New Pilot Light Switch - Neutral From Another Circuit OK?
 

I have a 2 gang box which currently has a 3-way switch on one circuit and a single-pole switch on another circuit. I'm changing the single-pole switch to a single-pole switch with a pilot light (which is on when the light is on.) But the switch needs a neutral. My question is can you pigtail off the neutral from the other circuit that is already in the box?

I've tried it and it seems to work, but I am leery of it.

No you can not.

Thanks. I'll fish a new wire then.

I assume it is probably against code, right? And although it seems to work it must have dangers or downsides correct? Can anyone explain what those are?

Current flows back to the panel on the neutral. Connecting the neutral from another circuit means more current flowing back on the circuit than it was intended to handle.

Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks for the info.

Another reason is to prevent heating from not having all of the circuit conductors run together.

And... When somebody gets Zinged from a circuit they "Know" is off! The neutral is hot.

Current overload is the main concern. The breaker is on the hot wire. So if each breaker is running 15 amps and one of the neutrals goes open then the remaining neutral caries the full load of 30 amps.