Wiring new compressor with 4 pole breaker

[Sistum Id]

I'm trying to wire in an air compressor (240/15). I have no more room on my electrical breaker box. I was recommended a breaker by Cutler-Hammer that takes the place of a 240v double pole breaker. So basically it's a 4 pole double 240/20 breaker. The guy told me to pull out my water heater breaker and put this one in. Wire the water heater to the 2 center terminals and wire the compressor to the 2 outer terminals or vice versa, doesn't matter.

So today pulled the old breaker out and put this one in. I placed the water heater to the outer terminals and checked the water heater if it was on. It wasn't. I made sure the breaker was flipped on and I checked for volts. I had 0. So I placed the wires to the inner terminals and checked the water heater. It was on and I had 240v on my meter.

So then I took the wires off. And checked volts on the inner and outer terminals and still got 240v on the inside but 0 on the outside.

Did I get a bad breaker or I'm I overlooking something or was I misinformed? Thanks

 

[Aceman]

The breaker is bad.

 

[nehog]

You did turn on the breaker that is for the outer terminals, right? Push up on that metal piece that joins the outer handles.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

First push the pairs of breakers fully OFF, then ON, or they won't work. In your pic, the outer two are tripped off. They will not turn on from the tripped position. You may have a bad breaker but kinda odd that both outer breakers are bad.

Charles

 

[Sistum Id]

You did turn on the breaker that is for the outer terminals, right? Push up on that metal piece that joins the outer handles.

You know, right after I posted my thread. I was playing with the breaker and I fully reset the outer terminals. I thought, you have got to be kidding.I got up and ran outside to test it. I had still 0 volts on it and as well as all my breakers.

I work at a power plant and do small electrical work like re-wiring motors for pumps or check/replace fuses. You'd figure I would have some grasp of what is going on.

I had 240 going into the main breaker, but nothing after it. I had a electrician from work come out and take a look at it. He said the main breaker is bad and needs replaced. Home Depot doesn't have one so I have to order one out. He is going to take my old one apart and see if it's something simple to replace. So right now I have a standard 100amp breaker to get me by until I get a new fully working one.

It's all this websites fault. If I didn't come across the page on the bottom about showing off your air compressor. I wouldn't have got the bug. Therefore I wouldn't have gone out on a impulse and buy an air compressor and need to wire it up. O-well, good times and good learning experience.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4901&showall=1

 

[NCRoadRunner]

Rather than an most likely 'expensive' breaker like you are trying - have you considered replacing 2 single breakers with one that takes the same space but has 2 toggles on it to control 2 circuits? I have had to do that in our house here; I doubled up 4 20A singles to end up with space for a standard 220 breaker

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Rather than an most likely 'expensive' breaker like you are trying - have you considered replacing 2 single breakers with one that takes the same space but has 2 toggles on it to control 2 circuits? I have had to do that in our house here; I doubled up 4 20A singles to end up with space for a standard 220 breaker

End result is that the cost is similar or most likely higher, combined with the fact he already has the dual double pole.

Take out two 20 amp single poles, install one duplex or what CH calls a "piggyback" breaker, do that again. You just bought two piggybacks, at (using THIS websites prices) $24 each, and still have to buy a regular double pole at $16.

Take out one double pole and replace it with a piggyback dual double pole like the OP has, and my guess is he won't have spend over $50 (the web site doesn't have that dual double pole listed), and only has one left over double pole he removed, rather than four single poles.

Charles