finger connections?

 

[juptonstone]

siemens breaker

siemens breaker

You have a Siemens MBK 150, they also make an MBK 200 (MBK = Main BreaKer)

 

[juptonstone]

siemens breaker

siemens breaker

looks like a siemens MBK 150 (main) which bolts onto the bus bars.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

Personally i don't like them but they are legal. One half of one side could go bad and leaves you with a 75 or 100 and will result in tripping and call backs.