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2 Posts
Several years ago I added a 2nd story w/ separate subpanel (my own home). Used all 3/4" flex metal conduit in 2nd story (I was a contractor & had several 100' given to me by one of my suppliers closing up shop & I had 1000s of feet of THHN, etc. on hand). Used a gutted 200A panel in attic as a large jct box (is about 8 - 10' from subpanel in 2nd floor living space). ALL boxes (main, sub & jct) are bonded/grounded.
Sub has isolated neutral bus bar. Ran same sized THHN neutral (main to sub) from sub to attic jct box and attached it to an isolated neutral bus bar in jct box. ALL circuit neutrals terminate on that jct box isolated neutral buss bar. I was sure that the inspector (15+ years ago said that was fine/approved)
Bottomline, never had "final" on structure... (health/financial issues) and now under a "new administration", I'm told that I have to run all the circuit neutrals back to the sub panel! I can't find a copy of my old code book now... and all the previous inspectors that I regularly used while in business are long since gone... The "new" inspector initially raised concerns that my neutral from the sub to the jct box might not be large enough... but then later called back/left msg saying that a common neutral was not allowed by code.
I'm puzzled, my electrical work (res & comm) was always considered "code plus" by previous inspectors -- never had any significant problems -- AND always asked them before doing the work IF I had a concern (unusual situation). Did I totally miss something in the code? As I said, it's the same size neutral from the main to the sub to the jct box... so don't understand the inspector initially telling me that I need a heavier feed to the jct box then what feeds the sub????? ... and now he says a common neutral buss bar is NOT ALLOWED. Period. ????? AGAIN, has the code changed (I think it was 1993) OR was it never allowed and the first inspectors (and myself) were in error? Thanks!
Sub has isolated neutral bus bar. Ran same sized THHN neutral (main to sub) from sub to attic jct box and attached it to an isolated neutral bus bar in jct box. ALL circuit neutrals terminate on that jct box isolated neutral buss bar. I was sure that the inspector (15+ years ago said that was fine/approved)
Bottomline, never had "final" on structure... (health/financial issues) and now under a "new administration", I'm told that I have to run all the circuit neutrals back to the sub panel! I can't find a copy of my old code book now... and all the previous inspectors that I regularly used while in business are long since gone... The "new" inspector initially raised concerns that my neutral from the sub to the jct box might not be large enough... but then later called back/left msg saying that a common neutral was not allowed by code.
I'm puzzled, my electrical work (res & comm) was always considered "code plus" by previous inspectors -- never had any significant problems -- AND always asked them before doing the work IF I had a concern (unusual situation). Did I totally miss something in the code? As I said, it's the same size neutral from the main to the sub to the jct box... so don't understand the inspector initially telling me that I need a heavier feed to the jct box then what feeds the sub????? ... and now he says a common neutral buss bar is NOT ALLOWED. Period. ????? AGAIN, has the code changed (I think it was 1993) OR was it never allowed and the first inspectors (and myself) were in error? Thanks!