Electrical code - historical question

Was it ever allowed under the code to double lug a breaker? That is, to connect 2 circuits (2 wires) to the same breaker?
I'm not talking about tandem breakers.
 
The funny thing about that double wire code is that you can pigtail two wires together and put the jumper wire on the breaker and it will pass inspection. If you put the two wires on the breaker it won't.
 
I'm pretty sure I have done it, and I've never had an inspector flag it. But, if the breakers I was using were designed for 2 wires then it was OK.
 
In all the years I practiced Power Distribution Engineering and attended NEC seminars and updates, circuit breakers designed and approved for "single conductor" protection were NOT suitable or approved for multiple wire connections, IE one wire only for those breakers. If a breaker were approved for two wires, that's another story not typically what I specified so I'm not speaking to it (too long retired), check the latest codes and available breakers.

Im longggggggg retired and codes change so NO WARRANTY, where fire and life safety are concerned in addition to anything posted here, lay or professional (me included), you might want to check with any applicable codes and a licensed professional electrician or electrical engineer, just saying...

Best wishes take care yall

John T
 
I will leave that one to you.John T. Seems like every town I went too. Had their own regulations. Along with federal codes.
 
Thats right different states, different cities, different counties, could have different rules and regs some none at all..... I had to comply with the rules in the jurisdiction where I practiced of course..

Take care Billy

John T
 
(quoted from post at 10:58:51 03/03/21)
(quoted from post at 10:26:10 03/03/21) Double Tapped Circuit Breakers

https://www.startribune.com/double-tapped-circuit-breakers/141011393/

Can't view the link without subscribing.

That's funny, I don't have a subscription and I can see it. But you are apparently much closer to the Star Tribune's target area.

The gist is that most breakers are not allowed to have 2 wires connected, but some breakers built by Square D and Cutler-Hammer allow it. Common correction methods are pig-tailing, a tandem breaker, or an additional breaker.

Can you read this article (very similar info): https://waypointinspection.com/double-tapped-breakers/
 
(quoted from post at 14:37:43 03/03/21) Was it ever allowed under the code to double lug a breaker? That is, to connect 2 circuits (2 wires) to the same breaker?
I'm not talking about tandem breakers.

Well, what prompted this question is that I was asked to add a breaker to a friends panel last week-end. Being as the panel was full, I picked up a tandem breaker to bring along. When I took off the cover, I found 3 single pole breakers that had 2 wires under the screw. House owner said he bought the house new in the 70's, and that I was the first person to open the panel since.
It was a Square D QO panel. In reading the article linked to below, apparently Square D did make some breakers that allowed this.
I didn't look at them close enuf to see if they were the type pictured in the article. I just assumed they were wrong.
Learn something new all the time. Thanks for the replies.

In a minor related rant, why install a maxed out panel in new comstruction. I would think you would always want to allow for future expansion if needed.
 
(quoted from post at 14:37:43 03/03/21) Was it ever allowed under the code to double lug a breaker? That is, to connect 2 circuits (2 wires) to the same breaker?
I'm not talking about tandem breakers.

Well, what prompted this question is that I was asked to add a breaker to a friends panel last week-end. Being as the panel was full, I picked up a tandem breaker to bring along. When I took off the cover, I found 3 single pole breakers that had 2 wires under the screw. House owner said he bought the house new in the 70's, and that I was the first person to open the panel since.
It was a Square D QO panel. In reading the article linked to below, apparently Square D did make some breakers that allowed this.
I didn't look at them close enuf to see if they were the type pictured in the article. I just assumed they were wrong.
Learn something new all the time. Thanks for the replies.

In a minor related rant, why install a maxed out panel in new comstruction. I would think you would always want to allow for future expansion if needed.
 
I don't know if it was ever code but I have seen that many times over the years and they had been that way for years if not decades
 
I'm far from an expert.
From experience, I have to get a permit, inspection and approved before power company will connect power.

After that Bubba can do what he wants. No building inspector will ever look inside your load center unless you have to upgrade load center. Then you have to get a permit, inspection and approved all over again.

Some people want an inspection of everything before they buy a house. If the inspector does his job. Good chance they will red flag it.
George
 
I seem to recall by 1985 or so our local inspector would flag two wires under the same lug. I think about the same time they stopped allowing metered and unmetered conductors in the same conduit, if that jogs anyone else's memory. Which was always a pain on small rural overhead services like irrigation pumps.
 
Also many times if say the house was built in the 50 or 60s they grand father into the new laws just like in my 1963 Diamond T truck they cannot make me wear a seat belt since it never had them or make me put on front axle brakes which it also doesn't have and never did have
 
The oldest NEC I have is around 1991 or so, I forget. FWIW I don't EVER recall the code or UL or other authority permitting placing two conductors in a breaker designed and approved for ONLY ONE. Hey that's NOT to say I haven't see it done but in my shop where I practiced power distribution neither myself nor my boss nor the inspectors nor my electricians would have done it, it just doesn't look proper or professional to boot lol But if anybody insists on doing it, approved or not approved, I'm not here to stop you

John T Too long retired n rusty on the latest codes so again NO warranty
 
(quoted from post at 18:00:16 03/03/21) The oldest NEC I have is around 1991 or so, I forget. FWIW I don't EVER recall the code or UL or other authority permitting placing two conductors in a breaker designed and approved for ONLY ONE. Hey that's NOT to say I haven't see it done but in my shop where I practiced power distribution neither myself nor my boss nor the inspectors nor my electricians would have done it, it just doesn't look proper or professional to boot lol But if anybody insists on doing it, approved or not approved, I'm not here to stop you

John T Too long retired n rusty on the latest codes so again NO warranty
984 NEC, 110-14(a) terminals; "Terminals for more than one conductor and terminals used to connect aluminum shall be so identified".
 
Does it really matter. From what I've seen doing remodeling work individuals and electricians ignore codes half the time.
 
Back in the 70s rule of thumb for residential was if
there was gas heat 100 amp panel was sufficient. The
problem was 100 amp panels had a max of 20 or so breaker
spaces. The standard today is 200 amp panel with 42
breaker spaces. The bigger the panel the higher the
cost.
 
(quoted from post at 21:58:10 03/04/21) Does it really matter. From what I've seen doing remodeling work individuals and electricians ignore codes half the time.
eah, laws, regulations, codes are there just to be broken, you know. Or, maybe, 'you haven't broken the law if you don't get caught"? :twisted:
 

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