What does 2 pole mean on a breaker?

Double-pole breakers have two hot wires that are connected by a single neutral wire. That means if there’s a short circuit on either of the poles’ hot wires, both trip. These breakers can be used to serve two separate 120-volt circuits or they can serve a single 240-volt circuit, such as your central AC’s circuit.

What do Poles mean in breakers?

Poles are the number of completely separate circuits that can be simultaneously protected by a circuit breaker. Carling Technologies circuit breakers come in single pole construction or can be built together into multi-unit or multi-pole assemblies.

How do you read a double pole breaker?

If a 30 amp double pole breaker was 15 amps on each leg, then a 20 amp double breaker would be 10 amps on each leg. And a 15 amp double breaker would be 7.5 amps on each leg.

What is the difference between 1 and 2 pole breakers?

A single pole breaker is typically used with 120-volt circuits, 15-20 amps. They are constructed with one hot wire and one neutral wire. A double pole breaker is primarily used with a 240-volt circuit, 20-60 amps and consists of two hot wires.

What is a double pole switch used for?

What Are Double Pole Switches? A double pole switch controls two separate circuits. These types of switches make it possible to isolate appliances safely. Double pole switches also tend to be used for appliances with heavy loads like cookers and showers.

What is the difference between 2 pole and 3 pole?

A double pole breaker has four terminals and is twice the width of a single pole breaker. Factories, workshops and commercial facilities, often have a 3-phase electrical supply. Three pole circuit breakers deliver 480VAC through three hot wires.

How do I know how many amps my 2 pole breaker is?

When you place an amp meter around a wire that comes from a double pole breaker do you add the total of each wire or is testing around one wire give you the answer. For example if I test a 20 AMP double pole breaker. I get 5 Amps around one hot wire and 5 amps on the other hot wire.

How many amps is a 2 pole 20 amp breaker?

20 to 60 amps
Double-pole breakers, on the other hand, are typically rated for 20 to 60 amps and supply 240-volt power to large appliances, like electric dryers and ranges.

How does a 2 pole switch work?

A double pole single throw switch controls two circuits (poles) and has 2 states an “on” (closed) state and an “off” (open) state. A double pole single throw has four terminals in total, two inputs and two outputs which are all controlled by the same switch.

What does single pole and double pole mean?

Both single pole and double pole switches can be either single or double throw. A pole refers to the number of separate circuits a switch can control, a single pole switch can operate one circuit whereas a double pole switch can control two circuits.