Two characteristics of 240 volt wiring are important when youre installing a new circuit. Theyre arranged so that the first breaker clips onto one hot bus while the second clips onto the other hot bus when you snap the breaker into place.
How To Install A 240 Volt Circuit Breaker
How to wire a double pole breaker. The breaker usually hooks or snaps into the chosen slot. A double pole breaker is basically a pair of single pole breakers stacked on top of each other. Once the breaker is in place and you turn it on the circuit is energized. If a fault or other problem occurs along one of these wires the corresponding half of the breaker will trip. While replacing a breaker isnt difficult its dangerous. Double pole breakers snap onto two poles for a total of 240 volts.
Place the red wire at the bottom of the screws at the back of the breaker. One of the wires which is usually black attaches to one breaker while the other which is usually. The double pole circuit breaker can now be wired. Connect a return wire from the circuit cable to the neutral bus and the ground wire to the ground bus to complete the breaker installation. A metal clip bonds the toggle switches to ensure the breakers trip together. Place the black wire at the bottom of the screw located behind the breaker.
Circuit wiring that connects to double pole breakers contains two hot wires. The panel is always. Each of these connects to a terminal on the breaker and is protected by half of the breaker. Two basics of 240 volt wiring. Wire gauge is important. Connect the red wire to the lug on one of the breaker terminals it doesnt matter which one and the black wire to the other terminal.
The circuit that this type of breaker controls has to have two hot wires. Remember you need two adjacent slots for a double pole breaker. How to wire a 50 amp double pole breaker working in the panel is a job for pros. What is the correct 60 amp breaker wire size. When you attach a hot wire to each breaker in the two breaker set the voltage between these wires is 240 volts. Tighten the screws so that the wires are securely in place.