Single Pole Breaker Vs Double Pole Breaker

This breaker sports two smaller breakers built into one regular sized breaker body.

Single pole breaker vs double pole breaker.

The first a single pole breaker and the second a double pole breaker. Each has its own toggle switch and the breaker snaps into the panel just like a regular breaker. A single pole breaker is typically used with 120 volt circuits 15 20 amps. Individually the wires carry 110 volts each.

It feeds power to two wires connected to the breaker from each phase. Double pole breakers will also require twice the space in a breaker panel as their single pole. If measured together they carry 220 volts. A double pole breaker is primarily used with a 240 volt circuit 20 60 amps and consists of two hot wires.

A two pole breaker takes up two spaces in the electrical panel. There are two kinds of double pole breakers internal and external trip. Provide 240 volts 20 60 amps and have two hot wires that share one neutral wire. A different type of doubled up breaker is a quad breaker which serves two 240 volt circuits but is the same width as a standard double pole breaker.

A tandem breaker is the same size as any other standard or single pole breaker but it has a key difference. It cannot be used to supply 240 volts to a single circuit. Unlike a double pole breaker which serves a single 240 volt circuit a cheater serves two 120 volt circuits. A tandem breaker supplies two separate 120 volt circuits.

A circuit breaker that is connected to a 110 volt circuit is called a single pole breaker. Provide 120 volts 15 20 amps and have one hot wire and one neutral wire. Single pole breakers are thinner and have a single switch for on off positions.