[teamo]

I have all of my outside receptacles on a single 20 amp circuit for Christmas lights. I currently have the circuit controlled by a single pole switch. I am going to get rid of the switch and wire the circuit to a mechanical timer. I am going to mount the timer cabinet with an offset nipple next to the main panel. Can I make the connections from the breaker to the timer in the main panel with wire nuts or does this constitute a code violation using the main panel as a junction box?

 

[rjniles]

"Can I make the connections from the breaker to the timer in the main panel with wire nuts"

Yes you can.

 

[frenchelectrican]

I hope you are still using the GFCI receptales on this one.

Merci,
Marc

 

[teamo]

Yes this circuit feeds a GFCI receptacle and the rest of the outlets are fed off of the load side. Ahh looking at the post that I wrote I don't know if I was clear enough. I know I can hook the timer up to the breaker with wire nuts but can I then bring the switched hot back into the panel from the timer and wire nut it to the circuit going out? Normally I would just run a new nm out of the timer cabinet but this is an existing circuit and if I have to remove the nm from the panel it won't be long enough to reach where the timer is. No problem if I have to do it but I would rather not have to run a new nm if I can. Thanks all for the help.

 

[tylernt]

I know I can hook the timer up to the breaker with wire nuts but can I then bring the switched hot back into the panel from the timer and wire nut it to the circuit going out?

This is done all the time when people install manual transfer switches for their generator circuits.

Unless you have local Mass. codes prohibiting it, using breaker boxes as junction boxes is acceptable in the US NEC.