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pianotuna's avatar
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jan 07, 2023

breaker 15 / 20

Hi all,

I have a friend with a dual 15 amp (top) 20 amp (bottom) breaker. Would I be able to find such an item at Home Depot or Lowes?

The 15 amp will no longer reset.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    pianotuna wrote:
    Hi all,

    I have a friend with a dual 15 amp (top) 20 amp (bottom) breaker. Would I be able to find such an item at Home Depot or Lowes?

    The 15 amp will no longer reset.


    Yes Yes Most hardware stores. any electrical supply house.

    Very very very very common
  • Cummins12V98 wrote:
    That's a new one!!! Never in 35 years Construction have I seen a Peanut Breaker with two different amperages.


    you've lead a sheltered life then or there not as comon in the US. mostly called space saver breakers simmions and square D are the more comon ones but cuttler hammer and the others all make them. you can get two types , the first turns a single pole breaker into two breakers and you can have them both 15, or one 15 on 20 or 30 and so one.. or you can get the double pole replacement that turnes two slots into 4 and you can get a lot of different combanations with that also where the two outside ones might be 15 or 20 amps and the two inside might be 40 amps and tied togeather as a 220v. see them in a lot of older houses that needed more breakers in the panel as you could effectivly double the amount of breakers in a box, but they are comon in new construction also as you can get away with a smaller box and still have a good amount of breakers.
  • "you've lead a sheltered life then or there not as comon in the US"

    HA, too funny! Not a sheltered life as I have been involved in so many panel upgrades and removal of old panels it would make some peoples head spin.

    No idea if it's US/Canada EH or not I simply stated MY 35 year experience.
  • Cummins12V98 wrote:
    That's a new one!!! Never in 35 years Construction have I seen a Peanut Breaker with two different amperages.


    they have been around for at least 30 years for Siemens breakers. I have several in my panel, and added several over the years 15/20 is pretty common.
  • Various configurations of the thin, wafer or what you want them to be called have been around for many years. They were commonly used in the service panels during upgrades, so you didn't have to replace panels. I remember installing them at least 45 years ago!
  • enblethen wrote:
    My memory thinks that Bulldog was picked up by Siemens.


    You might be right - when I had to replace a breaker a few years ago I found refurbished Pushmatics for anywhere from $20 to $100! Finally found some at Connecticut Electric for a reasonable price so I went ahead and replaced ALL the breakers in the box.
  • ktmrfs wrote:
    Cummins12V98 wrote:
    That's a new one!!! Never in 35 years Construction have I seen a Peanut Breaker with two different amperages.


    they have been around for at least 30 years for Siemens breakers. I have several in my panel, and added several over the years 15/20 is pretty common.


    Commercial you just don't see many 15A maybe is why I have not seen the 15-20 split. I always run 12ga and 20a no mater.
  • As was stated, the dual breakers have been around for a good while. Campers that are on a 30 amp 120 V shoreline cord use a 30 amp/20 amp dual breaker. They feed the shoreline power into the output of the 30 amp breaker that then powers up the breaker buss. The breaker will work the same whichever way the power source comes in. The 20 amp breaker is then for the roof AC unit. Dual 15 amp ones feed the rest of the AC power circuits.

    Here is a pic of a WFCO power converter with all dual breakers and the 30/20 amp in the first slot. The power converter board died (common on this brand) and was upgraded with Progressive Dynamics.


    Here is an older 2004, American Enterprises converter, the same breaker setup.


    Just passing this along for those that may not have seen this before.

    John
  • The repair has been done. Thanks for all the help.

    this rv is a:

    30/20 (20 for the roof air)
    15/20 (20 is for the microwave)
    15/15 various and sundry items.

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