Breaker, breaker.

[I.B. Washincars]

I have a simple question. I have several breakers in my panel where I am using only one side of a 220 breaker, due to my 120V CFL changeover. I need another circuit for something else. Can I just break off that bar that connects the two breaker buttons and use the unused side? Is there anything special about a 220 breaker? It appears to be just two regular breakers fastened together.

 

[mac]

That's all it is. Since you have the ones that are two breakers connected with a bar through the switches, you can just take the bar out and have your extra circuit. Some two and three pole breakers are one molded unit with one switch. Should it erupt in flames however, you never heard this from me.

 

[collegefund]

you should remove the 2 pole breaker and replace it with the properly rated single pole breaker for the wire used in the circuit. you can put a smaller rated breaker on larger wire (20 amp on #10) , but you can not put a larger rated breaker on smaller wire (30 amp on #12). What size wire is on the breaker? #14 is rated for 15 amps, #12 is rated for 20 amps & #10 is rated for 30 amps. add up the amperage of everything that is being used on the circuit, make sure that your not overloading the wire.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

#12 wire, 20 amp

So, are you saying those two breakers attached to each other are different than two singles I may replace them with? If so, what is different? If not, why change them?

 

[collegefund]

I can't tell you if there is a difference, go to the local electrical wholesaler (not the big box store) and ask them. But they're hooked together for a reason. single pole breakers are around $7 or $8 at the big box store.

 

[slamdvw]

beware of the high leg...

The other danger of trying to pull 120v off of a single breaker is if the panel is a three phase, open delta system.

There will be one leg, that is single phase, 208v to neutral.

If you just happen to use the single breaker on that phase, all the magic smoke appears!

 

[I.B. Washincars]

If you just happen to use the single breaker on that phase, all the magic smoke appears!

I actually did that once and got away with it, but boy that vacuum ran really fast until I shut the power down

 

[MEP001]

The other danger of trying to pull 120v off of a single breaker is if the panel is a three phase, open delta system.

There will be one leg, that is single phase, 208v to neutral.

If you just happen to use the single breaker on that phase, all the magic smoke appears!

I got to repair a brand-new Fragramatics unit that had been connected to a 277V leg - I had to replace every single component in the unit except the vac motors. Even the vac motor relay that was never activated was fried, and both fuses were blown.

 

[wash4me]

This will work and it is usually just separate breakers molded together. That being said an inspector, buyer, insurance company etc will eventually look at it and it will need to be done right at that point so why not just do it now. You can also find ebay breakers.