Originally Posted By: jmyers This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Joe,
I have just come accross information that pertains to shared neutrals. The NEC does require that any circuits that are serviced by shared neutrals must have the neutral conductor pigtailed so like in the case of a receptacle if it was removed the neutral would not be disconnected.
I don't really make a big deal of open grounds in the older homes. I do suggest to the client they have a licensed electrician install grounded outlets where ever they intend to place sensitive electronic equipment, such as stereo's, tv's, vcr's, computer's etc....
If you know that the city requires the electric to be inspected and approved with a inspection seal I reall don't think you overstepped your authority and you should indeed remind that agent that you are also protecting their interests in this deal should this situation turn ugly and should they be sued over it.
Originally Posted By: jmyers This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Joseph Myers wrote:
I just learned this about shared neutrals and I thought I would share it with the rest of you. If you need any additional clarification on this issue please feel free to post.
Because of the dangers associated with a multiwire branch circuit, 300.13(B) specifies that the removal of a wiring device, such as a receptacle shall not cause an interruption of continuity for the grounded (neutral) conductor. Therefore, the grounded (neutral) conductors for multiwire branch circuits shall be spliced together, and a pigtail shall be provided for device terminations.
I did not know this until today. I was always under the assumption they could be installed as you normally would on the standard circuit.
Originally Posted By: jremas This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Good call Joe, you flagged the major problem and I am sure referred it to a licensed qualified electrician to further evaluate and repair. I think that is where it is suppose to end for us. Although I have been doing electrical work for over 20 years, I don’t get involved with the specifics and just tell them to see the professional in that area.
As for the realtor, they of course are more qualified than we are and I don't know why they are not doing the inspections instead of us. I just had a realtor tell my client that the foundation was structurally sound and there was no problem with it after I flagged it because the exterior wooden door under the porch was blocked off with cinder-blocks (no mortar) and under the porch from the outside you can clearly see that the wooden door was half covered with the soil that had collapsed inward when the porch foundation fell in. The piers were still standing but under the porch was large pit with debris of the previous foundation. They covered up the wooden basement door 3/4 of the way up so no one could open the door and have all of the soil fall into the basement. With the porch supporting a roof, it won't be long before piers drift and fall into the pit under the porch and the roof falls away from the house.
I am just glad that the realtor took the high road and tell them that it was OK and not to worry about it because the seller bought the house like that. The nice part here is that the realtor was the buyer's agent which really blows me away. Good thing they have ethics training every 2 years.
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Jeff Remas
REMAS Inspections, Inc.
Northeastern PA & the Poconos
www.NEPAinspector.com
Originally Posted By: Neil Brinker This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Wow, you guys are right on the money. A very real danger of shared neutral circuits is if you have a neutral open somewhere. Pigtailing when installing outlets is truely the way to go whether you are using 3 conductor wire or 2. If the circuit breakers are not installed in the proper position on multi-wired branch circuits you are in for trouble. If the multi-wire branch circuit does not have a double pole circuit breaker as its origin there is much room for error. Many people would flip one switch, not bother to check the other half of the outlet they intend to work on and get a nasty surprise when they pull the outlet from the box.
