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12/3 Wiring

1666 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  joed
I'm running a 12/3 wire from a subpanel. I split the red and black on two different breakers. Red going to a fridge and the black going to counter outlets. Can I run the white neutral wire to the fridge outlet and then to the counter outlet? Same with ground wire?
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Yes, run the 12\3 to either then 12/2 to the other. Yor will, however, need a 2 pole GFCI breaker to be NEC compliant. You cannot have a GFCI receptacle behind the refrigerator.
That's called a multi-wire branch circuit (MWBC). They're discouraged anymore because of complications with AFCI and GFCI. For instance you will not be able to fit AFCI on this circuit very easily.

First, refrigerators do not need GFCI protection unless they are in a garage or basement. (and even then, you should ask your AHJ for a waiver of that requirement). Do not put fridges on GFCI protection. Ground them properly. Fridges are simply not a use-case for GFCI (the hot components are highly inaccessible and you're not likely to drop your fridge in your sink), many refrigerators have trouble tripping GFCI, and GFCI "safety" trips actually *add* a serious food-safety risk. So it is not so simple as "OMG GFCI everything 4 the saeftyzzzz!!!!!111"

So your plan to put a GFCI recp *past* the refrigerator is perfectly fine.

Second, you can't use separate breakers *for so many reasons*. You are required to use a 2-pole breaker. There are other ways, but if you don't fully understand the importance of phasing MWBCs correctly, it's best just to play it safe and use a 2-pole breaker. Note that a 2-pole breaker has its two handles factory tied. if the handles move independently, you may have a duplex, and that creates a very dangerous situation.

The purpose is common maintenance disconnect (and side effect, to force you to phase it correctly). Common trip is not required. Some arrangements (e.g. handle ties or "non-common-trip" breakers) do not *guarantee* common trip, but it's still very likely to happen.
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Assuming this is a kitchen, can counter outlets and a fridge share a circuit? Not a Code person.
Assuming this is a kitchen, can counter outlets and a fridge share a circuit? Not a Code person.
A refrigerator should be on it's own circuit.
However that is not a requirement by the NEC. It can be on one of the appliance circuits. Being a larger appliance, common sense would dictate putting to on it's own circuit. Should it be on an appliance circuit the possibility of it being on when a toaster or toaster oven or perhaps s countertop microwave is being used.
That could easily cause nuisance trips of the breaker.
The short answer is yes, they can.
Assuming this is a kitchen, can counter outlets and a fridge share a circuit? Not a Code person.
Not in Ontario. Ontario requires a dedicated circuit for the refrigerator.
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Last I remember (years ago) in a kitchen the fridge can be on one of the SABCs or a dedicated circuit.
The person who asked about the fridge was from Ontario. In Ontario fridge must be a dedicated circuit.
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The person who asked about the fridge was from Ontario. In Ontario fridge must be a dedicated circuit.


Oups :surprise: - did not catch the Canada thing in the question. I stand corrected - sorry.
The person who asked about the fridge was from Ontario. In Ontario fridge must be a dedicated circuit.
I usually follow this with the apprentices and ask what else can be installed on the circuit for the fridge.
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