double pole breaker
- Thread starter elecmen
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Logan, Utah
Yes, you can use 1 pole of a 2 pole breaker if you so choose.
Single pole 40 and 50 amp breakers are manufactured.
Chris
Single pole 40 and 50 amp breakers are manufactured.
Chris
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mcclary's electrical
Senior Member
- Location
- VA
Yes you can use only one pole. Although it's not required, when I do this I pull the handle tie off. (mainly because I might need it later
......Also to avoid confusion and proper panel labeling. One marked spared and othe marked with the proper equipment name.- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Some breakers with external handle ties also include an internal tie, so they are always 'common trip'.Yes you can use only one pole. Although it's not required, when I do this I pull the handle tie off. (mainly because I might need it later
mcclary's electrical
Senior Member
- Location
- VA
Good point, I was picturing the cheap, two single poles, riveted together one.
But this got me to thinking, Do you think if they were common trip internally, could you load one at 2 amps and one at 15 without causing a problem? Would this "confuse" the breaker,,,,,so to speak?
No it wouldn't. Think about multiwire circuits.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
The handle is for simultaneous operation. 2-pole breakers will trip both poles if only one is overloaded, even if you remove the handle tie.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
They are indeed simply two 1-pole cases riveted together, but there is a link between the cases that assures simultaneous tripping, again, even without the handle tie.
Nope. Each breaker pole acts as a breaker for that line. The internal common trip means that the overloaded pole will take out the other(s) when it trips.
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