Any electricians out there

[JimFromTN]

I bought a place out in the country a few years back that has a basement that had a washer and dryer in it that have since been removed.  I am wanting to use the 220v outlet from the dryer and use it for a 220v air compressor.  I went and looked at the electrical panel and the breakers were not what I was suspecting.  I should have taken a picture and posted it.  There are 4 110v breakers lined up in a row.  The 1st and last breakers are 40 amps and the 2 middle breakers are 20 amp.  There is a jumper from the 1st to the last so you can just pull the jumper to shut them off at the same time.  Those 2 outside breakers are for the stove.  The middle 2 breakers are for the dryer.  Is this normal? Is there any requirement that these be setup this way or can I just replace the 4 110 breakers with 2 220 breakers?   

[dralarms]

I see that all the time. Any reason you want to change them? You can if you want to. Just make sure you get the right brand breaker. They are different. 

[No_0ne]

A 220 breaker is just a double pole breaker, so yes you can replace the 20A 110's with a 220, providing the same brand is used as dralarms pointed out already.

[RED333]

3 hours ago, JimFromTN said:

There is a jumper from the 1st to the last so you can just pull the jumper to shut them off at the same time. 

Please post a pics of this, got my curiosity up.

[dralarms]

1 hour ago, RED333 said:

Please post a pics of this, got my curiosity up.

It’s just a bar to make sure you turn off both circuits before touching it. 

[mhmd]

I am not an electrician.  Does that mean they have a shared neutral?  

[RED333]

8 hours ago, dralarms said:

It’s just a bar to make sure you turn off both circuits before touching it. 

The way it is explained it sounds like the "bar" is one piece used on 4 breakers. I am a trained electrician, and have seen and used a single pole, double pole, 3 pole and even 4 pole breakers(used for shunt trip). But never a 4 pole with different amp ratings on the breakers. Am I reading the post wrong?

[dralarms]

18 minutes ago, RED333 said:

The way it is explained it sounds like the "bar" is one piece used on 4 breakers. I am a trained electrician, and have seen and used a single pole, double pole, 3 pole and even 4 pole breakers(used for shunt trip). But never a 4 pole with different amp ratings on the breakers. Am I reading the post wrong?

Nope,  it look like this 20, 30, 30, 20. The 2 outside breakers are for one thing, the 2 outside ones are for another 220 circuit. They use them a lot in modular homes. It’s a cheap space saving trick. You can shut off the outside circuit without tripping the inside circuit and also trip the inside without turning off the outside circuit. 

[JimFromTN]

My confusion is why wouldn't they line them up 20 20 and 30 30 so there would be no need for a bar across the 2 middle ones?  Is there a reason other than not feeling like taking the time to do it?  Also because the bar jumps across the 2 middle ones, there can't be a bar between the middle ones to ensure they are turned off at the same time.

Edited September 24, 2019 by JimFromTN

[RED333]

I will wait on the pic

[dralarms]

3 hours ago, RED333 said:

I will wait on the pic

There are actually 2 styles. 

[RED333]

Thanks for the pics. now I see how it works.

[dralarms]

You’re welcome. It makes the circuit land on separate sides of the feed.