ksvalentine
Member
In figure 210-37 of the electricians course, there are several split-wire receptacles in the room. What is the reason for this wire scheme?
Thanx
Thanx
Split Wire Receptacles
- Thread starter ksvalentine
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LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
So you can rearrange furniture and stuff, and have a switched receptacle wherever you want one, or more.
Think about a table lamp and a clock on the same table. Ever have someone complain that the wall switch kills the TV?
Think about a table lamp and a clock on the same table. Ever have someone complain that the wall switch kills the TV?
paul
Senior Member
- Location
- Snohomish, WA
LarryFine said:
Hahaha...I have the same setup in my home. But I set up the kids video game so that it's on the switched receptacle. You want to see some ticked of youngin's...just turn the lamp off during their video game.
little sparkie
Member
- Location
- Mt. Airy, MD
split receptacles
split receptacles
2 main reasons that I see in my work. One, as other members have observed, so you can switch one half in a room without a ceiling fixture, and two, so you can split the receptacle between 2 different circuits. In other words, split the load, one circuit may have had too heavy current draw if designed with both halves on one circuit. Or take a small kitchen where 2 - 20A small-appliance branch circuits are required but there is not a lot of room to install receptacles. This way you can get the 2 circuits in more easily and keep the inspectors happy!!
Hope this helps!
A funny story, I had a customer one of whose complaints was that she had lived in her house 7 years (!), but one receptacle in her living room had never worked. I looked up and didn't see a light fixture on the ceiling, then told the lady I bet I knew what her problem was...plugged my circuit tester into the bottom half of the offending device and got the 2 yellows, she had evidently only tried to plug things into the top. The top half was indeed dead. So I asked the customer to turn on the switch in a 3-gang bank of them that was closest to the door...bingo. Problem solved!
split receptacles
2 main reasons that I see in my work. One, as other members have observed, so you can switch one half in a room without a ceiling fixture, and two, so you can split the receptacle between 2 different circuits. In other words, split the load, one circuit may have had too heavy current draw if designed with both halves on one circuit. Or take a small kitchen where 2 - 20A small-appliance branch circuits are required but there is not a lot of room to install receptacles. This way you can get the 2 circuits in more easily and keep the inspectors happy!!
Hope this helps!
A funny story, I had a customer one of whose complaints was that she had lived in her house 7 years (!), but one receptacle in her living room had never worked. I looked up and didn't see a light fixture on the ceiling, then told the lady I bet I knew what her problem was...plugged my circuit tester into the bottom half of the offending device and got the 2 yellows, she had evidently only tried to plug things into the top. The top half was indeed dead. So I asked the customer to turn on the switch in a 3-gang bank of them that was closest to the door...bingo. Problem solved!
ksvalentine
Member
Thanks so much. You have all been helpful. I'm still learning this layout business, so I'll be back when I'm baffled again.:grin:
dcspector
Senior Member
- Location
- Burke, Virginia
Just remember if you split wire or run two separate circuits to one receptacle ie.... "break the tabs" you must follow 210.7(B) A means to simultaneously disconnect the ungrounded conductors must be provided.
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