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Breaker distribution.

jc85

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Dec 3, 2013
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Example: Should both 60amp breakers be on the same side(lug) or should one be on the left and the other on the right?
 
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mooseeater19

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Example: Should both 60amp breakers be on the same side(lug) or should one be on the left and the other on the right?

Physical breaker location isn't needed to balance the load.
I assume you are talking about 2 pole 60a breakers.
 

Norcal

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Unless the loadcenter manufacturer says otherwise, (a limit on the max ampere rating per bus stab) IMO, it's a design decision. I prefer side by side, but if this were a commercial project, the plans may have a panel schedule specing where everything goes, but I do not think that would apply here.:D
 

ddawg16

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We need a bit more info....

Is this a 120 or 240Vac sub?

Next....what are the 60A breakers feeding? If the loads are going to be on at the same time and it's a 240Vac panel, then yes, you would be better off having one breaker on one lug and the other breaker on the other hot.

If it's only a 120Vac panel....does not matter....
 

MrMark

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240V two pole supplied load is self balancing. Makes no difference where you put it, it pulls from both phases A and B equally. Realize that MWBC two pole breakers (not his 60 amper) are supplying 120V loads and can be balanced - see below.

120V loads are a different story. Yes, you should make some rudimentary effort to balance the loads between A and B.
 
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MrMark

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You are not understanding the setup of panels. The two phase wires are laced in the breaker slots down each side. One side is not all A and the other is not all B. Each side going down is AB AB AB etc.....
 

Norcal

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You are not understanding the setup of panels. The two phase wires are laced in the breaker slots down each side. One side is not all A and the other is not all B. Each side going down is AB AB AB etc.....


"Phase wires"? We are discussing single phase panels... :lol:
 
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ddawg16

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Your both right.....

240Vac is single phase....but, one leg is 180 deg out of phase relative to the other....

Mark is like me....because we know the legs are 180 out of phase....there is a tendency to use the 'phase' word. But for anyone who does not understand the 'phase' thing, would get confused if one does use the 'phase' word.

But for the sake of simplicity, we could phase out the use of the phase reference when referring to the phase on single phase 240Vac power.
 

dslabuda

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But for the sake of simplicity, we could phase out the use of the phase reference when referring to the phase on single phase 240Vac power.


Doesn't phase me either way.

What about when it is referred to as "split phase"? I've heard that nomenclature used before when describing residential service. Would that be acceptable here?


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk 4
 

MrMark

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You guys can say whatever you want. I say phases. Split phase may be generated single phase but there are two opposite phases on the working end. This is simply a matter of nomenclature and you choose to focus on the generation end, that is all. I choose to focus on the working end. If you look through any electrical documentation of publications, the wires are indeed referred to as phase wires.

This guy uses it the same way, I guess he is wrong too

http://www.samlexamerica.com/suppor...ingleSplitPhaseandMultiWireBranchCircuits.pdf

What happens when you split something in half? How many things do you get? I thought so.

Split Phase = Split Phase A and Split Phase B.
 
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Alchymist

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Way back when there existed a two phase system. Where 3 phase has each leg at 120°, the two phase system was at 90°. Technically our 240 V system is single phase, center tapped.
 

Norcal

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Way back when there existed a two phase system. Where 3 phase has each leg at 120°, the two phase system was at 90°. Technically our 240 V system is single phase, center tapped.

I understand that 2 phase still exists in the Philadelphia area.
 
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