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It all depends on the load potential on each circuit. There are rules in the national Electric Code on how many outlets per 15 or 20 Amp circuits. As a worse case you will trip the breaker on a regular basis with more potential load. Also the wire size and devices must be compatible on both circuits.
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Answer for USA
The code allows 2 wires connected to one breaker so long as the two wires are the same size and both are either stranded or solid, and not one stranded and the other solid. This prohibits the terminal from being tight on the larger wire and loose on the smaller wire. Many local jurisdictions do not allow this as it often involves this problem and shows a lack of professional workmanship.
As for the word 'circuit', on any single pole breaker there can be only one circuit. Even if two wires are terminated, there is still only one circuit. It is no different than if you run one wire out to a junction box and branched off in two different directions from there. And running a single set of wires, hot/neutral/ground, out to a junction box and branching off from there is a more professional installation. It prohibits the look of poor workmanship in the panel and allows for the splicing of different sized or solid and stranded wires. All wires must be sized for the breaker as if it were the only wire on the circuit.
When making modifications or repairs to older homes it is sometimes necessary to do what is necessary given the circumstances. Yes, I have landed more than one wire on a breaker. Yes, I have landed different sized wires on a single breaker. But you must be sure the wires are tight and not be guessing.
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Before you do any work yourself
on circuits, equipment or appliances,
ensure the circuit is, in fact, OFF.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
No. Each conductor requires its own circuit breaker. Be sure to match the size of the breaker to the size of the wire. Ex.: 15 amp breaker for #14 gauge wire/ 20 amp breaker for #12 hauge wire.
You certainly can. You can also have a single room serviced by more than one breaker. Breaker assignments are based on expected power usage and type of home wiring.
Bedrooms don't normally require a lot of power so several rooms' wall outlets can be on the same breaker. The ceiling lights also don't require much power and can be on the same breaker circuit. It also makes sense to have ceiling lights and wall outlets on different circuits so that if you need to shut one of the circuits for work or repair, you can still use the other for light and power.
Some areas such as kitchen, garage, work room, laundry room can have appliances and equipment that require more power and should consider having their own circuit breaker.
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When a home circuit breaker opens the lights in some rooms go off but the lights in some rooms stay on. Explain why.?
The circuit breakers in a panelboard feed separate circuits. The lights that stay on are on a different circuit than the ones that go off. To fine the circuit that feeds the lights that stay on, go to the panelboard and turn off the breakers one by one until the lights go out. This is the circuit that feeds that circuit of lights. Remember that lights and receptacles can be on the same circuit together.
How do you create a dedicated circuit?
To create a dedicated circuit, you need to run a separate electrical cable from the circuit breaker box to the intended outlet or appliance. This circuit should have its own circuit breaker to prevent overloading. It's important to follow all local building codes and regulations when installing a dedicated circuit.
What does the trip free characteristic of a circuit breaker mean?
A trip free circuit breaker is one that will disconnect a circuit even if the manual switch is held at the "on" position. It is a safety feature to prevent a circuit breaker being disabled either deliberately or accidentally.
Lost electricity to 3 rooms and you checked the circuit breaker and they are all in What else might be the problem?
If the circuit breakers are confirmed to be in the "on" position and the power is still out in those rooms, the issue may lie with a tripped GFCI outlet in one of the rooms, a faulty electrical outlet or switch, or a problem with the wiring in those specific areas. It's recommended to consult a qualified electrician to further diagnose and address the problem.
How does drawable circuit breaker look like?
A drawable circuit breaker is a graphical representation of a circuit breaker that can be visually manipulated. It typically consists of a switch that can be opened or closed to interrupt or restore the flow of electricity. This type of circuit breaker is often used in educational settings to help students understand how circuit breakers work.
What is a dedicated circuit?
A "dedicated" circuit is one to which only one device is or can be connected; therefore the circuit is "dedicated" to the device. A NON dedicated circuit will therefore be one to which multiple devices can connect, such as the wall outlets in your home. Multiple wall outlets are connected to a common circuit breaker, making that an example of a non-dedicated circuit.
Can multiple circuits be connected on one breaker?
Multiple wires can be connected to one breaker but the one breaker IS a circuit. As long as the load is not more than 80% of the breaker capacity (example: a 20 amp breaker can only have 16 amps or 1920 watts at 120 volts) then by code as long as the load is not a specialty outlet of some sort, you can have as many outlets you want.
Where is the circuit breaker for a hot water heater?
The best way to determine which circuit breaker is for the water heater is with a voltage meter, It is suppose to be only one circuit breaker, but in a faulty application it could be two breakers
When a home circuit breaker opens the lights in some rooms go off but the lights in some rooms stay on. Explain why.?
The circuit breakers in a panelboard feed separate circuits. The lights that stay on are on a different circuit than the ones that go off. To fine the circuit that feeds the lights that stay on, go to the panelboard and turn off the breakers one by one until the lights go out. This is the circuit that feeds that circuit of lights. Remember that lights and receptacles can be on the same circuit together.
What is function of damping relay in circuit breaker?
The anti-pumping relay is a device in circuit-breaker whose function is to prevent multiple breaker closures. For instance, if the operator gives the closing command to the breaker by pressing the close button and the breaker closes. However, a fault in the system causes the breaker to trip. Since the close command is still in the pressed condition, there is a chance of the breaker closing again and being tripped by the relay multiple times. This can damage the closing mechanism of the breaker. The anti-pumping relay prevents this by ensuring that the breaker closes only once for one close command from the control panel.
What would cause a circuit breaker heating element to trip off?
There are two conditions that would cause a breaker to trip off. One is an overload of the circuit and the other is a short circuit on the circuit. The heating element within the breaker is what monitors for circuit overloads.
How can I determine what is tripping my circuit breaker?
To determine what is tripping your circuit breaker, you can unplug all devices on that circuit and then plug them back in one by one to identify the culprit. If the breaker trips when a specific device is plugged in, that device may be causing the issue.
How do you create a dedicated circuit?
To create a dedicated circuit, you need to run a separate electrical cable from the circuit breaker box to the intended outlet or appliance. This circuit should have its own circuit breaker to prevent overloading. It's important to follow all local building codes and regulations when installing a dedicated circuit.
What does the trip free characteristic of a circuit breaker mean?
A trip free circuit breaker is one that will disconnect a circuit even if the manual switch is held at the "on" position. It is a safety feature to prevent a circuit breaker being disabled either deliberately or accidentally.
How are Branch circuit protected?
Branch circuits are protected by the circuit breaker found in the electrical panel. Each circuit should have its one breaker. The breaker should be rated to protect the insulation of the wire, so you can determine the breaker size based on the circuit conductor size Example #14-2 should be protected by a 15 amp breaker
What might cause a breaker to trip when switching on a light when resetting the breaker and checking the fuse doesn't restore power to one circuit?
Overloaded circuit, short in circuit, or defective switch.
How volts comes from a 20amps breaker?
On most residential circuit breaker boxes in North America, each individual breaker represents one 120-volt circuit. Two breakers ganged together represent a 240-volt circuit.
