30 Amp Breaker Single Pole Vs Double Pole

The rating you should use depends on the appliance.

30 amp breaker single pole vs double pole.

A single pole breaker handles 120 volts. Provide 120 volts 15 20 amps and have one hot wire and one neutral wire. More and more manufacturers are electing to control both breakers in a 20a double pole circuit breaker with one. Well single pole breakers and double pole breakers differ in the voltage and amperage they provide as well as how they are wired.

A single pole breaker is typically used with 120 volt circuits 15 20 amps. Window air conditioners and water heaters typically require 30 amp breakers while ranges and electric heating systems need 50 and even 60 amp breakers. The first a single pole breaker and the second a double pole breaker. Provide 240 volts 20 60 amps and have two hot wires that share one neutral wire.

Because double pole breakers control circuits that supply more power than single pole circuits they re rated for higher currents. So in conclusion then whatever the amperage draw of a 110 220 appliance both individual breakers if there were two indidual breakers linked instead of one one double pole will be marked at that amperage. The shape and look of circuit breakers vary depending on the manufacturer of the breaker box but in general a 120 volt breaker will have a narrower profile than a 240 volt. A double pole breaker will have the appearance of double the width of the single pole breaker with the appearance of two switches bridged to function as a single switch.

Single pole breakers come in a wide range of amperage ratings with 15 20 and 30 amp circuit breakers being the most commonly used in most household installations. Circuit breakers come in several styles including the standard single pole breakers that serve 120 volt household circuits and double pole breakers that take up two slots in a breaker box and serve 240 volt appliances a special kind of circuit breaker is the tandem breaker which is designed to allow two 120 volt circuits to be fit into a single slot in the circuit breaker box. Double pole breakers will also require twice the space in a breaker panel as their single pole. The voltage from either leg to the neutral line is 120 volts but across the two hot legs is 240 volts which is double the 120 volt supply.

Single pole breakers are thinner and have a single switch for on off positions. They are constructed with one hot wire and one neutral wire.