What’s the Difference Between a Single and a Double-Pole Breaker?

If you’ve ever taken a peek at your home’s main circuit panel, you’ve probably noticed 2 different kinds of breakers: Single pole breakers and double pole breakers.

But what’s the difference between the two?

Well, single-pole breakers and double-pole breakers differ in the voltage and amperage they provide as well as how they are wired.

• Single-pole breakers: Provide 120 volts, 15-20 amps and have one hot wire and one neutral wire.

• Double-pole breakers: Provide 240 volts, 20-60 amps and have two hot wires that share one neutral wire.

We’ll take a closer look at the differences between each of these breakers and discuss when you should use one over the other.

Single-pole breakers

Single-pole breakers are the narrow switches located on your home’s electrical panel.

Appliances/circuits they’re used for:

• General lighting outlets

• Fans

• Curling irons/hair dryers

• Vacuums

• Outdoor lighting

• Power tools

• Air compressors

How they’re wired:

Single-pole breakers are wired with one hot wire and one neutral wire. When there is an overload in a single-pole breaker’s circuit, only that particular breaker trips.

How they’re wired:

Double-pole breakers have two hot wires that are connected by a single neutral wire. That means if there’s a short circuit on either of the poles’ hot wires, both trip.

These breakers can be used to serve two separate 120-volt circuits or they can serve a single 240-volt circuit, such as your central AC’s circuit.

Have questions about your home’s electrical panel? Ask a Florida tech

Need to replace a breaker or have general questions about your home’s electrical system?

Just contact us. We’re here to help.

Related reading:

• “What Size Circuit Breaker Do I Need for a Dryer?”

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• Tips