Detached garage neutral

D

Deetz

Member
Location
MN
Occupation
Maintenance
It says to use a 2 pole switch with a neutral bar kit. I've seen some posts on this subject but am still curious on why you wouldn't want to have the neutral also be disconnected when you disconnect the other ungrounded conductors? Like use a 3 pole switch with a ground bar in it.
 
What says "use a 2 pole switch with a neutral bar kit"? Yes you can switch the neutral too if you like but is there a reason why you would want to?
 
Deetz said:
It says to use a 2 pole switch with a neutral bar kit. I've seen some posts on this subject but am still curious on why you wouldn't want to have the neutral also be disconnected when you disconnect the other ungrounded conductors? Like use a 3 pole switch with a ground bar in it.
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Seems like we are in on the 3rd act of a 4 act show.
A little more background info would be nice!
 
Sorry. I had to change my email and it took a while to get confirmed, I guess. Yeah another site says to use a 2 pole like I said. It also stated that a 3 pole should only be used for current carrying conductors. The price of a 3 pole is less than a 2 pole and the neutral kit. Just wondering if it would be a code issue.
 
Deetz said:
Sorry. I had to change my email and it took a while to get confirmed, I guess. Yeah another site says to use a 2 pole like I said. It also stated that a 3 pole should only be used for current carrying conductors. The price of a 3 pole is less than a 2 pole and the neutral kit. Just wondering if it would be a code issue.
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Okie dokie, slow down and start over. What exactly do you want to do or know?

Ron
 
Running a line to a detached 18x22 building. Need a disconnect on the outside. Would like to use a general 3 pole safety switch. Any code problems?
 
Not really. We generally don't break the neutral unless required. You could just wire-nut it.

"It says to use a 2 pole switch with a neutral bar kit."

What does?
 
Deetz said:
Yeah another site says to use a 2 pole like I said. It also stated that a 3 pole should only be used for current carrying conductors. The price of a 3 pole is less than a 2 pole and the neutral kit. Just wondering if it would be a code issue.
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You can use the 3 pole disconnect switch and break the neutral with the extra pole if you want. Or you can get a neutral kit or just splice it as Larry suggested. If you're pulling the wires in a raceway you can pull the neutral straight through also.
 
I agree with the others. There is no need to disconnect the neutral. It is just like any other sub-panel except it needs a disconnect at the building. 4 wires to the garage, separate the neutral and ground, and then run a grounding electrode conductor to the rods and connect it to the ground bar only.

If you are just running a multiwire branch circuit then no need for the panel or ground rods
 
Got it. Thank you. I was just wondering if any voltage could come from the house panel neutral to the out building if the disconnect was off.
 
Does your main service disconnect the neutral? It most likely does not. Why should a detached building be any different?
 
infinity said:
If you're pulling the wires in a raceway you can pull the neutral straight through also.
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Didn't this come up recently? 225.38(C) says you're required to provide a means to disconnect the neutral, so pulling a continuous neutral straight through the disconnect does not comply. You need to at least break the neutral and install a wire nut.

Cheers, Wayne
 
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