Neutral in a panel

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j rae

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What artical talks about the neutral now has be as long as hot goes then to the neutral bar ???
 
I agree with Jumper although it might make it easier to identify which hot goes with which neutral...
 
This might be a confused/misguided reference to grouping the hot conductors and the neutral of an MWBC for identification.
But running the neutral up near where the hots terminate on the handle-tied breakers before it heads for the neutral bar would not necessarily be enough to satisfy that requirement.
And would have no relevance at all outside an MWBC.
 
I think you are referencing 300.3(B) requiring all conductors, including the grounded conductor share the same raceway.
OR
possibly 200.4(A) depending on how your neutral is connected to the circuits.
 
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Now what would be a good typical practice, at least in today's panels that generally have space, is making the hot long enough to reach any breaker position in the panel. I don't think it warrants a rule though.
 
I think whoever told you that is misinterpreting the requirement for parallel conductors to be of the same length.
 
Sounds like they're interpreting this:

300.20 Induced Currents in Ferrous Metal Enclosures
or Ferrous Metal Raceways.
(A) Conductors Grouped Together. Where conductors
carrying alternating current are installed in ferrous metal
enclosures or ferrous metal raceways, they shall be ar-
ranged so as to avoid heating the surrounding ferrous metal
by induction. To accomplish this, all phase conductors and,
where used, the grounded conductor and all equipment
grounding conductors shall be grouped together.
Click to expand...

IMO unless they want to define exactly what grouped together means this should be removed from the NEC.
 
infinity said:
Sounds like they're interpreting this:



IMO unless they want to define exactly what grouped together means this should be removed from the NEC.
Click to expand...

I never interpreted that two have anything to do with length. I thought it meant they should be in the same raceway, pulled through boxes together. Heck I've seen panels with the neutral buss only on one side. How would anybody do what the OP is asking about then?
Thanks
Mike
 
jumper said:
I have never even seen it done.
Click to expand...
There are folks out there that will leave spare lengths of wire in a panel. They will pull wires long enough to reach the bottom of the panel, make loops, dipsy doodles, mickey mouse ears, etc to use up the slack before landing on the breaker.

I don't know it they think it is more workman like or are afraid someone might have to use a wirenut in the panel if something were to change.
 
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