Reduced Neutral conductor

[Barbqranch]

I will be installing an 80 amp subpanel that will feed, among other things, several 208 volt loads. Can I reduce the size of the neutral conductor feeding it, since there can never be 80 amps of unbalanced load.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

You can reduce the neutral but it cannot be smaller than the equipment grounding conductor required for that feeder.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Here is the section

215.2(A)(2) Grounded Conductor. The size of the feeder circuit
grounded conductor shall not be smaller than that required by
250.122, except that 250.122(F) shall not apply where grounded
conductors are run in parallel.

 

[Barbqranch]

Thank you, that is the reference I was looking for.

 

[ActionDave]

FWIW there are very few times where I don't use a reduced neutral.