220 volt breaker size

[mdog]

My question is about a 220v 2 pole 40 amp breaker for my kitchen stove.  The breaker is 2" wide meaning it takes the space of 4 standard single pole breakers.  Can I replace it with a 1" wide 220v 2 pole 40 amp breaker which seems to be available for my panel? A secondary question is what's the difference between a 1" wide breaker and a 2" wide breaker, since they are both 40 amp 2 pole 220v breakers?  This is all about saving space in the panel to avoid having to install a sub panel.  The panel is a GE and the sticker says it takes THQP, THHQP, THQL, TQDL & TXQL breakers.  

I just noticed the wiring from the breaker to the stove is aluminum.  Could this have something to do with the physical size of the breaker?


 

[JP]

Some manufactures make different size breakers, mostly in older panels. I believe that it will work in that GE panel, having said that there is only one thing you need to make sure of, that the thin breaker will catch both phases in the panel. There are bars that run through the panel and alternate, every other breaker is on a different phase. Between two phases you get your 220v, that breaker needs to hit each phase to get the correct voltage, if the thin two pole breaker ends up on the same phase you will not have the correct voltage.