(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

120v ac receptacles..NEC question

D

DENNIS MIN

Member
All,

Going with two duplex 120vac, 20 amp receptacles (from a single branch circuit) contained within a 4 square box, is there anything wrong (non-compliant) with using the hot conductor going to one duplex, and the neutral going to the other, using "jumpers" that would connect the two?

Picture this, the left-hand duplex has the "black" going to one side of the outlet, then jumper the "black" to the other duplex, then place the neutral on the right-hand duplex, and jumper to the left duplex.

Man, I hope I've got that right. I know that electrical questions garner swift scrutiny.

Thanks,

D.
 
Aren't there already break-off jumpers that connect the two outlets? Or are you using two separate single outlets?
 
You should not jumper through the receptacle, wire nut them in the box and use 2 jumpers. I am not sure NEC or not, just prudent.
 
D,
How can you have a single circuit for an A/C with more than one recpt? I thought a single circuit meant only one thing is wired to circuit, the A/C.
George
 
No , if it was on a multi-wire circuit you would have to wirenut and tail off to each receptacle by code but if there is no third red wire then you can hit the receptacles any way you want, although it is good practice to wire nut the incoming then place two black tails and two whites tails from your splices to each receptacle. You are kinda overthinking this but no code violations.Wire that any way you want.
 
George,

I was trying (poorly) to describe a single pole 120v breaker feeding two duplex outlets.

I am pretty sure I left out a lot of detail. I was trying to remove multi-wire branch circuits from consideration.

A/c? air conditioning?

D.
 
Dr sportster,

I utilize the NEC (2011) whenever I can, but I am not well-versed. I, too, think that a MWBC would preclude the wiring I suggested.

I'd like to be open to the opinions of those that are greater in their knowledge and experiences in the realm of compliance, for nothing more than a learning.

Thanks,

D.
 
The reason for the wires to be tailed off in a three wire circuit is because if you lose a neutral and something is plugged in [ example a light in a copy machine ] the circuit now gets 208 /220 volts to each appliance ,computer etc mplugged in , burning them out.It creates a backfeed situation.where the hot from the other leg comes around. A loose splice in your situation just causes the receptacle with the loose wire not to work.
 
D.
Perhaps I miss understood what you were asking. When I saw ac, I thought of Air Conditioning circuit. A single circuit with only one outlet. I'm bad. Sorry
george
 
I can't say I've ever seen what you describe. What I got from your original post was running the hot to one device and the neutral to the other device then running jumpers to the appropriate terminals on the opposite device.

What I usually see sparkys do in a situation like that is strip some insulation about 3 inches from the end of the wire, wrap it around the screw on the receptacle, then strip the insulation off the end and wrap the wire around the screw of the other receptacle.

If you were asking if you could attach the line to one screw then use the other screw for the jumper to the other receptacle, then I'd say that was a no-no.
 
Dennis, its been too many years since I retired from my electrical engineering design practice so I cant testify to the compliance or lack thereof of any of the latest codes. That being said, however, when I designed that"s NOT how I did it nor how my NEC stickler boss would have approved, reason being. I (perhaps due to code then??) did not envision the screw terminal on a duplex as a proper or the best "approved splice" as compared to a wire nut which I know for sure WAS an approved method. HOWEVER you see what I call "daisy chain" wiring in and out of a receptacle to the next one downstream and that"s sort of what you are doing with your jumper???

SOOOOOOOOOO see I cant really answer your code compliant question sorry, its been too long but can only say in my day that"s NOT how we did it FWIW

John T Too long retired EE so go with what the younger more current in the practice electricians and engineers have to say over me
 
John, what's your opinion of the method I described seeing?
Looks to me like it would be better because there is no splice....but I'm a carpenter not a sparky.
 
(quoted from post at 20:55:46 04/08/14)

What I usually see sparkys do in a situation like that is strip some insulation about 3 inches from the end of the wire, wrap it around the screw on the receptacle, then strip the insulation off the end and wrap the wire around the screw of the other receptacle.

That is the way I usually do it.


Dusty
Click to expand...
 
What you and Dusty describes sounds like it has to make a good reliable low resistance solid electrical connection despite my concerns those screw terminals may NOT be an approved splicing method (as compared to wire nuts which are) like I also said as far as I know the NEC allows daisy chain connections of in and out connections from one receptacle to another SOOOOOOOO that must??? be perfectly legal after all despite my concerns. Remember I'm NOT familiar with latest codes so go with the current still practicing sparkies........

PS I didn't use daisy chain in and out connections but wire nutted and pig tailed leads to the individual receptacle. That way I knew the splice was approved PLUS if you remove a receptacle to work on it YOU DO NOT BREAK THE NEUTRAL WHICH IS A DEFINITE NOOOOO NOOOOOOOO

John T
 

you don't describe running a jumper for the black wire.. so...


Its ok to dasiy chain.. but.. you need to come back later to work on it, so you need to bring the entire circuit into one plug.. then daisy chain to the next. That way 20 years from now you can know what feeds what... but yes, the second screw is/are put there for adding on to the circuit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
Electrical question
2
Replies
29
Views
862
JMOR
J
V
new owner of a 620, will try to update this as we go.
2 3 4
Replies
61
Views
3K
valiant8086
V
D
Weird truck electrical issue
2
Replies
20
Views
1K
710ltd2002
710ltd2002
DoubleO7
420s with 5 speed locked in 2nd gear
Replies
0
Views
249
DoubleO7
DoubleO7
Ellis Kinney
Electrical Question?
Replies
10
Views
630
John T
J
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top