Interesting Problem

[K8MHZ]

Thank you, now I get it

Still a little bit interesting but not uncommon

I was lost on that too. I have run into such a situation once, so I would say that it could be considered uncommon, but not unheard of.

 

[kwired]

I believe ge's twin breakers will work on different phases. You can buy a twin double pole breaker also ---2- dp breakers that fit in the space of 2 standard size breakers.

GE doesn't exactly have "twins", just a 1/2 size breaker. It is made in two pole versions though and their mounting method for these makes the two pole fit between centers of two full spaces - by design you can't plug the two pole version on a single bus tab.

I remember Crouse-Hinds (I think) panels used to have a 1/2 size breaker also - but you needed a left half and a right half to get two branch circuits on a single bus tab.

 

[drcampbell]

You are thinking of "securing (getting) power" as making the receptacle hot, while the OP is using the term to mean "making secure (not dangerous)" as in not hot.

Not the first time there's been confusion about "secure". From the archives:

When asked to "secure a building":
The Army will post guards around the perimeter.
The Navy will mop the floors, take out the trash, turn out the lights and lock the doors.
The Marines will kill everybody inside and set up a headquarters.
The Air Force will sign a two year lease with an option to buy.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

GE doesn't exactly have "twins", just a 1/2 size breaker. It is made in two pole versions though and their mounting method for these makes the two pole fit between centers of two full spaces - by design you can't plug the two pole version on a single bus tab.

I remember Crouse-Hinds (I think) panels used to have a 1/2 size breaker also - but you needed a left half and a right half to get two branch circuits on a single bus tab.

I know what GE makes-- you can call them whatever you want.. There are so many names for twin breakers we just use the term twins. I feel like I am being lectured about GE-- I have been using them for 15 years I know how they work.

 

[kwired]

I know what GE makes-- you can call them whatever you want.. There are so many names for twin breakers we just use the term twins. I feel like I am being lectured about GE-- I have been using them for 15 years I know how they work.

Well to get two circuits, other then the true two pole units which also are common trip, you have to purchase two units. With most every other brand out there you get two independent switches for two circuits on one unit on what they call a tandem or twin.

 

[ActionDave]

. ...After you work in the electrical field for many years it's hard to remember a time when you didn't know how to wire a multiwire branch circuit but the truth is that everyone had to learn at some point.

I never knew a day of wiring without them. Commercial was pipe and a full boat up to the first j box, but even for a house was a bunch of 12-3 up to the attic and down to the crawl space, hit j boxes and branch out with 12-2 from there.

Twenty years from now I predict we won't be using them, they'll either be banned or regulated out of existence.

 

[kwired]

I never knew a day of wiring without them. Commercial was pipe and a full boat up to the first j box, but even for a house was a bunch of 12-3 up to the attic and down to the crawl space, hit j boxes and branch out with 12-2 from there.

Twenty years from now I predict we won't be using them, they'll either be banned or regulated out of existence.

For general use line to neutral circuits, ranges/dryers very possibly still use them, unless they get smart and start making them 240 volt only, but I don't see that happening across the board. I have run into ranges, very basic ones with no 120 volt items installed, not even an oven light, just surface elements and the oven elements and no other loads, that still had the three wire termination block, but nothing connected to the neutral terminal - it was just there to park the neutral in the supply cord and still had bonding strap for applications that required it's use.