I have a bare copper wire running into a GFCI breaker. I have never seen this before looks wrong but double checking. Is there ever a time to do this? I found a similair square D type QO breaker online and has no ground in the labeling.
I’ve never seen it before either, and if I did I would call it out as improper and recommend corrections be made by a qualified electrician.
4 Likes
What Kevin said!^^^
3 Likes
They are using a 12/2 with bare ground NM to wire a 120/240v circuit with bare copper as the load neutral. The neutral must be insulated. 12/3 with ground is needed to wire that correctly. If this is only a 240v (no 120v loads) circuit, then the bare conductor can be removed and re-terminated at the ground bus bar (and obviously corrected at the load end, as well). This is a DIY special 
5 Likes
Even if the load was 240 volts the breaker neutral pigtail should be connected to the neutral bar. A plug on neutral would take care of this in a plug on panel.
2 Likes
The GFCI breaker’s panel neutral/pigtail is connected to the neutral bar.
1 Like
The correct answer.
The correct answer.
1 Like
Call out the 20-amp double-tapped breaker (lower right) as well.
They do look like 14-2 however, if 12-2 it is code compliant. BTW - that is not a tap. You tap a conductor not a breaker.
Somebody should correct inspectapedia…
https://inspectapedia.com/electric/Double-tapped-circuit-breakers.php
2 Likes
These are branch circuits so you are correct but a feeder tap can originate at the terminals of a circuit breaker. The 2020 NEC added new language to clarify that.
240.21(B) Feeder Taps.
Conductors shall be permitted to be tapped, without overcurrent protection at the tap, to a feeder as specified in 240.21(B)(1) through (B)(5). The tap shall be permitted at any point on the load side of the feeder overcurrent protective device. Section 240.4(B) shall not be permitted for tap conductors
4 Likes
So, the consensus is that at times taps are at the breaker? This is why I don’t comment on the 2020. I have not read it.
Thanx.
Actually the new wording was just to clarify where the tap can begin it did not add a new requirement or code change. There was always some confusion as the whether or not coming off of an OCPD would meet the feeder tap conductor definition. For example a 400 amp circuit breaker with double lugs feeding two 200 amp panels with #3/0 Cu conductors. The conductors between the lugs and the panels are feeder tap conductors even thought they do not physically tap off of a wire.
3 Likes