480 Volt Breakers?

[RandyPenn]

When I bought my house a little over a year ago it had two main panels. One for the house and another for the pool pump and light(main panel maxed out.) In the second main panel were two 480 volt breakers, one 100 AMP and another 125 AMP. Any idea what these would be used for? They were connected to an electric motor starter but terminated there. Seems like a lot of juice. Oh, and their Square D QO's if anybody is interested...

Thanks
Randy

 

[crewchief]

Are there three hot wires coming into the panel? Most likely a three phase motor on the pool pump. If so, you are one lucky guy.

 

[Aceman]

QO's aren't rated for 480v.....

 

[RandyPenn]

They are not 480v breakers... my bad. They only have two posts but they span the whole length so I got confused. They each had two monster 2AWG wires coming out of them into the motor starter. They not for the pool pump, its ran off a 240v breaker. So I guess they were drawing 480v total not each. still a lot of juice.

 

[kursplat]

sounds like someone used some equipment they had laying around of got cheep. your not going to have 480v in your house unless it's real big.......................................real big

 

[LXCam]

Maybe some sparky had some extra material laying and decided to use it up. Got any pictures?. And like aceman pointed out, QO's are only rated for 240v.

Damn, beat me to the punch

 

[brewchief]

Power supply that big might be about right for an electric pool heater.

 

[RandyPenn]

pool heater sound about right. I'd hate to pay that power bill. The pool is 28,000 gallons

 

[wyliesdiesels]

They are not 480v breakers... my bad. They only have two posts but they span the whole length so I got confused. They each had two monster 2AWG wires coming out of them into the motor starter. They not for the pool pump, its ran off a 240v breaker. So I guess they were drawing 480v total not each. still a lot of juice.

Incorrect. Each leg is 120v so it would be 240v potential between lugs on the breaker NOT 480v!

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Sounds more like a 100a 2pole breaker to me anyway

 

[Norcal]

QO's aren't rated for 480v.....

QO's do have a 48 VDC rating.