Using two breakers as one.

[cooltc2004]

If I have 2 FAX C50/2 in a panel and want to know if I use a busbar to connect 1-3 and 2-4 (in a single phase configuration) and use the appropriate sized wire, if I can pull 80A out of the two connections?

I know I can feed the breakers this way if needed, but I'm not familiar if I can feed the components out of the breaker this way.

 

[GoldDigger]

The NEC does not allow circuit breaker poles to be paralleled except in a listed manufactured assembly, as is found in some main breakers.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[roger]

To add the article section to GoldDigger's post see 240.8

Roger

 

[cooltc2004]

Thank you guys for the response. That NEC reference is exactly what I was looking for.

does this go for feeding the breakers as well?

 

[kwired]

Thank you guys for the response. That NEC reference is exactly what I was looking for.

does this go for feeding the breakers as well?

If you are asking if you can feed them with paralleled conductors, the answer is yes, but with some rules. First one for a breaker of that rating is that the terminations will likely only be rated for a single conductor, which means you will need some method to adapt more then one conductor into the single conductor that connects to the breaker.

Second issue also typically that makes this impractical on a breaker the size you are dealing with is that paralleled conductors must usually be 1/0 AWG or larger.

 

[roger]

If you are asking if you can feed them with paralleled conductors, the answer is yes, but with some rules. First one for a breaker of that rating is that the terminations will likely only be rated for a single conductor, which means you will need some method to adapt more then one conductor into the single conductor that connects to the breaker.

Second issue also typically that makes this impractical on a breaker the size you are dealing with is that paralleled conductors must usually be 1/0 AWG or larger.

Instead of posting solely for post count it would be a good idea to actually read the questions and or title of the thread "Using two breakers as one."

Roger

 

[kwired]

Instead of posting solely for post count it would be a good idea to actually read the questions and or title of the thread "Using two breakers as one."

Roger

I was replying to this:

does this go for feeding the breakers as well?

I don't know what that is asking, we already clarified and OP seemed to understand that you can't parallel the breakers themselves before that was asked. "Feeding the breakers" about has to apply to supply conductors.

 

[Jraef]

Side note:
Manufacturers do this all the time, especially for main breakers in low cost load centers, so people see that and ASSume they can replicate it in the field. That's not the case. When a breaker mfr has done this, the pairs are specially designed, calibrated, tested and listed as a single breaker.

 

[JFletcher]

Some equipment, like high kW on-demand/instantaneous water heaters, may have up to 3 sets of breakers feeding them, but they would have, say, 3 2p 60A breakers with #6 wire feeding what's essentially 3 heaters in one unit. You could not use 6 2p 30A breakers and/or doubled up #10 wire to feed such a unit.

What is "FAX C50/2"? A Google search came up blanks.

Paralleling breakers is not done, because, among other reasons, it's impossible to have even amperage across the two. Paralleling wire is only done in larger sizes and with strict guidelines (wires are same construction, size, type, length, run the same way/path, same raceway, etc.).

 

[petersonra]

Side note:
Manufacturers do this all the time, especially for main breakers in low cost load centers, so people see that and ASSume they can replicate it in the field. That's not the case. When a breaker mfr has done this, the pairs are specially designed, calibrated, tested and listed as a single breaker.

I have never noticed a parallel circuit breaker. Maybe it's there and I just didn't notice because it only had one handle.

 

[kwired]

I have never noticed a parallel circuit breaker. Maybe it's there and I just didn't notice because it only had one handle.

What is being mentioned as listed for the purpose is this or something very similar

 

[Jraef]

I have never noticed a parallel circuit breaker. Maybe it's there and I just didn't notice because it only had one handle.

Bob,
You and I deal mostly with industrial stuff, it's never used there, only in low cost residential load centers starting maybe 15 years ago or so. I had never seen it either until I went to work for Siemens and the first time I saw it I thought is was a user adaptation, telling the guy asking for it that it was bogus. I was wrong...