Unusual Circuit Breaker

OldSparks said:
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.
Click to expand...
Let me think about for a little while and I'm sure I can come up with a reason frogs will still bump their butts even if they had wings. 🙄
 
BTW, on a more serious note, who makes a 60 amp 120 volt compressor?
 
jim dungar said:
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.
Click to expand...
That would be interesting to see how that happened. I been in QO assembly plant in Lincoln NE nearly 40 years ago. They were machine assembled then other than the GFCI's were hand assembled. I could see wrong handle ending up in the stock in the machine and it passes through no problems but you would think if you mixed plug on vs bolt on parts in the machine supply bin something likely to malfunction during assembly?
 
but is there a code against it? i have a situation with a water heater that has a 15 amp on one side and a 30 amp on the other?
 
frosty38506 said:
but is there a code against it? i have a situation with a water heater that has a 15 amp on one side and a 30 amp on the other?
Click to expand...
That depends on the wattage of the water heater. My guess is it is not compliant. Is the water heater on a breaker that is 15 amp and 30 amp? If it has not tripped then I guess it is a 30/30 so there is no issue. Probably not compliant as there is no way to know for certain without testing it.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
That depends on the wattage of the water heater. My guess is it is not compliant. Is the water heater on a breaker that is 15 amp and 30 amp? If it has not tripped then I guess it is a 30/30 so there is no issue. Probably not compliant as there is no way to know for certain without testing it.
Click to expand...
https://imgur.com/a/U4wF6HK

newly changed out 4500 watt water heater with one leg on a 15 amp the other on a 30 amp with handle tie. i failed it due to the different amps. i attached a link of the photo - it wont let me download it to the post.
 
4500 watt water heater needs a 25 amp overcurrent protective device at the least and 30 at the most. 4500 at 240 volts is 18.75 amps so I am surprised the breaker holds unless as I said it is really a 30 on both. Are you certain the water heater is connected to the 15 amp and not the 30 on each side of the breaker? Motor home vehicles use a 120v 30 amp so it may be the piggy back was made for that. @jim dungar would know if those are 2 twin breakers tied together in the field or is Sq. D made a 30/15 sp piggyback

It looks like 2- sp piggyback breakers tied together in the field.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
be the piggy back was made for that. @jim dungar would know if those are 2 twin breakers tied together in the field or is Sq. D made a 30/15 sp piggyback
Click to expand...
Those handles ties are most probably field installed. I dont remember that Square D ever offered a QO30301530 tandem breaker in the old tandem housing.
 
Last edited:
I'd be curious to tear those apart, and see if the bi-metal strip is different, or the same. maybe it's just a handle mix-up?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top