Home Page link

Found something odd in my breaker panel

Home| Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Page 2 of 2       << first < 1 2 Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
Found something odd in my breaker panel Tater 10-05-2006
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by Toller on October 5, 2006, 9:04 pm



"Member, Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department"
> Toller wrote:
>>> someone used two single 15 amp breakers to do the work of a double 15
>>> amp breaker. is this safe and/or legal?
>>>
>>> doesnt matter much, as it is a GE panel and they seem to have a bad
>>> rep. planning on replacing with a siemens that seem to be all the rage
>>> nowadays.
>>>
>> It definitely isn't legal. It is safe as long as you are the only person
>> who might possibly touch the circuit and you are bright enough to test
>> everything for voltage before assuming there isn't any. I am not that
>> bright, so I would replace it.
>
> If the circuit it supplies is a multi wire branch circuit that serves only
> phase to ground loads and there are no yokes or straps on which both
> ungrounded conductors are terminated then it is not only legal it is best
> practice.

But then it wouldn't be two single breakers where there should be a double
breaker (like the OP said), would it?



Posted by Member, Takoma Park Volunteer on October 5, 2006, 9:20 pm


Toller wrote:
> "Member, Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department"
>> Toller wrote:
>>>> someone used two single 15 amp breakers to do the work of a double 15
>>>> amp breaker. is this safe and/or legal?
>>>>
>>>> doesnt matter much, as it is a GE panel and they seem to have a bad
>>>> rep. planning on replacing with a siemens that seem to be all the rage
>>>> nowadays.
>>>>
>>> It definitely isn't legal. It is safe as long as you are the only person
>>> who might possibly touch the circuit and you are bright enough to test
>>> everything for voltage before assuming there isn't any. I am not that
>>> bright, so I would replace it.
>> If the circuit it supplies is a multi wire branch circuit that serves only
>> phase to ground loads and there are no yokes or straps on which both
>> ungrounded conductors are terminated then it is not only legal it is best
>> practice.
>
> But then it wouldn't be two single breakers where there should be a double
> breaker (like the OP said), would it?
>
>

Can you see it from there? How do you know what kind of circuit the OP
is talking about.
--
Tom Horne

"This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous
for general use." Thomas Alva Edison

Posted by Chris Lewis on October 6, 2006, 11:42 am


According to Member, Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department

> If the circuit it supplies is a multi wire branch circuit that serves
> only phase to ground loads and there are no yokes or straps on which
> both ungrounded conductors are terminated then it is not only legal it
> is best practice.

I realize that this is legal in the US, but why is it best practise?

Here, we don't have any of the single yoke stuff. If it shares
a neutral, or feeds the same box (without dividers), the breakers
have to be gang-tripped, period. There are some exceptions which
I'll mention later.

I appreciate that in most cases it's "unnecessary" to kill both
circuits. But breakers aren't very smart, and I don't _want_ them
attempting such judgements ;-)

> If a handle tied or common trip breaker is used on
> multi wire branch circuits a single fault will unnecessarily deenergize
> both legs of the circuit. There is no good reason to have that
> happening unless unqualified persons will service the buildings wiring.

You mean, like the homeowner?

We have that clause in our code, but, the assumption is that unqualified
persons (eg: the home owner) _will_ service the building's wiring. So,
the exceptions to the "ganged breaker" rules require such things as
locked cabinets with only licensed electricians having the key.

You wanna do that with your house? ;-)

Which is why these exemptions are only applicable in commercial or
industrial situations.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

Posted by Tom The Great on October 5, 2006, 9:30 pm



>someone used two single 15 amp breakers to do the work of a double 15
>amp breaker. is this safe and/or legal?
>
>doesnt matter much, as it is a GE panel and they seem to have a bad
>rep. planning on replacing with a siemens that seem to be all the rage
>nowadays.

imho:

Don't believe they have to be 'tied' together, unless each breaker
feeds a same device.

What is this being used for? Multibranch circuit of receptacles?

later,

tom @ www.MyFastCoolCars.com


P.S. Only follow codes, not NG posts. :p


Posted by Tony Hwang on October 5, 2006, 9:45 pm


Tater wrote:
> someone used two single 15 amp breakers to do the work of a double 15
> amp breaker. is this safe and/or legal?
>
> doesnt matter much, as it is a GE panel and they seem to have a bad
> rep. planning on replacing with a siemens that seem to be all the rage
> nowadays.
>
Hi,
You mean ganged?

Page 2 of 2       << first < 1 2
Similar ThreadsPosted
Extending a Breaker Panel. September 9, 2005, 12:58 pm
Breaker Panel....Neutral bus March 11, 2006, 8:03 pm
200 amp main panel with 100 amp breaker May 27, 2008, 8:39 am
Half of breaker panel hot, the other dead!?! September 22, 2006, 11:28 pm
Circuit breaker panel question December 12, 2006, 5:21 pm
Circuit Breaker Panel Question December 12, 2007, 12:14 pm
Breaker Panel 220V problem January 6, 2008, 3:38 pm
30A breaker feeding a 100A sub-panel? February 27, 2008, 4:32 pm
Seeking Advice - New Main Breaker & Sub-Panel January 7, 2006, 9:01 am
Question re: replacement of circuit breaker panel March 24, 2006, 12:00 pm

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap