30 amp single pole breaker for 240v water heater

[mark petty]

1983 manufactured home (in sub / remote panel. I've not come across this before: 4500 watt water heater has only a 30 amp single pole breaker. Need help to explain why this IS or IS Not okay. It is the first breaker down below the main on the left side. Thanks, Mark

[Garry Sorrells]

Can't see to well on phone, but it looks like a double pole 240 breaker 2nd down on left side.

[mark petty]

Can't see to well on phone, but it looks like a double pole 240 breaker 2nd down on left side.

Gary thanks but no it is the first down just under the main breaker on left.

[Jerry Peck]

Mark,

Did you verify that the top left, single pole, 30 amp breaker shut the water heater off?

I'm thinking the panel is mislabeled (breakers moved around over the years to add/remove/replace breakers).

[Garry Sorrells]

Did you look at the heater wiring?
Heater can run with only one heating element wired.
What is the wire going into heater?

[mark petty]

Mark,

Did you verify that the top left, single pole, 30 amp breaker shut the water heater off?

I'm thinking the panel is mislabeled (breakers moved around over the years to add/remove/replace breakers).

Jerry, you were right. I went back out and found the 30 amp double pole (for water heater) in the main exterior panel not labeled. But could not find what the 30 amp single pole in the sub panel was for. This was a 4 pt inspect. and the home was filled to the max with tenants personal items / furniture and she was a little put out at the second visit so didn't figure it out. It was wired correctly with #10 so just let it go at that. Now; my question is: In what possible situation would you use a 30 amp single pole breaker. I'm thinking maybe some type of window ac which was not present. Home has brand new central ac package unit. As always, thanks for your help.

[mark petty]

Did you look at the heater wiring?
Heater can run with only one heating element wired.
What is the wire going into heater?

Gary, Unit is 4500 watt dual element with #10 wire. Thanks

[Jerry Peck]

Did you look at the heater wiring?
Heater can run with only one heating element wired.
What is the wire going into heater?


Gary, Unit is 4500 watt dual element with #10 wire. Thanks

Only one element is on at at time.

[Jerry Peck]

Now; my question is: In what possible situation would you use a 30 amp single pole breaker. I'm thinking maybe some type of window ac which was not present.

Some, many?, motors/appliances are setup to be wired either 120 volts or 240 volts by the installer, depending on what is provided.

It may be possible that there was an old air conditioner there wired 30A 120v.

Is the wire going to the single pole 30 amp breaker a #10?

[Roy Lewis]

Why do you need all this for a simple 4 Point insurance inspection?

[Gunnar Alquist]

What are motor home plugs rated at?

[Roy Lewis]

What are motor home plugs rated at?
Yep! 30 amps

[Jerry Peck]

What are motor home plugs rated at?

30 amps, 120 volt for some (let's you plug into almost any camping site).

50 amps, 120 volt / 240 volt (but no 240 volt loads) for others - a 50 amp service for a motor home restricts the motor home from plugging into some?/most? national parks and some state parks as they only have 20 amp / 30 amp supply.

Pop-ups and travel trailers are likely 20 amp, with some being 30 amp (travel trailers likely have 30 amp, and some even have 50 amp).

But ...

Mark said:

1983 manufactured home

Which is not a motor home.

Even a 1983 "mobile home" likely had a 50 amp service - regular 120 volt / 240 volt (which allows 240 volt loads.

[mark petty]

30 amps, 120 volt for some (let's you plug into almost any camping site).

50 amps, 120 volt / 240 volt (but no 240 volt loads) for others - a 50 amp service for a motor home restricts the motor home from plugging into some?/most? national parks and some state parks as they only have 20 amp / 30 amp supply.

Pop-ups and travel trailers are likely 20 amp, with some being 30 amp (travel trailers likely have 30 amp, and some even have 50 amp).

But ...

Mark said:


Which is not a motor home.

Even a 1983 "mobile home" likely had a 50 amp service - regular 120 volt / 240 volt (which allows 240 volt loads.[/COLOR]

Thanks everyone; great help!

[Roy Lewis]

I have inspected many rv parks and most provide 60 amp down here.
However , I want to know from the OP question what does this have to do with a Florida 4 Point inspection.

[Jerry Peck]

I have inspected many rv parks and most provide 60 amp down here.

60 amp?

For an RV park or an older mobile home park?

The standard RV cords and plugs, and the standard RV power boxes, are 50 amp / 30 amp / 20 amp combinations (the 20 amp receptacles are, of course, GFCI protected.


However , I want to know from the OP question what does this have to do with a Florida 4 Point inspection.

He didn't say the 30 amp breaker had anything to do with a Florida 4 Point inspection. He was questioning the water heater breaker at the time.

Are you saying that looking at the water heater, the electrical panel, breakers, and wiring are NOT part of a Florida 4 Point Inspection? Seems as though something caught you by surprise and you are trying to figure it out by pressing Mark for what he does and why.

This is what IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE for a Florida 4 Point Inspection:
https://www.citizensfla.com/documents/20702/31330/4+Point+Inspection+PL/3d7e0270-2c1d-4a14-b2e6-3a796c675a7f

Are you NOT doing that?

[Gunnar Alquist]

30 amps, 120 volt for some (let's you plug into almost any camping site).

50 amps, 120 volt / 240 volt (but no 240 volt loads) for others - a 50 amp service for a motor home restricts the motor home from plugging into some?/most? national parks and some state parks as they only have 20 amp / 30 amp supply.
Pop-ups and travel trailers are likely 20 amp, with some being 30 amp (travel trailers likely have 30 amp, and some even have 50 amp).
But ...
Mark said:
Which is not a motor home.
Even a 1983 "mobile home" likely had a 50 amp service - regular 120 volt / 240 volt (which allows 240 volt loads.[/COLOR]

But...
That doesn't mean that a manufactured/mobile home owner cannot own a motor home or travel trailer.

However, presumably Mark would have noticed a 30A 120V outlet at the exterior of the home.

[ROBERT YOUNG]

1983 manufactured home (in sub / remote panel. I've not come across this before: 4500 watt water heater has only a 30 amp single pole breaker. Need help to explain why this IS or IS Not okay. It is the first breaker down below the main on the left side. Thanks, Mark
To find the current draw (https://www.hunker.com/12291117/how-to-size-a-circuit-breaker), you just divide this number by the voltage at which it operates, which is either 120 volts or 240 volts. Then, multiply this number by 125 percent. An easy way to do this is to divide it by 100 and then multiply it by 125. The rating of your circuit breaker must be larger than this total.

[Jerry Peck]

But...
That doesn't mean that a manufactured/mobile home owner cannot own a motor home or travel trailer.

One of my thoughts too ... followed by 'nah, not with them living in an old 1983 mobile home'.

Could be, but I reasoned that off the list ... possibly erroneously ... except that a mobile home has an outside service box it connects to, so I figured why run to the mobile home box, then back out, why not just run it from from the outside service at the pole/pedestal? (There are potential reasons why, but now we're really going into the guesswork aspect.)

[Jerry Peck]

Why do you say it is a 120V single pole OCPD and not 1P - 120/240 Square D 120/240 V OCPD (http://Square D QOB130 1p 30a 120/240v Circuit Breaker)?

Robert,

Some of your recent posts have me concerned about you ...

Such as a one pole (single pole) breaker being "and not 1P - 120/240" .. a 240 volt breaker has to poles (oh, I got an error on the link, said site could not be reached).

[Gunnar Alquist]

One of my thoughts too ... followed by 'nah, not with them living in an old 1983 mobile home'.

You're probably right.

[ROBERT YOUNG]

Robert,

Some of your recent posts have me concerned about you ...

Such as a one pole (single pole) breaker being "and not 1P - 120/240" .. a 240 volt breaker has to poles (oh, I got an error on the link, said site could not be reached).

Sorry. I will try to do better.