Double (220v) 25amp breaker but with a wire only connected to one of the breakers. Now the wire was 12awg which I know is undersized for 25 amps, but other than that is this a legal and safe way to use a double pole breaker?
Secondly, this circuit is powering a swimming pool pump and I would think that it should be a GFI breaker (it's not). Is that a requirement?
240.4(D) says you can only use 20a max breaker on a 12 ga wire but there are exceptions and one is on a dedicated motor circuit.
In the motor articles, using the FLA on the motor plate,
430.52 says if the motor has internal overload protection you can use an inverse time breaker that is 250% of FLA
430.122 says you size the wire to 125% of the FLA, using 310.16 (25ga = 25a)
These are rules best implemented by electricians and engineers who understand all the other issues. For most people, you just put the 12 ga on a 20a breaker and avoid all the confusion. You really should be using a GFCI on the pool pump.
680.22(B) GFCI Protection. Outlets supplying pool pump motors from branch circuits with short-circuit and ground-fault protection rated
15 or 20 amperes, 125 volt or 240 volt, single phase, whether by receptacle or direct connection, shall be provided with ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.
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