I've added a circuit for an electric dryer in my basement. The 4-post receptacle I installed is about six feet from the breaker box, connected by 10-gauge stranded wire (two hot, one neutral, and a ground) through flexible conduit.

The dryer started, but tripped the breaker after running several minutes. I reset the breaker and again after several minutes it tripped.

I was convinced that there was a short somewhere in my wiring until I looked at the instruction book and saw a picture of the breaker ...

I'd installed a double-pole GE breaker for this 30 amp circuit. It had "15A" written beside each switch (15 + 15 + 30 amps, right?)

But, the picture in my wiring book is of someone holding a double pole breaker with "30" written on each switch.

Did I install a breaker for only half the required amperage? The 10-gauge red & black wires should EACH be able to carry 30 amps, right?

I'm just afraid of putting-in a breaker that's too big and starting a fire if there really is a short somewhere.