please explain 2 pole breakers
#1
03-15-05, 08:51 PM
please explain 2 pole breakers
hello,
please explain the proper use of this breaker. it is a 2 pole 40 that is marked 120/240 volts. there was a 2 pole 20 that was wired with a black and a red wire that was the breaker for a full size range. what was happening was with all the elements turned on the breaker would buzz and then trip. my belief is that there should have been a 2 pole 40 being used instead. does a 2 pole breaker mean that you have one 20 or 40 on one side and one 20 or 40 on the other or that you can combine both sides to come up with either 40 or 80. should be an easy one for you.
tks
please explain the proper use of this breaker. it is a 2 pole 40 that is marked 120/240 volts. there was a 2 pole 20 that was wired with a black and a red wire that was the breaker for a full size range. what was happening was with all the elements turned on the breaker would buzz and then trip. my belief is that there should have been a 2 pole 40 being used instead. does a 2 pole breaker mean that you have one 20 or 40 on one side and one 20 or 40 on the other or that you can combine both sides to come up with either 40 or 80. should be an easy one for you.
tks
#2
03-15-05, 08:56 PM
Member
Don't change the breaker until you verify that the wire is of sufficient size and type not to start a fire when handling more current. Please tell us the specifications of the wire.
A double-pole 20-amp breaker (handle says "20") allows 20 amps to flow on both wires. Since the current is alternating, and the two wires are out of phase, the same 20 amps are flowing in on one wire and out on the other, and then it reverses. A double-pole 40-amp breaker allows 40 amps to flow on both wires.
Don't guess. Don't burn your house down. Be 100% sure of what you're doing.
Most ranges are not designed to let you use all four burners on "high" at the same time.
A double-pole 20-amp breaker (handle says "20") allows 20 amps to flow on both wires. Since the current is alternating, and the two wires are out of phase, the same 20 amps are flowing in on one wire and out on the other, and then it reverses. A double-pole 40-amp breaker allows 40 amps to flow on both wires.
Don't guess. Don't burn your house down. Be 100% sure of what you're doing.
Most ranges are not designed to let you use all four burners on "high" at the same time.
#3
03-16-05, 02:16 PM
The nameplate on your range should specify breaker amperage. This is abbreviated as Max "OC", "OCP" or "OCPD", meaning overcurrent protective device. The Owner's manual may also offer this rating, and the recommended wire size.
For a 40 amp breaker you should have #8 wire, and for a 50 amp breaker you should have #6 wire. (Assuming copper) If the wire is aluminum, go up one size for each. (The smaller the gauge number, the larger the wire.)
Juice
For a 40 amp breaker you should have #8 wire, and for a 50 amp breaker you should have #6 wire. (Assuming copper) If the wire is aluminum, go up one size for each. (The smaller the gauge number, the larger the wire.)
Juice
#4
03-16-05, 06:43 PM
tks Juicehead:
the wiring for the two-pole was #8, which probably means that some maintenance person (not an electrician) substituted a 20 for a 40 as a temp. replacement and never put the proper 40 in. I just took one out of another empty apartment (same wiring layout) and replaced the 20 with a two-pole 40. we had a furnace tech come in and put the wrong size nozzle in the gun for the oil burner and for the next 4 tuneups the next techs just replaced the nozzle with the incorrect size that was in there until a real tech noticed it and corrected it!!!
tks again
roland in connecticut
the wiring for the two-pole was #8, which probably means that some maintenance person (not an electrician) substituted a 20 for a 40 as a temp. replacement and never put the proper 40 in. I just took one out of another empty apartment (same wiring layout) and replaced the 20 with a two-pole 40. we had a furnace tech come in and put the wrong size nozzle in the gun for the oil burner and for the next 4 tuneups the next techs just replaced the nozzle with the incorrect size that was in there until a real tech noticed it and corrected it!!!
tks again
roland in connecticut
