Double pole breaker used as single pole

WonderingOne

Hi there,
Just doing kitchen renos at home and taking out a few circuits from the panel to the kitchen and putting in new home runs to the kitchen.

Since I have a few extra two pole 15 amp breakers would I be able to just use one pole on the double pole 15 amp breaker and leave the other pole empty and now operate the two pole breaker as a 15 amp single pole? (for lighting). I do not ever intend to put anything in the other side but didn't want to waste a braker I could maybe use still???

It seems like it would work. Can't think of any reason it wouldn't except that in the future it could confuse somebody????

Thanks in advance.
Janessa

J. V.

No issue. Its fine. You waste a space, but I guess you already know that. Mark it such.

joed

There is no reason you can't use the other pole as well. It will trip both circuits if either one trips.

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AllanJ

Psst! Your new kitchen counter circuits need to be 12 gauge 20 ampere circuits. So you won't be able to use those leftover 15 amp breakers quite yet.

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Scuba_Dave

I think in Canada they can be 15a, not 100% sure

joed

For sure in Canada they can be 15 amp split circuits if they are 1.5m from the sink.

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darren

Then why wouldn't the OP be useing the breaker for what it was designed for.

Wildie

Perhaps he has already installed split receptacles in the kitchen and still has spares!

frenchelectrican

But you still need the RCD { GFCI } protection anyway near the sink so therefore you will need two pole GFCI breaker { they are not cheap }

That is directed for Canada useage with split 15 amp circuits only the straight 20 amp circuit have to be GFCI all the way thru IIRC { Joed., Can you confirm this part ?? }

Merci,
Marc

joed

You have two options for kitchen counter receptacles.
You can use 15 amp split receptacles or you can use 20 amp T slot (unsplit) receptacles.
Receptacles within 1.5m of sink need to be GFCI. This is typically where the 20 amp T slots are used.
If you like the GFCI can be a split but that requires using an expensive double pole GFCI breaker. The 20 amp option was added to the code several years back to allow for the use of a GFCI receptacle in place of the double pole breaker.

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frenchelectrican

Thanks Joed for this part that what I am looking for.


Merci.
Marc

WonderingOne

Thanks everyone.
I am using the 15 amp breaker for lighting not the counters. Thanks! I will do two 20 Amp's method. I like it way more than the split 15 amp idea. I will use GFI. Thanks! I probably will use the other side for something else to. Cheers for that Joed.