Stranded Neutral Pigtail on GFCI Breaker

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ChrisFV

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GFCI breakers come with a stranded pigtail for the Neutral source wire. I'm concerned that the screw on the neutral bar could cut into and sever some strands when tightened. Is this a reasonable concern or nothing to worry about?
 
I would worry about it that's what it's for. Worst case if it does cutt a few strands just re strip the wire. Usually the bkr has a specific torque value & u can use a torque screw driver. Or just go tight but not piss tight. U should be just fine.

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Using a torque screwdriver is the first solution. Tight to me is different than that of the 19 year old 250# weight lifter.

That said, I noticed in the last new panel I installed the neutral buss on the left was 'easier' than the one on the right. IDK why, just what.
Assumed quality control has taken a nose dive.
 
Little Bill said:
If that was a problem, all the millions of terminations using stranded wire would be in jeopardy!
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I agree. Think of all of the existing pigtails and stranded conductors terminated on an EGC bus, neutral bus, or circuit breaker, there are tens of millions without issue.
 
UL 67 requires that the wire termination points in a panelboard assembly comply with "UL-468A/468B, Wire Connectors". The UL Guide Information for "Wire Connectors and Soldering Lugs (ZMVV)" says:
Wire stranding — Unless clearly marked "Solid," "SOL," "Stranded" or "STR" for a given wire size, wire range or wire combination, conductors in the range 30-10 AWG are both solid and stranded, and 8 AWG and larger are for stranded wire only.
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don_resqcapt19 said:
UL 67 requires that the wire termination points in a panelboard assembly comply with "UL-468A/468B, Wire Connectors". The UL Guide Information for "Wire Connectors and Soldering Lugs (ZMVV)" says:
Click to expand...
Where I've seen potential issues is with neutral bus of some older QO loadcenters. They often had a clip in certain spots (or all on some neutral bus segments) that I believe was necessary for them to be listed for use with stranded conductors and these clips seemed to end up missing often. Current design is no longer that way though.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
UL 67 requires that the wire termination points in a panelboard assembly comply with "UL-468A/468B, Wire Connectors". The UL Guide Information for "Wire Connectors and Soldering Lugs (ZMVV)" says:
Click to expand...
Wire stranding — Unless clearly marked "Solid," "SOL," "Stranded" or "STR" for a given wire size, wire range or wire combination, conductors in the range 30-10 AWG are both solid and stranded, and 8 AWG and larger are for stranded wire only.

Don, Thanks for the documented reference. That really helps.

- Chris
 
Not that it OFFICIALLY makes a difference, but that neutral pigtail on a GFCI (or AFCI) is only there to provide 120V to power the tiny little printed circuit board inside. So the current draw is milliamps and if a few strands get cut, it’s not going to really affect anything.
 
Jraef said:
Not that it OFFICIALLY makes a difference, but that neutral pigtail on a GFCI (or AFCI) is only there to provide 120V to power the tiny little printed circuit board inside. So the current draw is milliamps and if a few strands get cut, it’s not going to really affect anything.
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The only connection from the branch circuit neutral to the panel neutral bus is through the circuit breaker so all of the neutral current is flowing through that connection to the bus.
 
infinity said:
The only connection from the branch circuit neutral to the panel neutral bus is through the circuit breaker so all of the neutral current is flowing through that connection to the bus.
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I think Jraef had a brain cramp, he should know this. Single pole GFCI - what current goes out on ungrounded conductor will be coming back and passing through that white pigtail on it's way back to the source if you don't want it to trip on GFCI function.
 
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