120 / 240 breaker leave neutral hanging


  #1  
Old 07-01-22, 02:02 PM
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120 / 240 breaker leave neutral hanging

I have a 220 pool pump. The disconnect box is 220v but e disconnect breaker has a neutral hanging off it presumably for GFCI 120.
is it ok to just wire the 220 connection and leave the white curly wire from the breaker hanging
Breaker https://imgur.com/gallery/2SXi5Ms
 

Last edited by qwertyjjj; 07-01-22 at 03:03 PM.
  #2  
Old 07-01-22, 02:58 PM
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I think you will find that the breaker won't work without the neutral (the GFCI electronics probably require 120V).
 
  #3  
Old 07-01-22, 02:59 PM
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It's a 120/240 breaker though? Square d
 
  #4  
Old 07-01-22, 03:11 PM
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You can look at the 60A version and it's 240V *only*, and it still has a neutral wire. So yeah.
 
  #5  
Old 07-01-22, 03:21 PM
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There's nowhere to connect a neutral here though.
this box is 220V
Box https://imgur.com/gallery/H6Nf1ZA
 
  #6  
Old 07-01-22, 04:20 PM
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Put the GFCI breaker in your main panel; put a normal breaker in the disconnect panel.
 
  #7  
Old 07-01-22, 04:45 PM
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I think the GFCI tail may have been connected to that 2nd 14/2 coming out of the pipe which is connected to the neutral bus in the main. The black is left wirenutted. Is that ok?
Don't know why they didn't just use 14/3
 
  #8  
Old 07-01-22, 07:16 PM
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Newer two-pole GFCI breakers do need the neutral wire connected as it uses that wire for the self-test function. Older GFCI's without the self test function may or may not need the pigtail connected. It will depend on the breaker.
 
  #9  
Old 07-02-22, 04:12 AM
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The box has 2 x 14/2 in it.
one used for 220v
And the other the neutral runs back to the main panel and connects to the pig tail of the breaker.
Is that ok? I thought they would all have to be in the same sheath as 14/3.
 
  #10  
Old 07-02-22, 04:28 AM
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The ground fault circuit interrupter will still give near perfect protection from accidental electrocution even if the test button might not work for want of a neutral.


If the GFCI breaker neutral screw terminal does not have the pump or other 240 volt only load or anything else wired to it then the GFCI breaker white neutral curlicue will never pass enough current to electrocute someone with. It is perfectly safe to uncoil that curlicue and attach it to someone else's neutral or to attach it to ground if you want the test button to work..But it would be better to take the other end of the curlicue and insert it into the GFCI breaker neutral terminal to warn future DIYers or electricians that the GFCI breaker is supplied power as 240 volt only.
 

Last edited by AllanJ; 07-02-22 at 04:51 AM.
  #11  
Old 07-02-22, 09:23 AM
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Push the TEST button. If it trips, reset it and leave as is.
 
  #12  
Old 07-03-22, 05:49 AM
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Oh I didn't think you could connect the tail to a ground screw in the box, thought it had to be neutral to carry whatever small current back instead of to ground...?
 
  #13  
Old 07-04-22, 08:36 AM
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A neutral should not be connected to the enclosure. Only grounding conductors can land on the enclosure.
 
 

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