ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (Scott35), 264 guests, and 16 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15
R
Rob Offline OP
Member
How many circuits can one neutral share?
#12 stranded wire.
Code wording is unclear to me, it reads -
TWO or THREE sets of 3-wire feeders or TWO
sets of 4-wire or 5-wire feeders.

(Can I share a common neutral with three 20 amp single phase circuits?)Thanks in advance.

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 66
C
Member
on single phase you can share a common neutral with 2 circuits of the same ampacity as the neutral. for example, two 20 amp circuits can share one 12 gauge neutral. The catch is that the 2 circuits must be on OPPOSITE legs of the 240 volt breaker panel. The neutral will only carry the differnece in current between the two circuits. for exampl, if one circuit has a 12 amp toaster on it and the other has a 9 amp coffee maker, the neutral will be carrying 3 amps

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,143
D
Member
Don't forget the requirement of D/C'ing BOTH current carrying conductors with one motion (tied OCPD's) for the circuit in questions.

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 886
H
Member
Doug, that only applies if the two circuits supply device(s) on one yoke such as split wired duplex receptacles. (210.4) If this is simply a 3 wire home run then a two pole breaker is not required.

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,143
D
Member
You are correct. Thought that the interp. included shared neutrals in general.

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,374
R
Moderator
Its amazing how mis-interpreted that provision is.


Ryan Jackson,
Salt Lake City
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,716
R
Member
Rob, let's look at your question closely.

First of all 215 is for feeders so we will leave this section and go on to 225.7(B) which will allow you to put as many circuits as you want on a properly sized neutral. Yes this section is specific to "Outside Branch Circuits and Feeders" but there is nothing in any other section prohibiting it for other applications.

If you are using a neutral conductor the same size as the circuit conductors, then you could have a neutral common to both ends of a single winding, (transformer) or common to three windings connected in a wye or star configuration. This goes with Cpalm1's post

I know, I'm causing trouble. [Linked Image]

Roger

[This message has been edited by Roger (edited 01-13-2004).]

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 794
Likes: 3
W
Member
Say that there were 4 15 amp circuits sharing one neutral. If 2 circuits come from one side of the supply, and the other two are fed by the other side, then can I use one neutral that is sized to take 30 amps (AWG 10 IIRC)? This would have to be in one conduit I would think.

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,716
R
Member
Wa2ise, yes that would be allowed per 225.7(B)specificaly. Seems strange doesn't it. [Linked Image]

Roger

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,723
Likes: 1
Broom Pusher and
Member
Roger;

Quote

I know, I'm causing trouble. [Linked Image]

Not even if you tried to! [Linked Image]

Addressed things which are indeed very related to this scope.

I like the descriptions of Transformers, which basically caught my eye - and led to this reply!

To the original poster:

Although the idea of using an oversized Common Grounded Conductor for several multiwire circuits is compliant to the NEC, it still just sounds odd to me!
It works, and should be safe - if installed properly; it's only a "different" method, very much "unthought of" by many of us here - including myself!

Regardless of which option you choose - be sure to have a "Balance" of Ungrounded Conductors which are derrived from Breakers on "Opposite Polarity Points" in the Panel.
Simply, if you can measure 220-240 VAC across two Breakers, use these two circuits for a single multiwire circuit. Step down 1 space from that multiwire for the next one.

BTW: Per the term "Opposite Polarity Points", I use that term because "Opposite Phases" really does not apply to a 1Ø 3W system.

Talk about starting trouble [Linked Image]

Scott35


Scott " 35 " Thompson
Just Say NO To Green Eggs And Ham!
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5