I just moved into a rental property and was doing some electrical work such as replacing ceiling fans and outlets (reimbursed of course). When working with the breaker box, I encountered breakers I have not worked with before and frankly seem dangerous. As in, you can have to flip both half switches before the breaker is off. That and there seem to arbitrarily be white plastic clips place thru out to help turn both off at the same time. Honestly, most just seem to be missing with age.
I have yet to remove one from the panel, but so far I cannot find them online to see what they are. I'm under the impression the house was built in 92', but already I've been finding what I believe to be electrical violations, even for 92', every time I pull off a wall plate or fixture.
What are these breakers and should they be replace?
Also, a well pump is positioned between two breakers. This really feels like someone was cutting corners too. That and whom ever label the panel put GFI #1 and GFI #2, which went to the bathrooms that had nothing close to GFI (Just cheap 50ยข outlets). Needless to say those have been changed out.
Best Answer
Some things don't need common trip, they just common maintenance shut off. A 2 pole breaker provides both these things but not everything needs that.
The white things are called handle ties. You wouldn't expect to find them on every breaker, just the ones that need common maintenance shut off.
The two Breakers in one space are exactly what it says on the tin. They are separate Breakers with separate trip. I have never seen double stuff Breakers with handle ties, but if the manufacturer supports it then okay.
One thing that does need common trip is the pump. That should not be on a double stuff with handle tie. That should be on a 2 pole breaker. Now they do make quadplex Breakers which are two double-stuffs with a proper two-pole breaker in the middle; all that will fit into 2 spaces. That is what they should have used in that location.
I certainly hope that you tested the bathroom receptacles to see if they already had GFCI protection before installing a GFCI receptacle for no reason. Putting a GFCI on a GFCI is a waste of money. None of the breakers in that panel are GFCI Breakers, in fact there's no such thing as a GFCI double stuff.