The Eaton type CH is typical among modern breakers in that multipole common tripping is performed by an internal mechanism, not by the handle tie. This is noted in the Eaton catalog in the spec description of the type CH breaker (page V1-T1-31 of the Eaton catalog, emphasis mine):
Product Description
Quick-make, quick-break switch mechanism combined with inverse time element tripping operation and trip-free handle design. Type CH circuit breakers trip to the OFF position, eliminating nuisance callbacks. The CHF family also includes a trip flag to differentiate between a trip and the breaker being turned off. The thermal-magnetic trip curve avoids nuisance tripping on mild overloads while reacting almost instantaneously to severe short-circuit conditions. Multipole breakers have internal common trip connection to operate all poles simultaneously. Handles are marked with ON-OFF indication and ampere rating of the breaker.
and in footnote 2 on the accessories table (page V1-T1-38):
- Handle ties: typically used to join two similar independent single-pole breakers to form a two-pole noncommon trip breaker.
This means that the combination of 2 single pole type CH breakers and a handle tie is only usable for 240V only or 120V only circuits as per NEC 240.15(B)(1) and 240.15(B)(2):
(B) Circuit Breaker as Overcurrent Device. Circuit
breakers shall open all ungrounded conductors of the circuit
both manually and automatically unless otherwise permitted in 240.15(B)(1), (B)(2), (B)(3), and (B)(4).
(1) Multiwire Branch Circuits. Individual single-pole circuit breakers, with identified handle ties, shall be permitted
as the protection for each ungrounded conductor of multi-wire branch circuits that serve only single-phase line-to-neutral loads.
(2) Grounded Single-Phase Alternating-Current Circuits. In grounded systems, individual single-pole circuit
breakers rated 120/240 volts ac, with identified handle ties,
shall be permitted as the protection for each ungrounded
conductor for line-to-line connected loads for single-phase
circuits.
As to breaker ratings, the CH line has you covered as well. All standard (i.e. no GF or AF functions) single pole CH, CHF, CHT, CH-HID, CHP, CH-M50, CH-HM and CHP-HM breakers are rated 120/240VAC, so they are listed for handle tied service on 240VAC only split phase circuits.
Furthermore, the UL Circuit Breaker Marking Guide states in paragraph 40 that
An external handle tie alone does not
qualify as a common trip mechanism — a breaker of this type is marked to indicate it is an
independent trip breaker.
Because of Ohm's Law, double the voltage and your transmission losses drop to 1/4 with the same diameter of wire. Go here and punch in your voltage, actual service amperage, distance and tolerable voltage drop in percent (try different numbers here to see the effects of different size of cable).
If the distance is rather far, the calc may start talking about fat wire like 6AWG or larger. Don't buy that, come back and ask us.
14AWG wire at 120V will be 8.333A (repeating of course), and load a 14AWG wire enough for voltage drop to be an important factor. Going 240V cuts that by 75%.
Going 240V also gives expansion "room".
I can't possibly guess whether the build quality of the solar panels in question has cut corners on current pathways (endangering 120V panels) or insulation and component voltage rating (endangering 240V panels). Insulation is generally cheaper than current pathways, so all things being equal I'd favor the higher voltage.
I'm no fan of marrying the PV and the inverter hardware. If either fails, both are scrap, so you are beholden to the build quality on both of them. They are also only good for grid tie. If it's on a roof, love your firefighters.
Best Answer
Yes and no. It not as simple as keeping the wattage under the maximum value.
The load needs to also be balanced if you have 120v devices the load needs to be on both legs equally or close. 220/240v loads are usually balanced but not always. (A dryer is a example of an unbalanced 240 load).
1 120v leg you can normally pull 2400w beyond this will probably trip the protective circuits. (For the single 120v outlets) splitting the and putting the load evenly on each leg it will work so to not overload the generator.
you may be able put ~6000 w on the 220/240 but then it depends how the 120v circuits are loaded 1500w on each leg will work but a large imbalance will overload the generator even if the total is less than the generator rating.
I mention the loading because years back a man set up his own system on the first power outage he kept tripping the generator over temp safeties (ruined the generator) they would not warranty it and called it abuse, I was referred to set up the new one. His problem 80/30 he had 30% on the 240 load then 50% on L1 leg nothing on L2 even though he had less than the total load it was so heavily imbalanced it smoked the coils from being reset.
I went out and he was really upset he had done an excellent job setting it up but did not understand balancing and the inspector did not check it when he signed off the job.
I moved 3 circuits over to the other side and then asked him what he would add if he had power. I added 4 more circuits and his total was still well under the rating but well balanced.
I explained how to check the loads with the meter on the generator and to make sure L1 was close to L2 and he would be fine with 1-2 below the max but the large imbalance and resetting was what damaged the original generator.
He did not believe me and turned off his main and ran the generator for close to 250 gallons of propane without a problem.
So as the question is asked yes or no can be the correct answer depending on balancing of the 120v loads.