Single Pole Breaker Vs Double Pole Breaker

A single pole breaker is typically used with 120 volt circuits 15 20 amps.

Single pole breaker vs double pole breaker.

Individually the wires carry 110 volts each. 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. If measured together they carry 220 volts.

There are two kinds of double pole breakers internal and external trip. It cannot be used to supply 240 volts to a single circuit. Well single pole breakers and double pole breakers differ in the voltage and amperage they provide as well as how they are wired. A tandem breaker is the same size as any other standard or single pole breaker but it has a key difference.

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. A two pole breaker takes up two spaces in the electrical panel.

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. Double pole breakers will also require twice the space in a breaker panel as their single pole. They are constructed with one hot wire and one neutral wire. Each has its own toggle switch and the breaker snaps into the panel just like a regular breaker.

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. It feeds power to two wires connected to the breaker from each phase. The first a single pole breaker and the second a double pole breaker.