How many watts will a 20 amp douple pole breaker handle?

Answer 1

The formulae for calculating watts to amps is Watts divided by Voltage. Therefore to get from Amps to Watts the calculation is Amps × Voltage. Therefore if you are working on a 240 volt supply the calculation is 20 (Amps) × 240 (Volts) which = 4800 watts.

Answer 2

Each wire on a two pole 20 amp breaker will allow 20 amps maximum before the breaker will trip.

Answer 3

In a 20A double pole circuit breaker, although the breaker says 20A, the breaker is actually two 20A single pole breakers, joined together by one actuator.

A double pole circuit breaker has two 120v branch circuits, hence where the 240v comes from. The two are independent 120v circuits to ground. Each branch remains electrically independent of each other, but with one common ground. Each of the two branches, on these two single pole ‘joined’ breakers, will handle 20A, for a total of 40A.

For the more Technical:

Ohms law causes the joined breakers to behave as if it were a 40A circuit, as far as the electrical panel is concerned, because there’ll be 40A going into the breaker, but splitting into two separate 20A circuits, or branches, of electrical current: 20A+20A=40A.

Conclusion:

In the past, this was easy to see because, each side was labeled with the number 20; however, more and more manufacturers are electing to control both breakers in a 20A double pole circuit breaker, with one single handle.

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