I wired my 220V electric baseboard heaters on to Cutler Hammer 20 Amp Double Pole breakers but now they don't work. The panel is all double pole breakers but the original baseboard heater wiring was staggered, so each hot wire was on a different double pole breaker.

I now have each hot wire connected to different sides of the double pole but it doesn't work. Can I not run each circuit off the same double pole breaker or do I have to stagger the wiring onto separate breakers?

I'm puzzled?

First thing to do is to check for voltage at each strip of baseboard connection and see what your getting for voltage to make sure your getting the correct supply voltage

The breakers might be half size breakers, or the wire connecting to the breakers may be connected in the worng location. A 2 pole breaker should have 240 volts at the two terminals. Sounds like the wires or breakers are not arranged correctly to get the 240 volts output.

If you have what looks like a 2 pole breaker, but only plugs onto one tab of the panel busbar, then it is a half size breaker for two 120 volt circuits.

If at the heater you get 120 volts to ground for both wires, and nothng across the two hot wires, then the problem I mentioned is the reason.

tkrussell gave you the best advice and info -----GET A SMOKE DETECTOR---- a lot of homes & life is lost because of wrong wireing. Get help from a pro.-- this is smiple wireing and if you don't understand it you should not be doing it.

Thanks tkrussell!!

As soon as I read your posting, I knew exactly what the problem was. You are correct with the "half size breaker" diagnosis which now explains why the original wiring was staggered in the panel, not using the same breaker for the circuit.

Offset the wires between the half size breakers as they originally were and all is fine now. I was thinking tidy wiring when doing this not where the feeds were coming from. :rolleyes:

Thanks again!