Drier circuit - electrical question.

When you replaced the dryer circuit you ran two 'hot' wires from the same side of the circuit breaker/fuse box. Go back to the breaker box and move one of the wires to the other side of the 120/240 circuit.

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Specifically, use a double-pole breaker in the distribution box in a location intended to house one -- they're designed for the purpose and will pick up the two opposing phase legs automagically. Plus, you'll have a single-lever breaker rather than two; much better (and Code-compliant whereas the other way isn't unless the two are made to be (and are) "ganged" together.

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Thanks Ralph and dpb. As soon as I read your reply I realized what I had done :) There was one vacant position and I moved a few single and double breaks around to tidy everything up and, well, you can guess what the result was. Sometimes, things are so obvious to another pair of eyes. Thanks again.

In addition to what has already been said, it is possible that you installed a "twin" circuit breaker, and not a double pole. The twin breaker has two locations for circuit conductors to attach, but only attaches to one buss on the panel.

Not sure if that applies to my StabLok panel but I will check it out. I just reused the breaker that had previously been used for the original drier circuit. The circuit was removed during some basement renovations and we had been using a smaller 120V drier since.

de quoted text -

yeah I had a stab loc breaker not trip on a dead short, the wiring melted and exploded before my eyes. splattered with hot metal.

replace entire panel immediately

Wow ... now that is a scary report! My experience so far is that when shorts have happened as work is being done around the house, etc. is that the appropriate breakers have tripped. There is also one circuit that is constantly being overloaded - don't ask - and that trips with irritating regularity. However, there is another with the garage/ workshop on it that I've worried about: lights dim severely when power tools are switched on etc. but it has never tripped. I'm in Canada and my panel looks completely different to the ones pictured on the website. I'm going to call the City fire office and the utility company tomorrow to see if they have any information on this.

Not sure if that applies to my StabLok panel but I will check it out. I just reused the breaker that had previously been used for the original drier circuit. The circuit was removed during some basement renovations and we had been using a smaller 120V drier since.

No, FPE made half sized single pole breakers and double pole breakers, but I don't believe they ever made twins

Wow ... now that is a scary report! My experience so far is that when shorts have happened as work is being done around the house, etc. is that the appropriate breakers have tripped. There is also one circuit that is constantly being overloaded - don't ask - and that trips with irritating regularity. However, there is another with the garage/ workshop on it that I've worried about: lights dim severely when power tools are switched on etc. but it has never tripped. I'm in Canada and my panel looks completely different to the ones pictured on the website. I'm going to call the City fire office and the utility company tomorrow to see if they have any information on this.

You might look here too (Canadian Federal Pioneer Electrical Hazards):