Home owner doing work, Have Concerns

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brother

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"I have learned, in whatsoever STATE I am, therewi
Well, I had an old friend (he's out of state right now) trying to help him with an electrical problem. Apparently he lost a neutral in the bathroom (from one romex cable). Was trying to help him over the phone, and yes I did mention that if he can call a good electrician in that area if he can't find the issue. He told me he had used a neutral from another cable. that got his light to work again. I tried to explain that even though it's working doesn't make it code/right.

First you have to be sure you didn't attach to the same 'hot leg' (or phase) this is a 120/240 single phase system. The current will be additive on that neutral and it is possible to overload a neutral. 2nd, All the conductors of the same circuit has to be in the same cable to counter the EMF.

My concern is that maybe if I didn't try to help him from the start he might not leave it in this situation. But he is an old buddy. Where and When do you hold back help for friends??
 
First you have to make sure they are really friends. If so I'll give them as much advice as I can and a little time if they help me with things once in a while. You're not liable for giving good advice..
 
how much help i give them depends on if i think they know enough to be touching the job. Few do and most think if it works that it is fixed. In this case if he is not going to fix it right then might been better you not told him anything.
 
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