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What happens when you share 2 20 amp breakers with 1 neutral wire?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
if it is (1) a-phase and (1) b-phase then this is the common and preferred wiring method (balanced). if you have two circuits of the same phase sharing the neutral then it is wired wrong (imbalanced). gfci and afci breakers need there own neutrals too. as far as what happens two examples:
A: (balanced system) a-phase carrying 10 amps, b-phase carrying 10 amps, neutral carries 0 amps.
B: (imbalanced system) a-phase carrying 10 amps, a-phase carrying 10 amps. neutral carries 20 amps.
hope this helps. good luck
This is not strictly true. Most residential power is supplied in a single-phase 120/240 volt format and has nothing to do with multiple phases. A single phase transformer secondary winding is center-tapped to provide two segments, each of which is 120 volts to the center tap point, which is grounded. There are then 240 volts between the outside ends of the full secondary winding. If both breakers are fed from the same ungrounded end of the winding, all of the current would pass through only one half of the secondary winding, and hence, through the neutral as well. If two breakers were installed such that they were fed from remote ungrounded ends of the secondary winding, then the only current through the grounded center-tap neutral would be the imbalanced current of the two circuits.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Sharing two 20 amp breakers on a single neutral wire can lead to overloading the neutral wire, causing it to overheat and potentially start a fire. This setup can also cause imbalance in the circuit, leading to voltage fluctuations and potential damage to electrical devices. It is not recommended to share one neutral wire with multiple breakers.
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What is an electric shared neutral?
An electric shared neutral is a wiring configuration where multiple circuits share a common neutral wire. This setup is commonly found in residential electrical systems to save on materials and space. However, it requires proper installation and balancing of loads to avoid overloading the shared neutral wire.
Can grounds and neutral wire share same buss bar?
No, the ground and neutral wires should not share the same bus bar in an electrical panel. The ground wire is for safety and should be connected to the ground bus bar, while the neutral wire is for returning current and should be connected to the neutral bus bar. Mixing them can cause dangerous conditions like electrical shock or fires.
Any problems with shared neutral for for 4 15 amp breakers each on dedicated circuits?
Using a shared neutral for 4 separate 15 amp circuits with dedicated breakers can lead to issues with overloading the neutral wire. This setup can cause unbalanced loads, leading to potential overheating and safety hazards. It is recommended to use individual neutral wires for each circuit to ensure proper function and safety.
How do you change one breaker on a 3 wire that feeds two regular circuit breakers to a single arc fault circuit breaker - or do you have to change both breakers to arc fault so each has a neutral?
In order to properly convert a circuit to an arc fault circuit breaker, both the hot and neutral wires must be connected to the arc fault breaker. This means that you would need to change both breakers to arc fault breakers, as each would require its own connection to the neutral wire to function effectively and meet safety standards.
Can a 240 circuit with red black white and bare ground be changed into two separate 120 volt circuits using the same neutral white wire for both 120 volt circuits?
No, a neutral wire should not be shared between two separate 120 volt circuits. Each 120 volt circuit requires its own dedicated neutral wire to maintain safety and prevent overloading. Sharing a neutral wire between two circuits can result in overloading, tripped breakers, and potential electrical hazards.
What is an electric shared neutral?
An electric shared neutral is a wiring configuration where multiple circuits share a common neutral wire. This setup is commonly found in residential electrical systems to save on materials and space. However, it requires proper installation and balancing of loads to avoid overloading the shared neutral wire.
What happens if neutral and hot touch each other?
If a "hot" wire contacts the "neutral" or ground wire, electrical current flows to the ground.
Can grounds and neutral wire share same buss bar?
No, the ground and neutral wires should not share the same bus bar in an electrical panel. The ground wire is for safety and should be connected to the ground bus bar, while the neutral wire is for returning current and should be connected to the neutral bus bar. Mixing them can cause dangerous conditions like electrical shock or fires.
Any problems with shared neutral for for 4 15 amp breakers each on dedicated circuits?
Using a shared neutral for 4 separate 15 amp circuits with dedicated breakers can lead to issues with overloading the neutral wire. This setup can cause unbalanced loads, leading to potential overheating and safety hazards. It is recommended to use individual neutral wires for each circuit to ensure proper function and safety.
How do you change one breaker on a 3 wire that feeds two regular circuit breakers to a single arc fault circuit breaker - or do you have to change both breakers to arc fault so each has a neutral?
In order to properly convert a circuit to an arc fault circuit breaker, both the hot and neutral wires must be connected to the arc fault breaker. This means that you would need to change both breakers to arc fault breakers, as each would require its own connection to the neutral wire to function effectively and meet safety standards.
Can a 240 circuit with red black white and bare ground be changed into two separate 120 volt circuits using the same neutral white wire for both 120 volt circuits?
No, a neutral wire should not be shared between two separate 120 volt circuits. Each 120 volt circuit requires its own dedicated neutral wire to maintain safety and prevent overloading. Sharing a neutral wire between two circuits can result in overloading, tripped breakers, and potential electrical hazards.
What happens when neutral is bonded to ground wire most especially to dry type transformers?
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What is a floating neutral wire?
a loose connection of a neutral wire
What does an open neutral mean?
Typical home wiring will have one hot wire, one neutral wire, and one ground wire per circuit. An open neutral would indicate that the neutral wire, usually white wire, is broken.
Is the ridged wire neutral or hot?
If wired properly the ridged wire is the neutral.
Which side of the White neutral wire do you connect the Black power wire?
The neutral wire and power wire are never connected together.
How many circuits can share one neutral?
Multiple circuits can typically share one neutral as long as the currents do not exceed the capacity of the neutral wire. This practice is common in residential electrical installations, especially in split-phase systems where two circuits share a neutral. It is important to follow local electrical codes and regulations when combining circuits on a shared neutral.
