No it is not safe . In case of a short circuit on one phase you want the breaker to shut off both hot legs together .

Can you use 2 single pole breakers instead of a double pole?

Can I use two 120-volt breakers for a 240-volt connection? The risks and methods of tying two single pole 120-volt breakers are the same as tying two single pole 110-volt breakers together. As long as you do it correctly with the appropriate breaker tie, it’s ok.

Does 240V need 2 pole breaker?





A single pole breaker is typically used with 120-volt circuits, 15-20 amps. They are constructed with one hot wire and one neutral wire. A double pole breaker is primarily used with a 240-volt circuit, 20-60 amps and consists of two hot wires.

Can I use 2 120v breakers for 240V?

Adding listed handle ties to 2 120v breakers provides a legal 240 breaker. Added The 2014 NEC hand book 210.4. B commentary identifies that 2 single pole breakers with an identified handle tie or a 2 pole breaker is allowed. 210.4 is multiwire branch circuits.

Can a single pole breaker be 240V?

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.

Can you use a tandem breaker for 240v?

Unlike a double-pole breaker, which serves a single 240-volt circuit, a tandem serves two 120-volt circuits; it cannot be used to supply 240 volts to a single circuit.

What kind of breaker do I need for 240 volts?





2-Pole breakers

120 Volt heaters require 1-Pole circuit breakers; 240 Volt heaters need 2-Pole breakers.

Are tandem breakers safe?

Tandem breakers are safe and legal to use only when the panel is designed for them and only in the slots that accept tandem breakers.

Are double pole breakers legal?

The use of tandem circuit breakers is a perfectly acceptable practice, as long as the panelboard is designed for tandem circuit breakers and they’re installed in locations within the panelboard where they’re allowed.

Do I need a single or double pole breaker?



The main difference between a single vs double pole breaker is their power capacity. Single-pole breakers are typically used for low-power appliances, as they can provide 15 to 20 Ampereges and 120 Volts. Double-pole breakers protect heavy machines, as they can provide 20 to 60 Ampereges and 240Volts.

Can you tie two single pole breakers together?

No. Breakers are required to “trip free”, meaning trip even if the handle is held in the “on” position.

Can I connect two breakers together?

Tandem circuit breakers (two breakers powering two circuits fit into a single original breaker slot in a panel) also trip together.

Why would two breakers be tied together?



Handles are typically tied together when all the breakers are supplying a single piece of equipment. For example, in a 120/240 volt single phase system, two breakers might be tied together for a piece of equipment that requires 240 volts. Three breakers tied together would be common for a 3 phase systems.

Is a double pole breaker twice the amps?

Since each leg of 240 volt circuit offers 120 volt potential to ground, then you’re getting two legs of out-of-phase 120 volt when you use double breaker, and doing so doubles the voltage and doubles the watts (power), it does not halve the amps.

What is a tandem breaker used for?

A special kind of circuit breaker is the tandem breaker, which is designed to allow two 120-volt circuits to be fit into a single slot in the circuit breaker box. They are normally installed in situations where the breaker box is already full with no available slots for additional circuit breakers.