using three wire for branch cicuits

[al hildenbrand]

. . . the issue is im being told that by splicing the two togeather you would have an unbalenced load on the neutral . . .

OK, that helps.

Go to Article 100

2008 NEC Article 100 Definitions

Branch Circuit, Multiwire. A branch circuit that consists of two or more ungrounded conductors that have a voltage between them, and a grounded conductor that has equal voltage between it and each ungrounded conductor of the circuit and that is connected to the neutral or grounded conductor of the system.

When you splice the red and black of a 3-wire cable together with a pigtail, and connect to a single pole of a breaker, there is no longer a multiwire branch circuit. The branch circuit wiring becomes a single branch circuit.

The current on the neutral is the current coming through the breaker.

 

[roger]

I stand corrected...what I meant to say was : Install a tandem breaker and put one wire of the multi wire branch circuit under on breaker of the 'tandem'. Put another wire of a 'different circuit' under the other tandem. Then put the last wire of the multi wire circuit on its own breaker. No phase issues and eveything has its own OCPD.

There is no need to go through all of that if the loads are not an issue, splicing two ungrounded conductors to make one two wire circuit doesn't create any problems.

Roger

 

[growler]

To the best dicription from disconnecting the power to both wires it was some lights and outlets in closets and attic that would not constatute a big load

As the electrician on the job it's up to you to use "due dilligence" in figuring out if the load is acceptable.

If you are wrong the only thing that should happen is that the breaker will trip and you will have an unhappy home owner.

In an old house it can be hard to find out exactly what on a circuit because over the years things can get added that you wouldn't normally expect. The may have connected a jet air tub and you may not even think of that.

The easiest way to find out what's on this circuit would be to turn off every thing else off except this one breaker and see what's still live.

If there was 4 amps on one conductor and 5 on the other then you should have 9 amps at present but was this with everthing that's connected turned on? For example if there were a whole house fan on this circuit that could be a problem.

 

[al hildenbrand]

. . . you would have an unbalenced load on the neutral . . .

Now, I don't think you are saying this, but is it possible that what you are being told is an objection to changes in the balance of the load on the whole panel and the neutral supplying the panel itself?