One Circuit, Multiple Return Paths/Neutrals

[ljr_5890]

Hello,
My inspector on home purchase has noted this as an issue with 'shared neutrals', but I disagree and don't see any violation.
Do you guys see any issue here? (see photo link)
Thanks

Photo · Shared album ð¸

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[infinity]

So the neutral bar is the splice point between two neutrals on the same circuit?

 

[LarryFine]

So the neutral bar is the splice point between two neutrals on the same circuit?

That's my conclusion. I see nothing technically wrong with it, although I'd be tempted to pigtail both whites to one.

If it was originally two circuits, and someone joined the two hots into one, a single breaker would de-energize both.

 

[ljr_5890]

Yes the neutral bar in the panel is the splice point.
This was a fairly recent install it looks so it was likely not originally two circuits.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[don_resqcapt19]

That is no different from any circuit where the conductors of the circuit leave the panelboard enclosure more than once. There is no sharing and no reason to make any change.

 

[LarryFine]

This was a fairly recent install it looks so it was likely not originally two circuits.

I meant that as an example of why it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[James L]

I'm curious what kind of wiring method this is.

It's a home purchase in New Orleans
Is this K&T Romex, MC, EMT?

I'm just wondering what kind of setup in a house has what appears to be single conductors going out of the panel to only one light. Ditto on the receptacle

 

[synchro]

I'm just wondering what kind of setup in a house has what appears to be single conductors going out of the panel to only one light. Ditto on the receptacle

I'm thinking that the drawing on the left represents the physical routing between the panel and the devices, and the schematic on the right has more direct routing to make understanding the electrical circuits more straightforward. But the OP would need to confirm that this is what was intended.

 

[LarryFine]

I'm thinking that the drawing on the left represents the physical routing between the panel and the devices, and the schematic on the right has more direct routing to make understanding the electrical circuits more straightforward. But the OP would need to confirm that this is what was intended.

Agreed. It looks like what one would do when adding a ceiling light to a room with a switched receptacle, and making the receptacle always hot. What's weird is that the panel is involved.

Perhaps this is wiring that was done in a basement ceiling, and it was easier to land the light's neutral wire in the panel than elsewhere in the circuit. Maybe an outdoor light?

In any case, it would be easy enough and compliant to join the two with a pigtail to the neutral bus.

 

[Another C10]

I agree with many comments above and would add, to me its a better practice to have 1 hot and 1 neutral leave the panel to feed in this case 1 light and 1 receptacle, it works the way it is, but most electricians may see it as misleading based on the textbook way of running circuits in the 20th century.

Knob and tube would use a similar method as shown, randomly tapping off neutrals and hots throughout an entire branch circuit.

 

[Another C10]

I'm just wondering what kind of setup in a house has what appears to be single conductors going out of the panel to only one light

maybe it was wired as a constant hot with pull chain fixture.