Replacing shared neutrals

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Alpineguy

New member
Location
Washington, US
In the process of converting a bakery into a bar, we discovered that many of the dedicated single use 20A appliance circuits share the neutral from a 3-phase panel. The breakers for these circuits cannot be re-arranged so that they can be tied together as is now required by code. We would like to eliminate the shared neutrals for six 20A appliance circuits. Our general contractor’s proposed solution is install a new conduit from the panel that runs down the center of our building with 6 neutral wires - each going to one of the dedicated 20A appliance receptacles. Is this acceptable?
 

augie47

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Tennessee
Occupation
State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
(approved the thread as you are only asking if something is Code acceptable)
The NEC requires all conductors associated with a circuit to be in the same cable or raceway.
To run only the neutral conductors in a conduit would be a Code violation and for good reason.
 

Smart $

Esteemed Member
Location
Ohio
Run the new conduit.

Assuming the 6 circuits are in the same conduit, attempt to pull out the three shortest-circuit hot conductors while pulling in a new neutral (and ground if applicable). The three remaining hots, two remaining neutrals, and one new neutral will serve each of the three longest circuits. The new neutral may need to be extended, depending on the pull point.

In new conduit pull three each hot and neutrals (and ground if applicable) for the three shortest circuits.
 

Smart $

Esteemed Member
Location
Ohio
... The breakers for these circuits cannot be re-arranged so that they can be tied together as is now required by code....
Who says? Not saying it's absolutely possible, but I've seldom seen such an arrangement.

Now if it can be done, I can still understand if you don't want those circuit handle tied.
 
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