30 15 amp circuit breaker

[Jerry_L]

I have a 5th wheel and found to have a weak 30 15 amp twin pole circuit breaker. This breaker is the main breaker (5th wheel is 30 amp) and the 15 amp is for the water heater. I've temporarily replaced the 30 15 amp with a 30 amp, connecting the water heater to it. Upon returning home, I have been trying to locate another 30 15 twin pole circuit breaker with no success. I've called most if not all the electrical supply companies who keep referring me to other companies that I have already contacted. Apparently, no one carries a 30 15 amp twin pole circuit breaker. I've reluctantly contacted an RV dealership asking if they carry the circuit breaker. I was informed it is no longer manufactured. When asked how they would repair such a problem, they indicated the installation of two separate breakers, one 30 amp and the other 15 amp. Question for members of rv.net, should I quit looking for the 30 15 amp and install two circuit breakers? Will there be problems with the 5th wheel if I leave it as?

[Old-Biscuit]

john&bet wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Buy a 30A single for Main and a 15A single for water heater.

Just need to match up style with what is in your breaker box

I hate to tell you Old Biscuit, but that will not work when he only has one stab to plug them into. Sounds like he has what is know as a space saver breaker where one stab is used to power two separate circuits thru two independent c/b's in one case.

Hate to tell me.....then why did you :B

OP didn't state what he really has......yet.

[Vulcan_Rider]

avvidclif1 wrote:
It's not ganged, it's 2 breakers in one package to save space.

If he had explained that there WERE NO EXTRA SLOTS LEFT in the first place, this would have been a much shorter discussion.

If there are vacant slots left......then just get two full size breakers and be done with it.

[john_bet]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Buy a 30A single for Main and a 15A single for water heater.

Just need to match up style with what is in your breaker box

I hate to tell you Old Biscuit, but that will not work when he only has one stab to plug them into. Sounds like he has what is know as a space saver breaker where one stab is used to power two separate circuits thru two independent c/b's in one case.

[avvidclif1]

It's not ganged, it's 2 breakers in one package to save space.

[christopherglen]

take the original breaker, and hit amazon with the part #.

[jmaotto]

Check the wire size to the WH. If it is 12 gauge then you might be able to find a 30/20 breaker.

[Old-Biscuit]

BTPO1 wrote:

BB_TX wrote:
Not all manufacturers breakers are interchangeable. Get the manufacturer model number off the breaker and then google it. I had the same problem finding a 20/15 breaker. Googled the model number and found numerous sources. Bought one on line, delivered in a couple days, and installed it.

And no, do not leave the water heater on a 30 amp breaker. The wire is not likely sized for that current. A short could cause a fire.

X2, it is a 30-15 breaker for a reason. JMO

Reason........

Breaker slot size.
30/15A breaker takes up same space as a regular circuit breaker.

Can be replaced with single 30A and single 15A. They just have to be same style and narrow so the 2 fit in space slot/space as the doubled breaker

No other reason as they are 2 separate breakers that function independent pf each other

[Vulcan_Rider]

Jerry_L wrote:
When asked how they would repair such a problem, they indicated the installation of two separate breakers, one 30 amp and the other 15 amp.

You got good advice right up front.
You should take it.

[BTPO1]

Vulcan Rider wrote:

BTPO1 wrote:


X2, it is a 30-15 breaker for a reason. JMO

OK so there are at least a couple of supposed electrical experts who frequent here and..........

What possible electrical reason could there be for having the main breaker (30 amp) ganged to the water heater breaker (15 amp) ??

This makes no sense to me and I see absolutely nothing wrong with putting in two individual breakers of the proper size.

To answer your question there is no reason to do that and I have never saw two different amperage breakers tied together, it would be a safety issue.

They are not ganged together. They are two separate breakers, a 30A and a 15A put into one case but separate. If the two were mechanically latched together there would be a mechanical tie between them and take power from two buss bars. JMO

[randygk]

I think the OP breaker is two breakers in one package, not two breakers in one package connected together. DO Not leave the water heater wired to the 30 amp CB as it was probably wired with wire rated for a fifteen amp capacity. If it shorts, it could melt instead of tripping CB. You may have to install a separate box with a single CB for the water heater.

[Vulcan_Rider]

BTPO1 wrote:


X2, it is a 30-15 breaker for a reason. JMO

OK so there are at least a couple of supposed electrical experts who frequent here and..........

What possible electrical reason could there be for having the main breaker (30 amp) ganged to the water heater breaker (15 amp) ??

This makes no sense to me and I see absolutely nothing wrong with putting in two individual breakers of the proper size.

[KD4UPL]

If you have an available slot in your breaker panel it would probably be far easier, cheaper, and quicker to use separate breakers instead of the weird 30/15 tandem.
If you have to use the tandem then the Siemens should fit. Just about any RV panel I've seen uses breakers that are physically compatible with Siemens breakers. For the record the following breakers are all physically interchangeable: Siemens, Westinghouse, Murray, Cuttler Hammer BR series, Square D Homeline series, GE, and ITE.
If this were a job getting inspected then there may be a problem mixing brands if you had a really picky inspector. Since I'm sure that's not the case you will be fine.
Do not leave the WH connected to the 30 amp breaker. That breaker, being the main, is actually fed at the terminal so your WH wire is live all the way from the plug. In other words, there's no way to turn off that circuit except to unplug the RV. If you ever use an adapter to connect your 30A service to a 50A outlet then the 50A breaker in the pedestal is all that is "protecting" the wire to the WH. Not a good situation.

[BTPO1]

BB_TX wrote:
Not all manufacturers breakers are interchangeable. Get the manufacturer model number off the breaker and then google it. I had the same problem finding a 20/15 breaker. Googled the model number and found numerous sources. Bought one on line, delivered in a couple days, and installed it.

And no, do not leave the water heater on a 30 amp breaker. The wire is not likely sized for that current. A short could cause a fire.

X2, it is a 30-15 breaker for a reason. JMO

[Old-Biscuit]

Buy a 30A single for Main and a 15A single for water heater.

Just need to match up style with what is in your breaker box