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Yes . Although a double pole switch is not needed.In section 26 it states that circuit breakers shall open all ungrounded cicuit conductors simutaniously. All you rally need is a single pole switch but you have a double pole switch .

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12y ago
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14y ago

This is not something i would recommend doing in most applications but if it is being done the best way to handle the situation is to feed the two pole switch with a grounded 3 conductor wire (I.E. 1 black wire, 1 red wire, 1 white wire and 1 bar copper wire for ground). The 3 conductor wire must be fed from a internal common trip 2 pole breaker and I recommend installing an AFCI breaker if this is for residential applications. Off of the switch you would then feed one circuit off of each line and then combine all the grounds under on connection and all neutrals under another connection. This connection is meant to supply two 120v circuits but i strongly recommend having a qualified electrician do this. Be aware this method will cause you to have 240v in your switch box which can be deadly if not handled correctly. On the other hand if you are trying to feed two 240v circuits using one switch you will cause a very serious life safety issue and i recommend not trying to do this. I also urge others to not post instructions on how to do this.

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9y ago

It is used to switch two wires at the same time. A double pole switch can be used to isolate a circuit from the house supply, but for low-power circuits like lamps there is only a single pole switch that controls the live wire.

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12y ago

Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.

If you are talking two way as being the same as a three way North American switch then the answer is no. A double pole single throw switch is used for two types of installation. The first is if the project calls for two separate circuits to be switched from a single location. One side of the two pole switch would control one circuit and the other pole of the switch would control the other circuit.

The other application is when switching 240 volt loads. The North American electrical code requires that both legs of the load be isolated when the switch in the circuit is opened. If just a single pole switch was used this would open the load current but would still leave one leg of the 240 volt supply "hot" to ground.

This is not a safe condition to have if you are required to work on the circuit.

As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

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16y ago

to turn on a 240v or480v system,like a 240v waterheater

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Q: Where would a double pole switch be used?
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What is the difference between iron clad double pole switch and double pole single throw switch?

Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.The difference between a double pole switch and a single pole switch is the use of the switch in the installation or equipment. A double pole switch is used when the voltage from two circuits has to be broken. An example of this is a 240 volt supply. A single pole switch is used where there is only a single supply voltage that has to be broken.


What is the difference between double pole and triple pole?

A single-pole switch is an on/off switch that switches a single wire such as the circuit to your overhead light. A double pole switch is also an on/off switch that switches two wires. You would use this to switch as 240 volt circuit (which requires two hot wires) or if you had two circuit you wanted to switch at the same time. I've used them when I had two large light circuits that required two breakers that I wanted to switch with one switch.


Can a 4 way switch be used in place of a 3 way switch?

No a 3-way is a single pole double throw. A four way switch swaps travelers.


What is the difference between single pole double throw switch and single pole single throw switch?

US Single-pole switchIn the US, the standard "single-pole" light switch is single-pole single-throw, with only 2 terminals. In the ON position it connects the two terminals, and in the OFF position it doesn't. The standard US "3-way" light switch (used for switching a light from two different switches) is single-pole double-throw. It has 3 terminals (hence the term "3-way"), and it connects one of those terminals to either of the other two, depending on the switch position. There's no OFF position, so the switch has only two positions.


What is the purpose of a double pole switch for immersion heater?

In North America both legs of the 240 volt supply are "hot" to ground. A two pole switch is used to break both legs from the supply. If only a single pole switch is used one leg will open and the tank would not operate but if you were depending on the switch to isolate the supply it could be dangerous. The other leg could lead to a shock if you touched the unswitched leg to ground while working on the tank.

Related questions

What is the difference between iron clad double pole switch and double pole single throw switch?

Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.The difference between a double pole switch and a single pole switch is the use of the switch in the installation or equipment. A double pole switch is used when the voltage from two circuits has to be broken. An example of this is a 240 volt supply. A single pole switch is used where there is only a single supply voltage that has to be broken.


What is the difference between double pole and triple pole?

A single-pole switch is an on/off switch that switches a single wire such as the circuit to your overhead light. A double pole switch is also an on/off switch that switches two wires. You would use this to switch as 240 volt circuit (which requires two hot wires) or if you had two circuit you wanted to switch at the same time. I've used them when I had two large light circuits that required two breakers that I wanted to switch with one switch.


How do you wire a DPST switch?

A double pole single throw switch. used to switch two lines at the same time.


What does double pole mean on a cooker control unit?

"Double-pole" refers to the type of switch used to disconnect the cooker from the incoming household electricity supply. Only by using a double-pole switch can the cooker's connections to both the live (or "hot") and neutral supply wires be switched on and off simultaneously.


Can a 4 way switch be used in place of a 3 way switch?

No a 3-way is a single pole double throw. A four way switch swaps travelers.


What amp light switch used in common household?

That would be a single pole 15 amp switch


What is the difference between single pole double throw switch and single pole single throw switch?

US Single-pole switchIn the US, the standard "single-pole" light switch is single-pole single-throw, with only 2 terminals. In the ON position it connects the two terminals, and in the OFF position it doesn't. The standard US "3-way" light switch (used for switching a light from two different switches) is single-pole double-throw. It has 3 terminals (hence the term "3-way"), and it connects one of those terminals to either of the other two, depending on the switch position. There's no OFF position, so the switch has only two positions.


What is the single pole and double throw switch?

A single pole switch is the ordinary switch that is used to turn the lights off and on in your home. A double throw switch is also known as a 3-way switch in North America. A double throw switch has a single pole connected to a common screw or terminal, often black. There are 2 additional screws or terminals, often brass colored. In one switch position this pole is connected to one of these screws or terminals and in the other position it connects to the other screw or terminal. If you think of a baseball diamond as an example for this switch, in one position the base line from home to first is hot. In the other position the base line from home to third is hot.


What is the purpose of a double pole switch for immersion heater?

In North America both legs of the 240 volt supply are "hot" to ground. A two pole switch is used to break both legs from the supply. If only a single pole switch is used one leg will open and the tank would not operate but if you were depending on the switch to isolate the supply it could be dangerous. The other leg could lead to a shock if you touched the unswitched leg to ground while working on the tank.


How did a 'three-way switch' get its name?

"How does a single pole switch differ from a three way?" is a trick question often asked to catch-out new trainee electricians because the common but mis-named "three-way switch" is actually a single pole, double throw switch, i.e. it is only a 2-way switch, not a 3-way switch.A pair of "3-terminal, single pole, double throw" switches are often used to hook-up two separate light switches to control one light or one set of lights.A proper "3-way switch" would be capable of being switched to 3 different positions and could have one, two or more poles. Each pole could be either single- or double-throw.The same answer put in a different wayDespite the fact that the name "3-way switch" is often used to describe it, if it is of the type that has just one pole that can only be physically switched 2 ways, the name "3-way switch" is quite wrong for that particular switch. A "3-terminal, single pole, double throw" switch" is a more accurate description for it.Comment'Three-way switch' -American term. 'Two-way switch' -UK term for the same type of switch. Used to operate a lamp from two different locations.


How does a single pole switch differ from a three way?

A proper "3-way switch" would be capable of being switched to 3 different positions and could have one, two or more poles. Each pole could be either single- or double-throw."How does a single pole switch differ from a three way?" is a trick question often asked to catch-out new trainee electricians because the common but mis-named "three-way switch" is actually a single pole, double throw switch, i.e. it is only a 2-way switch, not a 3-way switch.A pair of "3-terminal, single pole, double throw" switches are often used to hook-up two separate light switches to control one light or one set of lights.The same answer put in a different wayDespite the fact that the name "3-way switch" is often used to describe it, if it is of the type that has just one pole that can only be physically switched 2 ways, the name "3-way switch" is quite wrong for that particular switch. A "3-terminal, single pole, double throw" switch" is a more accurate description for it.


How do you tell a single pole breaker from a double pole breaker?

AnswerAccording to my husband, all sockets are double pole, single and double pole refer to switches. Hope that helps. Double pole isolates both neutral and live, single pole only isolates live, double is better, but single is cheaper. DP-switched sockets have only become commonplace in relatively recent times anyway, marketed on yet another "increased safety" angle when there was never any safety problem with SP to begin with.