Unusual Circuit Breaker
- Thread starter pj424
- Start date
winnie
Senior Member
- Location
- Springfield, MA, USA
- Occupation
- Electric motor research
I'd like to see if the terminals were different for the two poles. If the '60A' leg has a terminal that can take larger wire than the '30A' leg, then what we see might be intentional. But I'm leaning toward 'oopsie' on the unmatched pole rating numbers.
Thank you for the reply. It is for a Cutler Hammer panel. I ordered a 2-pole 60 amp breaker and this is what they sent. It is a 2-pole breaker, but it has 30 amps on one pole and 60 on the other. The only use I can think of would be for something that needs 2 different 120 volt loads that would share a neutral. Something like a machine with two different size motors.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
I agree.
There may be an OEM that buys this breaker, but it should never have made it out to the general public.
winnie
Senior Member
- Location
- Springfield, MA, USA
- Occupation
- Electric motor research
Yes, ooopsie. Send it back. Or keep it for the WTF value 
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Those both have the same size lugs, so my guess is that the breakers are of the same rating, but one just has the wrong handle.
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
Could be counterfeit.
Electromatic
Senior Member
- Location
- Virginia
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
MCA 30
MOCPD 60
MOCPD 60
Unless it’s supplying two 120V loads, one on a 30A circuit and the other on a 60A. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 120V, 60A load.Well if one side is actually 30A and given the fact it's common trip it would never carry a 60 amp load period.
In that case there's no reason for a two pole breaker.
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
I've seen these things posted several times over the years, most seem to be Eatons. It's a mistake.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Think I've seen some Siemens posted as well.
Won't see that with a QO breaker as they have a single handle and internal tie to the other pole(s)
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
But 40 years ago I touched a 3 pole QO with 2 plug-on and 1 bolt-on connections. And, that was back when plug-on and bolt-on used different panels.
Makes me wonder if there are also a bunch of single pole breakers out there in the wild with the wrong rating on the handles.
If those were not double poles, nobody would ever know.
Joethemechanic
Senior Member
- Location
- Hazleton Pa
- Occupation
- Electro-Mechanical Technician. Industrial machinery
That is what AI said, but I'm skeptical of some of these listed. Maybe some kind of asymmetrical I2R heating arrangement
ModbusMan
Senior Member
- Location
- Cleveland, OH
- Occupation
- Building Automation Engineer
Very much this.
OldSparks
Member
- Location
- Vacaville CA USA
- Occupation
- Retired: Electrician, Submarine Electronics (21 years), Potable water system maintenance boss (21 years).
I disagree. Maybe not the best "interlock", but if the 30 amp is supplying the air handler of an HVAC system, and the 60 amp is supplying the compressor, tripping the 30 amp would make it prudent to kill the compressor, too. Otherwise, the coils in the air handler may freeze and burst. If the 60 trips, shutting down the air handler makes the failure obvious to the humans involved.In that case there's no reason for a two pole breaker.