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Wednesday, September 30, 1998
Question:
In a home, why is it required to provide a means to disconnect all ungrounded conductors simultaneously at the originating panelboard, in the case of a multiwire branch circuit feeding a split-wired receptacle?
A
Answer:
In a home, you can reasonably expect Joe Homeowner to do a simple receptacle replacement. Split wired receptacles would have only one side dead when Mr. Homeowner grabbed hold and became dead himself. The requirement for handle ties provide a common means of disconnecting power to the circuit; therefore, he will kill the whole circuit instead of himself.