qouestion on double lugging neutrals(grounded conductors)

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

Chad Mills

Member
I have a question regarding 408.41, which says "Each grounded conductor shall terminate within the panelboard in an individual terminal that is not also used for another conductor." My question on this article is to do with the panels you see that are feed through. Alot of times there is only one neutral lug which is rated for 2 conductors. The manufacturers intent is for the installer to put the line in neutral and the line out neutral which is feeding a second section, both under the same lug. My question is whether this is up to code and if so why article 408.41 does not apply to this situation. I am assuming it has to be code or the big manufacturers would not be producing it this way. But it does't look up to code from what I read. Please advise.

Thank you

Chad
 
Chad Mills said:
I have a question regarding 408.41, which says "Each grounded conductor shall terminate within the panelboard in an individual terminal that is not also used for another conductor." My question on this article is to do with the panels you see that are feed through. Alot of times there is only one neutral lug which is rated for 2 conductors. The manufacturers intent is for the installer to put the line in neutral and the line out neutral which is feeding a second section, both under the same lug. My question is whether this is up to code and if so why article 408.41 does not apply to this situation. I am assuming it has to be code or the big manufacturers would not be producing it this way. But it does't look up to code from what I read. Please advise.
Thank you
Chad
Click to expand...
Article 408.41 is pretty clear about not allowing two grounded conductors under one lug unless they are parallel conductors. The panel I use as a feed through has two lugs for this purpose. You can usually buy a lug that will fir a larger conductor and is made to mount on the neutral bar.
 
Sierrasparky said:
Is 408.41 a new code in the 05' edition.
Click to expand...
No-- changes to the new code are designated with a vertical line to the left of the paragrah. There is no vertical line in the 2005 edition
 
Although not new to the 2005 cycle it has been moved from its original position in the 2002 cycle. In the ?02 cycle it was 408.21 and was new to the ?02 cycle.
 
Dennis,
No-- changes to the new code are designated with a vertical line to the left of the paragrah. There is no vertical line in the 2005 edition
Click to expand...
While that is how it is supposed to be, there have been a number of changes in the last two code cycles where the vertical line was missing. Also starting with the 2002 code the line is for a complete paragraph even where was only a change to single line. In prior codes, if the change was only in a single line, the vertical indicator was only next to that single line.
Don
 
And if you have the 2005 NEC Handbook there are no lines at all, my biggest complaint after spending over 100 bucks.
 
This section should only apply to panelboards, Load centers should not apply.
unless the a loadcenter is in fact considered a panelboard.
 
Last edited:
There is no such thing as a "loadcenter". That is a trade name of one manufacturer that makes panelboards. See article 100 Definitions.
 
I think C-H EATON has the patent name Loadcenter. A wall mounted device that delivers electricity from a supply source to loads in light commercial and residential. Also, SQD has the name must be a manuf. thing.
 
Last edited:
Trevor,
And if you have the 2005 NEC Handbook there are no lines at all, my biggest complaint after spending over 100 bucks.
Click to expand...
I don't think there has ever been change indicating lines in the handbook.
Don
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
Trevor,

I don't think there has ever been change indicating lines in the handbook.
Don
Click to expand...

You may be right, my only other handbook is from 1987 and that has no lines either. Kind of wondering why they can't put the lines in.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top