Single line on a 2 pole breaker

dvandermeulen · December 4, 2021, 1:36pm

Came across a 2 pole 40 amp breaker that only was loaded on half the breaker. Whats the verdict on this. Thanks for any help with this.

tthoner · December 4, 2021, 1:47pm

What device is it going too?

dvandermeulen · December 4, 2021, 1:49pm

The panel wasn’t labeled

tthoner · December 4, 2021, 1:54pm

There is not to many single phase 40 amp applications out there. Possibly a motor, wild card heater.
Definetly have a sparky look at it.

dvandermeulen · December 4, 2021, 1:54pm

Ok thank you very much

srechkin · December 4, 2021, 2:22pm

I’m not aware of any violation that prevents the use of a double pole breaker for 120V load as long as the load is not over-fused. The question is what it feeds and the AMP breaker required for the device. This needs to be verified per other posts.

rmeier2 · December 4, 2021, 2:36pm

As Simon has stated there is no issue with using only one pole of that 2 pole circuit breaker. The conductor appears to a #8 AWG which would be correct for a 40 amp OCPD. It would be helpful to know what it is feeding.

dvandermeulen · December 4, 2021, 2:44pm

Thanks Robert. Unfortunately the panel wasn’t labeled properly so I’m not sure of what it was feeding. Everything was electric in the home

dvandermeulen · December 4, 2021, 2:56pm

Thanks Simon

jmilby · December 4, 2021, 4:21pm

A 120v 40 amp load would be unusual.

lkage · December 4, 2021, 5:59pm

A…a…a…a…high…high…high…speed…speed…speed…massager…massager…massager…?

mcyr · December 4, 2021, 6:18pm

With a 40 amp motor? Ouch. LOL

dhorton2 · December 4, 2021, 8:10pm

You should use the process of elimination if possible… see what other 240s you have, eliminate ones that are likely hvac based on the label requirements, then you have water heater, stove, and dryer.

mcyr · December 4, 2021, 8:42pm

He is only using one leg, so that is only 120 volts. I think the neutral can be seen at the bottom of the pic.

dhorton2 · December 4, 2021, 8:46pm

Correct, just to confirm it isn’t supposed to be a 240. As others have said, I never seen a 40 amp single pole.

mcyr · December 4, 2021, 8:51pm

dwigger · December 4, 2021, 8:57pm

I have seen similar when they change from an electric range/oven to a gas one. But the breaker should have been changed to 20 amps.

mcyr · December 4, 2021, 9:01pm

My train of thought is like Robert since it looks like a #8 wire. I would definetly be looking for what it is feeding.

dvandermeulen · December 4, 2021, 9:12pm

Robert, through process of elimination the only thing I can see this being connected to is the water heater but im not 100%

dwigger · December 4, 2021, 9:17pm

If this was the situation, there should be an unused/abandoned #8 conductor left on that side of the panel.