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    LKarnes's Avatar
    LKarnes Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Aug 13, 2008, 06:58 PM
    220 breaker connection
    I'm adding a 220 volt circuit. It appears to me that the breaker (20 amp, 2 pole in a GE panel) is only going to pull power from one of the two bars in the box. For 240, wouldn't the breaker need to tap into the bars on each side? Am I over-thinking this?

    Thanks.
    smearcase's Avatar
    smearcase Posts: 2,392, Reputation: 316
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    #2

    Aug 13, 2008, 07:25 PM
    I believe you are overthinking. If it is the right breaker for the panel, it will produce 220 volts. If you were to put two single pole breakers side by side, they will tap into two different phases and produce 220 if you were to measure with a meter.
    LKarnes's Avatar
    LKarnes Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Aug 13, 2008, 07:52 PM
    Thanks.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
    		  
    #4

    Aug 13, 2008, 09:43 PM
    Your are correct that the breaker must tap into both sides of the panel to give you 240 volts. A double breaker does that. The panel is what's called a split buss panel. Any two spaces down one side of the panel come from opposite legs of the service.
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