I am in search of a "tandem" 120v single pole15amp and 20 amp breaker for my GE panel. I did a search and cannot find anything. I see other manufacturers have what I am looking for but not for GE. Does anyone know which brand or manufacturer will work.\ Basically I need one extra 15 amp breaker and one 20 amp, so I need 2 "piggy backs"
Thanks
jake
I found an old post that sums up how I was going to reply. Saved a few key strokes, now I can go out and shovel the driveway.
Circuit Breakers: CTL Assemblies
Aug 29th, 1999
I have seen some circuit breakers marked "Replacement Use Only - Not for CTL assemblies" What is a CTL system? What do the letters "CTL" represent? What is the danger of using "Replacement Use Only - Not for CTL assemblies" in a CTL assembly?
Answer
The history of CTL is somewhat clouded. You will hear many comments about what CTL means (but most are wrong). If memory serves, CTL means "Circuit Total Limiting". "Circuit Total Limiting" (CTL) was introduced when the words "A lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard shall be provided with physical means to prevent the installation of more overcurrent devices than that number for which the panelboard was designed, rated, and approved" was added to Section 384-15 in the 1965 NEC.
Here is a specific example:
Lighting and Appliance Panelboards (load centers) made since 1967 have been marked "Class CTL Panelboard". Some of these CTL panelboards (load centers) will accept a breaker that is other than full size (called tandems, half-size, wafers, etc.). These breakers have varying means to limit the number of them that can be installed in the load center. One manufacturer has a hooked foot on the tail end of the breaker that must mate up with a slot in the load center-mounting rail. Others use a rejection feature in the breaker that must mount up with a "fork" in the busbar to be installed. There are other arrangements as well.
When you hear somebody talk about a 30-40 load center (panelboard). It has 30 spaces for full size breakers and 10 of those spaces have slots to that allow the installation of the "other than full size" breakers. This 30-40 panelboard can contain 30 full size breakers and no tandem breakers, or it can contain 20 full size breakers with 10 "other than full size" breakers for a total of 40 circuits.
These "other than full size breakers" cannot be installed in a panelboard that that does not contain a "slot" in the mounting rail or a fork in the busbar, etc. Hence, the CTL panelboard has "physical means to prevent the installation of more overcurrent devices than that number for which the panelboard was designed, rated, and approved" in compliance with Section 384-15.
Keep in mind that many of these load center designs have been around since 1955. So what about panelboard manufactured and installed prior to the design that incorporated the rejection feature? In order to accommodate those designs, and have breakers that can still be installed, manufacturers have versions of the breakers that do not have the rejection feature. These breakers are marked "Replacement Use Only - Not for CTL assemblies."
What are the dangers on improperly using "Replacement Use Only - Not for CTL assemblies" in a CTL assembly?
If you install "Replacement Breakers" (tandem breakers without a hooked foot) in a CTL panelboard, the number of circuit breakers in the panelboard could exceed that number for which the panelboard was designed, rated, and approved. The result could be an overheated panelboard or the breakers might prematurely open (not stay in under load).
Installing "Replacement Breakers" in CTL panelboard is a violation of Section 110-3(b) and grounds for the inspector to "red-tag" the installation.
The bottom line is... use the breakers that are intended to be installed in the panelboard (load center). Your job will go much smoother.
Thanks to Jim Pauley of Square D for the short history of CTL circuit breakers.
From Mike Holt?s Free Electrical Newsletter
BTW, it can also be seen on the panel cover and the diagram will show which cir. will accept them.