Mystery Branch Circuits

[BILMC]

Called In To Place Countertop Gfci Receptacles In Single Family Residence Built And Wired About 1954, S.E. Panel Is All Edison Fuses,
100 Amp 240/120 Volt. The Big Mystery Is An Independantly Energized
No.12 Red Wire To All The Kitchen Outlets In Addition To The Normal
Black No. 12. The White No.12 Grounded Neutral Seems Ok. These Outlets Are Not Switched. Disconnecting The Red No.12 From One Outlet Causes The Other Outlet To Go "open Ground". Hot Red And Hot Black Are On The Same Fuse.the Gfci's Are On Hold Until This Mystery Is Solved. Anyone See Anything Like This From The 1950's,?

 

[al hildenbrand]

Sounds like a classic multiwire branch circuit.

Sorry, I read too fast.

 

[al hildenbrand]

What is the wiring method? NM, flex, BX, conduit?

 

[al hildenbrand]

I have troubleshot and fixed perfectly good multiwire branch circuits that a Do-It-Yourselfer had replaced a duplex receptacle on, and the DIYer had not known to remove the duplex hot side breakout tab.

Upon removing the tab, and finding and restoring the second small appliance branch circuit fuse to operation, the homeowner suddenly had the ability to simultaneously run the microwave, coffee maker and toaster again.

 

[aja21]

Called In To Place Countertop Gfci Receptacles In Single Family Residence Built And Wired About 1954, S.E. Panel Is All Edison Fuses,
100 Amp 240/120 Volt. The Big Mystery Is An Independantly Energized
No.12 Red Wire To All The Kitchen Outlets In Addition To The Normal
Black No. 12. The White No.12 Grounded Neutral Seems Ok. These Outlets Are Not Switched. Disconnecting The Red No.12 From One Outlet Causes The Other Outlet To Go "open Ground". Hot Red And Hot Black Are On The Same Fuse.the Gfci's Are On Hold Until This Mystery Is Solved. Anyone See Anything Like This From The 1950's,?

I'm a little confused. In your question you stated the mystery is an independantly energized wire and at the same time you say that both hot wires are on the same fuse.
I once had something similar to this happen when a DIY removed a recep and installed a combo switch/recep in essence swithcing the nuetral by wiring this device the same as you would a duplex recep.

 

[BILMC]

mystry circuit

mystry circuit

thanks, Al and Al ;beakout tabs are in place and there are no apparent fuses that could provide another phase for a multiwire circuit, but you have given
me the idea for my next move if this customer wants to go ahead with the gfics, try to trace the red no. 12 back to the panel, if found, cap it off and try the gfci's.