Whats the difference between a single pole and 2 pole circuit breaker?

Question

Whats the difference between a single pole and 2 pole circuit breaker?

Answer 1

A single pole breaker is used with a typical 120v circuit, having one hot wire and one neutral wire.

However, a double pole breaker is used with a typical 220v circuit (like for a dryer or heater) having two hot wires. If there is a short circuit to either hot wire, both poles are ganged together so both trip together.

If you fed a 220v air conditioner (just for example) with two single-pole breakers instead of one double-pole breaker, it's possible that a short to one of the hot wires would trip only one breaker, leaving the other energized. That would be very dangerous!

So, that's the main reason the NEC requires two-pole breakers for two-wire circuits.

Answer 2

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Whats the difference between a single pole and 2 pole circuit breaker?
Whats the difference between a single pole and 2 pole circuit breaker?

Answer 3

Double Pole Breaker

Answer 4

Connecting the live wire to two circuit breakers is asking for trouble. dr_ngo is absolutely correct about this kind of setup as it might lead to incorrect assumption that the circuit is off while one CB is still supplying electricity to the devices.
If dealing with single phase circuit, two pole circuit breaker should be used to disconnect both the live wire (phase) and the neutral. The first "pole" is marked 1 and 2 for connecting the live wires from the distribution network and the house circuit. The second "pole" is marked N & N for the neutral wires from the distribution network and the house circuit. This way you completely disengage the circuit in the house from the distribution network.

Answer 5

in theory.. 1 pole will give you 120v, and the 2 pole will give you 240 v
reality.. 1 pole will give you 115v, and the 2 pole will give you 230 v
big loads like : AC units, electrical dryers, electrical heaters, electrical oven, etc. some of these big loads run only on 230 volts, and some are optional, but the general way to do it is using 2 pole (double pole) breaker.
for a 8 amps motor running on 230 you can use a 15A 2 pole breaker, but when u run it on 1 pole breaker, it must be a 20 amps breaker, so each one has its ups and downs depends on which one works for you. In case if your entire house is wired with 115 volts then your choices will be either to re-wire to run 2 wires for 2 pole, or go with a device that is compatible with 115 v and no need to re-wire
I hope this was helpfull

Answer 6

A single pole breaker is used with a typical 120v circuit, having one hot wire and one neutral wire. However, a double pole breaker is used with a typical 220v circuit (like for a dryer or heater) having two hot wires. If there is a short circuit to either hot wire, both poles are ganged together so both trip together.
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Answer 7

Know More About single pole and 2 pole circuit breaker visit:
http://electrical.about.com/od/panelsdistribution/a/singlepolecircuitbreakersdefanduseage.htm
http://electrical.about.com/od/panelsdistribution/a/doublepolebreakers.htm

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Answer 8

Breakers are sized to protect the circuit or wiring. If you want go by the code a wire is sized to 80% of its rating. ie; a 4500 watt water @ 240 V would need a #10 copper wire which is rated at 30 amps: 4500w / 240 = 18.75 X 120% = 22.5 amps. A 20 amp rated wire is no good. Appliance manufacturers use 240v because they can size down the wiring,controlls and construction of the product and it becomes cheaper to build. ie, if your water heater was 4500watts @ 120volts = 37.5 amps They would need larger contuctors,controlls etc.

Answer 9

A single pole breaker controls one "hot" wire. A two pole breaker controls two "hot" wires. Two hot wires could be a 240 volt circuit such as a range or dryer. Or a multi wire circuit for (2) 120 volt circuits with a shared neutral.

FYI, 110 and 220 are terms used by untrained "joe handyman" people pretending to be electricians. Just so you know.

Answer 10

In a household, all main electrical lines are 110 volt. All single pole circuit breakers simply control one line. 220 volt is simply made by using two 110 volt lines that are opposite in phase. This requires two single pole circuit breakers to tie to the two 110 volt lines, together they are called a two pole breaker.