GFI receptacle connections

[ppower]

Need some opinions re the connection of GFI receptacles in a small appliance branch circuit. First, are pigtails needed for neutral and hot wires, or can the side screw connections be used to daisy chain the receptacles?
If pigtails are used does 300.14 require all the wires connected by a wirenut to be 6 inches long, or only the pigtails to the receptacle screws?

 

[physis]

Re: GFI receptacle connections

You're only required to pigtail the neutral of a multiwire branch circuit because of 300.13(B).

300.14 says "for splices or the connection of.......

But before that it just says at least six inches of free conductor shall be left. It doesn't mention what kind of conductors or what they're used for. They all have to be at least six inches.

 

[infinity]

Re: GFI receptacle connections

Regarding the neutral conductor in a multiwire branch circuit Physis is correct that the neutral must be spliced and pigtailed.

Regarding the length of the pigtail:

They all have to be at least six inches.

All, meaning the conductors entering the box but not the pigtails. Once the conductor entering the box is 6" long you have satisfied 300.14. The pigtail could be any length.

[ July 05, 2005, 04:58 AM: Message edited by: infinity ]

 

[physis]

Re: GFI receptacle connections

True. Only those from raceways and cables.

And if the conductor is just passing through without making a connection 300.14 doesn't apply.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: GFI receptacle connections

The load side neutral is not part of a multiwire branch circuit and is not required to be pigtailed.
Don

 

[allenwayne]

Re: GFI receptacle connections

Don are you saying that after the gfci device on a multi wired branch ciruit can be be seperate.It has been my experience that if you use a 2 circuit cable assy and try to utilize the neutral,one gfci sees it and trips.Now if there were 2 different neutrals isolated from on another that senario will hold.Remember the circuits gfci senses the neutral on that circuit and as soon as you add another neutral in the senario it finds anothet neurtal to ground fault.
Neutrals have to be kept isolated in a gfci as well as an afci circuit That is why in resisential they offer 14 or 12 /4 wg to eliminate this problem,in emt just pull another white Or am I missing something

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: GFI receptacle connections

All I am saying is that if you feed a GFCI receptacle with a multiwire branch circuit, that the multiwire circuit stops at the line side of the GFCI device. The conductors connected to the feed through or load side terminals are not part of a multiwire branch circuit and the grounded conductor does not have to be "pigtailed" at this point.
Don

 

[electricmanscott]

Re: GFI receptacle connections

Allen I am not sure what you are saying but you can certainly use a multi wire circuit for gfci applications.