Single pole breaker

A single-pole breaker is a type of circuit breaker that is designed to protect a single circuit or branch circuit in an electrical distribution system. It is typically used to interrupt the flow of electricity in a circuit when a fault or overload occurs.

Here are some key characteristics of a single-pole breaker:

  1. Single-pole: As the name suggests, a single-pole breaker is designed to protect a single circuit or branch circuit. It has only one set of contacts that open or close to interrupt the flow of electricity.
  2. Rated voltage: Single-pole breakers are typically rated for a specific voltage, such as 120/240 volts or 208/240 volts.
  3. Current rating: Single-pole breakers have a specific current rating, which is the maximum amount of current they can handle without tripping. Common current ratings include 15 amps, 20 amps, 30 amps, and 50 amps.
  4. Trip characteristics: Single-pole breakers can be designed to trip in response to various fault conditions, such as:
    • Overcurrent (e.g., a short circuit or overload)
    • Ground fault (e.g., a fault to ground)
    • Overvoltage (e.g., a voltage surge)
  5. Resettable: Single-pole breakers are designed to be resettable, meaning that they can be manually reset after a trip condition has been cleared.
  6. Mounting: Single-pole breakers are typically mounted in a circuit breaker panel or a fuse box.

Some common applications for single-pole breakers include:

  1. Residential electrical systems: Single-pole breakers are commonly used in residential electrical systems to protect individual circuits, such as lighting circuits, receptacle circuits, and appliance circuits.
  2. Commercial electrical systems: Single-pole breakers are also used in commercial electrical systems to protect individual circuits or branch circuits.
  3. Industrial electrical systems: Single-pole breakers can be used in industrial electrical systems to protect individual circuits or branch circuits, particularly in applications where a high level of fault protection is required.

Overall, single-pole breakers are an important component of electrical distribution systems, providing a safe and reliable way to interrupt the flow of electricity in response to fault conditions.