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The 240 volt service to your home feeds from the output from a transformer that is somewhere nearby. The transformer has what is called a "center tap", meaning that one half of the output feeds one side of the 120 service and the other half of the output feeds the other side.
Together, the two halves of the transformer output gives you the 240 volts that you have available.
Technically, a single breaker could be used to detect an over-current condition, but that would leave the other side of a circuit live, resulting in a serious electrocution hazard.
Safety standards require that both halves of a 240V circuit be protected using a ganged breaker; when one side trips, they both shut off resulting in a safer environment for you.
Electrical panel layout
On a electrical panel boards the wiring numbers go from left to right, top to bottom. There are 2 hot legs coming into the panel. L1 and L2. Breakers on L1 are 1,2,5,6,9,10. Breakers on L2 are 3,4,7,8,11,12. This is a 12 circuit board. This configuration allows every two adjacent breakers to connect to 240 volts. Example 1 and 3, 3 and 5, 5 and 7, 7 and 9, 9 and 11. Same with the even number side. So you see that a two pole breaker connects across the two hot legs L1 and L2 no matter where it is on the panel board. Any of these breakers on a panel board to the neutral will give you 120 volts no matter if the supply leg is L1 or L2. Just remember L1 to Neutral equals 120 volts, L2 to Neutral equals 120 volts, L1 to L2 equals 240 volts. The amperage of a breaker is a limit of the amount of amperage it will allow to pass before it will trip. The wire has to be the right size for the breaker. Under sized wire will heat up if more current is applied to it that its rating will allow.
In a typical residential electrical system, 220 volts is achieved by combining two 110-volt lines from different phases. This creates a 220-volt potential difference between the two lines. Using just one pole would only provide 110 volts, as it is referencing a neutral wire that carries the return current.
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Can a 220 VAC breaker be single pole or does it have to always be a double pole breaker?
A 220 VAC breaker can be single pole or double pole depending on the application. For standard 220 VAC circuits like most household appliances, a double pole breaker is typically used. However, in certain situations where only one hot wire is needed, a single pole breaker can be used for 220 VAC circuits.
Why am I only getting 120 volts from a 30 amp breaker that should be feeding 220 volts?
I assume you have a 30 amp two pole 220 volts breaker. Check the voltage source. If the source voltage is 220V, but out let voltage is 120 then the breaker must be faulty, a high resistance or partial open circuit could have caused the reduced voltage at the breaker outlet.
How many amp breaker is needed for 4000 watts at 220 volts?
The equation that you are looking for is I = W/E. Amps = Watts / Volts.
Can you use a 220 breaker in place of 110 breaker on 110 service?
Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.Breakers are rated in amperage and by the amount of poles that they have. Your classification of a 220 breaker is described in electrical terminology as a two pole breaker.Choosing the amperage of the two pole breaker depends upon the 220 volt load that it feeds.Two pole breakers for 220 volt loads.Single pole breakers for 120 volt loads.If the service is only 120 volt then every other bus bar in the panel will be energized. If the panel is a 120/240, then every bus bar in the panel will be energized.This is how and why a 240 volt load requires a two pole breaker.To the answer, yes you an use a two pole breaker in a 120 volt service but only one side of the breaker will have voltage on it depending on where it is situated in the panel board.
How does a 20 amp double pole work?
A 20 amp double pole breaker is used to protect 240-volt circuits. It connects to both hot bus bars in the electrical panel, providing two 120-volt lines that work together to create 240 volts. This configuration is commonly used for larger appliances like electric dryers and ranges.
What kind of breaker would you use for a 220 hook up?
In North America a two pole breaker will be used in the distribution panel for a supply of 240 volts for a 240 volt load.
Can you run a double pole 30 amp breaker to two 110 recepticles?
No, A double pole breaker is going to give you 220 volts. 220 Volts is too much voltage for a 110 Volt outlet to handle. == Answer== Better to pull the duplex 30a and install to single-pole 20a breakers...if one kicks out, you will know which side the problem's on. And there's no problem with running a 20a circuit over 10awg wire.
Can a 220 VAC breaker be single pole or does it have to always be a double pole breaker?
A 220 VAC breaker can be single pole or double pole depending on the application. For standard 220 VAC circuits like most household appliances, a double pole breaker is typically used. However, in certain situations where only one hot wire is needed, a single pole breaker can be used for 220 VAC circuits.
Why am I only getting 120 volts from a 30 amp breaker that should be feeding 220 volts?
I assume you have a 30 amp two pole 220 volts breaker. Check the voltage source. If the source voltage is 220V, but out let voltage is 120 then the breaker must be faulty, a high resistance or partial open circuit could have caused the reduced voltage at the breaker outlet.
How do you hook up a water heater with red black and white wires?
Sounds like it is a 220-240 Volt hot water heater. The black and red are connected to the 220 volts supply and the white is connected to Neutral. At the breaker panel red and black connect to the 2-pole 220 volt breaker and white goes to the neutral bus bar.
What does it mean when you have two 30 amp breakers linked together?
Two single-pole 30 amp breakers tied together make a two-pole 30 amp breaker. From this you can power a device that requires 220-240 volts, typically.
How many amp breaker is needed for 4000 watts at 220 volts?
The equation that you are looking for is I = W/E. Amps = Watts / Volts.
Do you split wattage on 2 pole breaker?
If the load is rated 220 or 230 or 240 volts (all the same thing), and specifies a wattage rating, that wattage rating is at the double pole voltage. You wouldn't make any adjustments to it. The load should also indicate the input current in Amps, which is used for sizing your breaker. If not, watts=amps x volts, so amps=watts/volts. For example, a 3800 Watt heater at 240v would require 15.83 amps. The breaker for this circuit would be 125 percent of that (safety factor), or 20 amps, 2 pole.
Can you use a 60 amp breaker for a airconditioner with heat instead of two thirty amp breakers?
No. If your AC is currently running on a 30 amp 2 pole breaker, then it is a 220 volt unit. You cannot substitute one 60 amp single pole breaker as you'll only be supplying 110 volts and the AC unit won't work. In fact you could damage it.
What amp breaker for a 220 volt 8000 watt sauna?
A sauna heating element is a resistive load. The equation that you are looking for is Amps = Watts/Volts = 8000/220 = 36 amps. A #8 copper conductor with an insulation rating of 90 degrees C is rated at 55 amps. This will be fed with 40 amp two pole breaker.
Can you use a 220 breaker in place of 110 breaker on 110 service?
Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.Breakers are rated in amperage and by the amount of poles that they have. Your classification of a 220 breaker is described in electrical terminology as a two pole breaker.Choosing the amperage of the two pole breaker depends upon the 220 volt load that it feeds.Two pole breakers for 220 volt loads.Single pole breakers for 120 volt loads.If the service is only 120 volt then every other bus bar in the panel will be energized. If the panel is a 120/240, then every bus bar in the panel will be energized.This is how and why a 240 volt load requires a two pole breaker.To the answer, yes you an use a two pole breaker in a 120 volt service but only one side of the breaker will have voltage on it depending on where it is situated in the panel board.
How can you determine if you have 110 or 220 volts?
Most residential service in USA has both. In the USA 110 to 120 volts is a given and it would be very unusual not to have 220 to 240 volts. It can be easily tested at main panel with a volt meter. Or as an alternative call your power company.
