Is This OK?

dtsinc

I am building a house where the HO is an electrician and did his own wiring. It passed inspection, but the inspector didn't look very closely at anything. The HO ran several circuits with 12/3, junctioned it in a outlet box to feed another circuit, two circuits with one pull I guess to save running another wire. What do you guys think?

jbfan

Happens all the time, and is code compliant!

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480sparky

It is the inaleinable right of every American to burn down their own house.

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johndel1971

you are allowed to do it for some things but i personally dont recomend it nor would do it.the cost savings is just not worth it. example: 12-2rx is 35 a roll for 250 ft. 12-3 is 65 for 250 ft. and when u share a neutral u have to use a 2-pole breaker by code which is double the cost of a single pole breaker plus ur putting the load of 2 circuits on 1 neutral wire. bottom line is that its on the ho not u. it still amazes me things that custumers to save a couple bucks. best of luck

480sparky

Use of 2-pole breakers and sharing neutrals have gone out the window with the AFCI requirements.

As an electrician, it's hard for even me to keep up with the Codes. I shudder to think what the homeowner doesn't know that will hurt him.

And there is absolutely no freaking way an average homeowner is going to wire a home as fast and as good as a pro. Note the word fast. Not cutting-corners fast, but been-there-done-that-a-million-times-before fast.

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johndel1971

ur absolutly rite sparky. in my area if an inspector knows a ho is doing the wiring and doesent know him as an electrician they look for everything very closely.think about it, we sometimes fail inspections and we do it everyday,codes r constantly changing and its tough for us to keep up sometimes u would think inspectors would be more critical of a ho doing work but i guess not in this case.

wireless

The savings is in the labor. A 2 pole breaker may be double the money, but how is that more expensive if you are using it in place of two single pole breakers?

Handymanservice

I would assume he knows what he is doing if he is an electrician.

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johndel1971

u know after i wrote it i thought the the same thing and new it was a matter of time before one of you called me on it, my bad, but as far as labor savings, the house is all open so it really shouldent be much more time to pull another circuit.plus its worth it anyway.

scourt11

you dont need a 2 pole breaker for 2 branch circuits. only if u split the receptacle by breaking the tab off .

480sparky

Yes you do. 210.4(B).

Now try finding a 2-pole combination-type AFCI breaker as required by 210.12.

And everyone thinks electrical is easy.

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Magnettica

That's old school wiring. The 2008 NEC changes that rule.

210.4 (B)

Magnettica

Ahh, but yes, wouldn't the exception in 210.12 allow for some shenanigans with AFCI devices?

480sparky

Besides, split-wired (or half-hot) receptacles are generally on the same circuit, and only need a 1-pole breaker.

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Magnettica

At the time I'm wiring up a switched receptacle (which is very rare), I'm not even thinking OCPD.

dtsinc

Thanks for all your input. It only has taken him 4 months to get his rough in done. And that is only the main floor, he's still working on the basement and garage. Thank God I have other work to fill in with. Good luck to all.

480sparky

Holy cow! I'd be ashamed if it took me 4 days to do it. So how much does he think he's saving?

And it's not just about money. What about missing the kids' soccer games, dance recitals, school plays, an evening out with his better half..........

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ampman

i have a question (i already know the answer) on a multiwire branch circuit 2 hots 1 neut. each hot wire load is 15 amps how much is the neut load.

480sparky

Single or three phase?

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jasonec500

15 amps? I'm not an electrician, but because the hots are different poles don't they cancel each other out or something like that?