John Dirks Jr Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 Here is a picture of print on a Square D breaker. It shows the allowance for two conductors to be attached. I know the question comes up from time to time. I thought the picture turned out good so I decided to post it here in case anyone wants to use it for reference. Click to Enlarge 45.88 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie R Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 Good pic, thanks for sharing. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben H Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 Nice, thanks man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 John, here's a quiz for you. What does the SWD mean on the breaker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 Oooh, I know! I know! Actually, I didn't know. I had to go look it up. Now that I have the answer, I gotta say that is a really dumb place for the designation. Thank you for the opportunity to learn something. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted February 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 John, here's a quiz for you. What does the SWD mean on the breaker? I don't know. What does it mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 Switching Device. For instance, light fixtures in some commercial properties might not have a switch, just turned off with the breaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted February 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 So SWD means it is designed to be used as a regular means of turning things on and off. Hmmmm, now I know. Thanks for pointing that out. What other designations might one find on Square D's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 Here is a picture of print on a Square D breaker. It shows the allowance for two conductors to be attached. Click to Enlarge 45.88 KB Hey John. Another quiz. Can those conductors be different guages? Like a #12 and a #14 on a 15 amp breaker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted February 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 Here is a picture of print on a Square D breaker. It shows the allowance for two conductors to be attached. Click to Enlarge 45.88 KB Hey John. Another quiz. Can those conductors be different guages? Like a #12 and a #14 on a 15 amp breaker? Thats another good question that I do not immediately know the answer to. I know you shouldn't have a #14 wire on a 20amp breaker. Obviously, the printing on the breaker doesn't specify anything about mixing wire sizes. It does say 10-14, but I don't know if that means you can mix sizes. Give it up John, please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 Both Square D and Cutler hammer allow you to combine different size wires (though there are few situations where you'd want to). You can also combine stranded and solid. If you're attaching only one wire, both manufacturers will allow you to use either copper or aluminum. However, if you're attaching two wires, they both must be copper. - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randynavarro Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 To be clear and if I'm not mistaken. . . Not all Square D breakers are allowed to be double tapped. That photo is a Square D Homeline breaker. The QO breakers from Square D do not allow double taps. It's easy tell the two apart (if for some reason the breakers were never id'd) because the Homeline have the metal saddle terminal that easily accepts two wires just like the diagram shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 To be clear and if I'm not mistaken. . . Not all Square D breakers are allowed to be double tapped. That photo is a Square D Homeline breaker. The QO breakers from Square D do not allow double taps. It's easy tell the two apart (if for some reason the breakers were never id'd) because the Homeline have the metal saddle terminal that easily accepts two wires just like the diagram shows. Both the HOM and the QO breakers in the 1-, 2-, & 3-pole configuration in the 10amp-30amp range have the double saddle and will accept two wires. Just check the catalogue. - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Electric Posted February 26, 2010 Report Share Posted February 26, 2010 Both Square D and Cutler hammer allow you to combine different size wires (though there are few situations where you'd want to). You can also combine stranded and solid. If you're attaching only one wire, both manufacturers will allow you to use either copper or aluminum. However, if you're attaching two wires, they both must be copper. - Jim Katen, Oregon Some of the Cutler Hammer breakers are listed for more than one wire (15-30 amp). As stated above the Square D and Homeline are also listed for more than one wire. Of course the load on the circuit could be an issue. Here is a picture of a CH breaker (I had to highlight it to get it to show up - the printing is just embossed in black). Click to Enlarge 36.32 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randynavarro Posted February 27, 2010 Report Share Posted February 27, 2010 To be clear and if I'm not mistaken. . . Not all Square D breakers are allowed to be double tapped. That photo is a Square D Homeline breaker. The QO breakers from Square D do not allow double taps. It's easy tell the two apart (if for some reason the breakers were never id'd) because the Homeline have the metal saddle terminal that easily accepts two wires just like the diagram shows. Both the HOM and the QO breakers in the 1-, 2-, & 3-pole configuration in the 10amp-30amp range have the double saddle and will accept two wires. Just check the catalogue. - Jim Katen, Oregon Okey doke. I stand corrected. I don't remember, though, that the saddles/terminals look the same. I couldn't find a clear enough picture in the catalog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Moore Posted February 27, 2010 Report Share Posted February 27, 2010 This is a QO breaker lug. I'm 99.99% certian they are exactly the same as the homeline ones. Click to Enlarge 44.06 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randynavarro Posted February 27, 2010 Report Share Posted February 27, 2010 I think there is a difference. Now I'm splitting hairs 'cuz all the Square D breaks accept two wires anway. On the QO breaker, all I see is that big fat screw head facing me as I look in the panel - the saddle is tucked underneath and sort of hidden by the plastic. On the Homeline breaker, the saddle is actually visible from the front of the panel. I could be wrong again. . . but I don't think so. I need to be right about something every now and then. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted February 27, 2010 Report Share Posted February 27, 2010 Now I'm splitting hairs 'cuz all the Square D breaks accept two wires anway. Well, that part of your response is wrong. For example, Square D QO breakers over 30 amp and tandems aren't made for double taps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randynavarro Posted February 27, 2010 Report Share Posted February 27, 2010 Now I'm splitting hairs 'cuz all the Square D breaks accept two wires anway. Well, that part of your response is wrong. For example, Square D QO breakers over 30 amp and tandems aren't made for double taps. Okay, okay. . . I meant the Square D breakers specifically in this discussion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence McCann Posted February 27, 2010 Report Share Posted February 27, 2010 Both Square D and Cutler hammer allow you to combine different size wires (though there are few situations where you'd want to). You can also combine stranded and solid. If you're attaching only one wire, both manufacturers will allow you to use either copper or aluminum. However, if you're attaching two wires, they both must be copper. - Jim Katen, Oregon Jim, if you use two different gauge wires wouldn't it torque more on the larger wire leaving the smaller wire loose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Moore Posted February 27, 2010 Report Share Posted February 27, 2010 Both Square D and Cutler hammer allow you to combine different size wires (though there are few situations where you'd want to). You can also combine stranded and solid. If you're attaching only one wire, both manufacturers will allow you to use either copper or aluminum. However, if you're attaching two wires, they both must be copper. - Jim Katen, Oregon Jim, if you use two different gauge wires wouldn't it torque more on the larger wire leaving the smaller wire loose? Look at the photo I posted a little earlier. The Square-D top plate "floats" and is pushed down by the rounded underside of the screw. It will rock a bit side to side to accomodate different sized conductors. That's the Square-D...the Cutler Hammer version (photo below) is different and, IMO, doesn't look as capable as the Square-D. Click to Enlarge 84.44 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted February 27, 2010 Report Share Posted February 27, 2010 Both Square D and Cutler hammer allow you to combine different size wires (though there are few situations where you'd want to). You can also combine stranded and solid. If you're attaching only one wire, both manufacturers will allow you to use either copper or aluminum. However, if you're attaching two wires, they both must be copper. - Jim Katen, Oregon Jim, if you use two different gauge wires wouldn't it torque more on the larger wire leaving the smaller wire loose? Yes, it will probably apply more pressure on the larger wire, but the pressure plate will rock and apply enough pressure on the smaller wire as well. This is probably one of the reasons why you're supposed to tighten these lugs to 36 in-lbs. - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted February 27, 2010 Report Share Posted February 27, 2010 ...the Cutler Hammer version (photo below) is different and, IMO, doesn't look as capable as the Square-D. . . . Your photo doesn't clearly show the notch at the bottom of the clamp. Also the pressure plate has a dimple in it that locks the wires in place. Once you stick a couple of wires in there and tighten the lug to 30 in-lbs, those wires ain't going nowhere. Frankly, the same could be said for most manufacturer's breakers. The big difference is that most manufacturers didn't pay to have UL list their breakers for 2 wires. - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Here is a picture of print on a Square D breaker. It shows the allowance for two conductors to be attached. Click to Enlarge 45.88 KB Hey John. Another quiz. Can those conductors be different guages? Like a #12 and a #14 on a 15 amp breaker? Give it up John, please. Sorry, John D, I forgot I asked it. And I admit I wasn't sure myself. [] We got an answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.