National Electrical Installation Standards

Standards as High as Your Own

 
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Friday, October 28, 2016

Question:

Couldn't l make a tap on a parallel feed by connecting to just 1 set of the parallel conductors?

Dave Deonarine

A

Answer:

Hey Dave thanks for your question. Conductors are allowed to be tapped to a feeder, without overcurrent protection, as stated in 240.21(B). Conductors are also allowed to be connected in parallel as stated in 310.10(H). The conditions in 310.10(H)(2) help ensure that each "wire" that is connected in parallel carries the same current. If you connect to only one set of the parallel "wires" the current will be different in the other "wires". So I think what you are suggesting would not comply with 310.10(H)(2), but it is a judgment call.

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