I have a normal size breaker in my box with two seperate switches which are not connected...?

Question

Each one has a 20 on the top, does this mean the total breaker is 40 amps? or 20? and how does it work when it trips? Do both trip? Also do the colors of the switches on the breaker mean anything? Like some are blue and others red, thanks in advance!

Answer 1

That one sounds like a tandem breaker. Two separate 20 amp circuits that only take up one space. Each of them is 20. You don't add them up. Some breaker manufacturers did color code the handles. But they all used different colors. Usually blue was 15 amp and red was 20 amp. But they are all required to list the ampacity also. So you can look on the handles for the rating.

Answer 2

That is a piggy-back breaker. They are generally used when a breaker box is full and some more circuits are needed. Nothing wrong with them at all. They are independent of each other, just take up the same space as 1- 20 amp breaker took up before. Have no idea what the color means unless it denotes amp rating...

Answer 3

It sounds like you have what is called a "cheater" breaker. it takes one of the hot legs and splits it into two circuits each with its own over current protection. that means that they will trip independently of eachother. normally two breakers next to eachother but connected to eachother supplies a 240 volt circuit, but they take up two slots in the panel. the "cheater" takes up only one slot but supplies two 120 volt circuits. as for the difference in color, i can not tell you much. different manufacturers sometimes make different color breakers but the number marking on the switch itself is always the ampere rating.

Answer 4

It's called a "piggyback" breaker.
It is used to connect two circuits in one standard
panel space.
Each circuit should trip separately on the load
supplied by its circuit.
Think of it as two 20A. breakers on the same phase.
The handle color codes vary from maker to maker.
If you look they are probably different ratings.