Replies

1. 
   Jeff | Jan 26, 2003 09:25pm | #1

   Yes and No

   A 220 breaker is made of 2 seperate breakers with the switches connected so that if one trips, the other will.

   If you seperate them, you could use them as 110 breakers.

   2 110 breakers have no way to be connected together, though some

   people cheat and use them for 220.

   This is against code and leaves you with a dangerous situation if

   one trips and not the other.

   You end up with 110 on one side live.

   Jeff

1. 
   riverr1 | Jan 26, 2003 09:34pm | #3

   Thanks Jeff and Tom. My concern was more to do with 2 single poles actually becomming 40 amps rather then 20. I think you've answered that by saying the method of tripping both sides at the same time is the only difference. Thanks.

   Don

   Edited 1/26/2003 1:37:01 PM ET by Don C.

2. 
   TKanzler | Jan 26, 2003 09:33pm | #2

   Yes, if the handles can be and are tied with a listed device.  I've seen this done mostly with tandem breakers to get 240V; two tandem units next to each other, each tandem providing two circuits on the same leg, but tying the handles of the two nearest neighbors of neighboring tandem breakers gives 240V (one breaker or handle from each leg).  The handle tie must listed for this.  But why would you want to, when a 2-pole Square D QO  in the smaller sizes is about $13 at HD, with other brands being even cheaper?

   Edit: Look in HD for the yellow and blue packages hanging above the Square D breakers.  You'll find handle ties there.

   Be seeing you...

   
   

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   Edited 1/26/2003 1:35:29 PM ET by Tom Kanzler