Feeding 2-pole load from 3-pole breaker

[Machiavelli999]

Is it acceptable to feed a 2-pole load (208V, single phase) from a 3-pole breaker? I know it's not ideal, but is it per code?

 

[jumper]

Legal.

 

[templdl]

There may not be any advantage to it but as a former breaker application engineer we always recommends simply using the outside poles but it probably doesn't make any difference. The thought was the tripping value would be more accurate because by using pole adjacent to one another the heat generated to heat the thermal elements would cause the breaker to trip sooner if adjacent poles were used. But it is of my opinion that it would be like spitting hairs and not really make any difference.
But it was our standard recommendation to use the outside poles.

 

[Machiavelli999]

Thanks for the help guys.