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    nc_longhorn's Avatar
    nc_longhorn Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Apr 14, 2010, 10:01 AM
    Why is only one breaker on a two pole circuit working
    I have a sub panel run from a 60 amp breaker on the main panel. I installed a new double pole 30 amp (two 30 amp breakers joined together) in the sub panel but only one of the breakers seems to be working according to my tester. I noticed that another breaker, a 20 amp single pole circuit breaker, is also not working. What's happening?

    Thanks, jp
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
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    #2

    Apr 14, 2010, 10:31 AM

    60 amp breaker on the main panel
    Is that a double pole breaker?
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    nc_longhorn Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Apr 14, 2010, 10:33 AM

    Yes, the 30 amp is a double pole breaker that is handle tied.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
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    #4

    Apr 14, 2010, 10:36 AM

    The question was " Is the 60 amp breaker in the main panel a double pole"?
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    nc_longhorn Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Apr 14, 2010, 11:34 AM

    Yes, the 60 amp breaker is double pole as well.
    donf's Avatar
    donf Posts: 5,679, Reputation: 582
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    #6

    Apr 14, 2010, 11:58 AM

    Sounds like you lost one leg of Phase.

    How did you wire up the 60 amp breaker?

    Did you use 4 conductor feed to the sub?

    Do you have a multi meter? If so, tell me the voltage you see coming out of each breaker connection between Neutral and each Breaker. Also, tell me what is the voltage when connected to only the Breaker Out connections/

    Can you append a picture for us to see the wring in both the main panel and sub panel, please?
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    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
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    #7

    Apr 15, 2010, 04:35 AM

    Yes, can you show us a picture? The last time someone told us they were using a double breaker, the picture showed two separate breakers on the same leg.
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    nc_longhorn Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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    #8

    Apr 15, 2010, 06:37 AM

    Don and Harold, I had all good intentions of posting a pic after I got home last night when something one of you said clicked in my head. I checked the feed and noticed that one of the hot wires was severed in a junction box. Side note, the other was frayed pretty bad so it was kind of a blessing to find it so it could be fixed. Long story short, I ran a new 8/3 (bigger than I needed... but will save me some trouble if I grow the sub panels capacity in the future) and got everything working like it should.

    Thank you both for the help... I wish it would have occurred to me initially that there was a problem with one of the hot wires in the feed if only half of my bus bar was working. Thanks again.
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    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
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    #9

    Apr 15, 2010, 07:48 AM

    What type of cable you using? 8/3 will not carry 60 amps. Switch 30 and 60 breakers. 60 amp breaker will then be a just a disconnect.
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