Name that defect? Care to play?

[jwicklander (Jeffrey Wicklander)]

@mgratton

There is 6 breakers and only 3 neutrals; the right side of panel 2 upper breakers have a black and a red wire which indicates a 240 V circuit (without a tie-bar).

That leaves 1 circuit without a neutral or using the metal conduit as neutral???

Black and red on two adjacent breakers does not necessarily mean that it’s a 240V circuit (unless that is a requirement up north). If romex is used, a 240V circuit would likely use those colors because that is what is available in the cable. These are all individual runs of wire in conduit. Also, a 240V appliance can use a neutral. An example would be a 240V stove, where a neutral would be pulled to take care of the ‘dashboard’ lights and timer/clock. If you wanted to stick with the 240V plausible theory, there might be two MWC sharing neutrals and a 240V appliance using a neutral.

Jeff

[mgratton (Marcel Gratton, CMI)]

@jwicklander

Black and red on two adjacent breakers does not necessarily mean that it’s a 240V circuit (unless that is a requirement up north). If romex is used, a 240V circuit would likely use those colors because that is what is available in the cable. These are all individual runs of wire in conduit. Also, a 240V appliance can use a neutral. An example would be a 240V stove, where a neutral would be pulled to take care of the ‘dashboard’ lights and timer/clock. If you wanted to stick with the 240V plausible theory, there might be two MWC sharing neutrals and a 240V appliance using a neutral.

Jeff,

I am aware of 240V appliances needing a neutral (e.g. stove and dryer), but was thinking of perhaps an electric heater or AC unit.

Interesting…

[pabernathy (Paul Abernathy, CMI®, CMECP® Electrical Code Academy,Inc.)]

@Michael_Greenwalt

FYI, although this is an old post, just in case others read through this thread: Six throws is incorrect. The size of your hand was never a consideration when writing the NEC. If you were to say six disconnects you would get a prize:

230.71 Maximum Number of Disconnects.
(A) General. The service disconnecting means for each service permitted by 230.2, or for each set of service-entrance conductors permitted by 230.40, Exception No. 1, 3, 4, or 5, shall consist of not more than six switches or sets of circuit breakers, or a combination of not more than six switches and sets of circuit breakers, mounted in a single enclosure, in a group of separate enclosures, or in or on a switchboard. There shall be not more than six sets of disconnects per service grouped in any one location.

When you think 6, do not think throws, or hand.

Thanks

Great information and is correct…however that is not worthy of a prize since that is not the problem in the pictures.