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Posted by Stan on August 12, 2009, 10:51 pm
I'm adding a 120 Volt outlet to a duplex apartment. I have one 120
volt hot wire that needs a neutral to complete the circuit. The
problem is the neutral wire I found is in a wall that is shared with
the neighbor. I'm not sure who's neutral wire this is, the neighbors
or this unit. It does produce 120 volt upon testing both wire.
However, I'm pretty sure it's the neighbors neutral wire and they are
on a separate electrical meter. Are all neutral wires in 120 volt
residential shared?
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Posted by Grasshopper on August 12, 2009, 11:56 pm
> I'm adding a 120 Volt outlet to a duplex apartment. I have one 120
> volt hot wire that needs a neutral to complete the circuit. The
> problem is the neutral wire I found is in a wall that is shared with
> the neighbor. I'm not sure who's neutral wire this is, the neighbors
> or this unit. It does produce 120 volt upon testing both wire.
> However, I'm pretty sure it's the neighbors neutral wire and they are
> on a separate electrical meter. Are all neutral wires in 120 volt
> residential shared?
In the case of a duplex with separate meters, separate primary breaker
panels, and separate grounding rods, the only thing that is shared is the
ground/soil itself electrically. There is good reason for that. The only
thing that a duplex should share physically is a foundation, an adjoining
wall, and roof.
--
Dave
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Posted by Mike Paulsen on August 13, 2009, 12:59 am
Stan wrote:
> I'm adding a 120 Volt outlet to a duplex apartment. I have one 120
> volt hot wire that needs a neutral to complete the circuit. The
> problem is the neutral wire I found is in a wall that is shared with
> the neighbor. I'm not sure who's neutral wire this is, the neighbors
> or this unit. It does produce 120 volt upon testing both wire.
> However, I'm pretty sure it's the neighbors neutral wire and they are
> on a separate electrical meter. Are all neutral wires in 120 volt
> residential shared?
You shouldn't use that neutral even if you determine that it returns to
your panel rather than the neighbor's.
"All conductors of the same circuit and, where used, the grounded
conductor and all equipment-grounding conductors and bonding conductors
shall be contained within the same raceway, auxiliary gutter, cable
tray, cablebus assembly, trench, cable, or cord, unless otherwise permitted"
If you google appropriate portions of the code quoted above you can
learn more, including the rationale.
Where are you finding this hot wire you're thinking of using?
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Posted by Cwatters on August 13, 2009, 3:35 pm
> I'm adding a 120 Volt outlet to a duplex apartment. I have one 120
> volt hot wire that needs a neutral to complete the circuit. The
> problem is the neutral wire I found is in a wall that is shared with
> the neighbor. I'm not sure who's neutral wire this is, the neighbors
> or this unit. It does produce 120 volt upon testing both wire.
> However, I'm pretty sure it's the neighbors neutral wire and they are
> on a separate electrical meter. Are all neutral wires in 120 volt
> residential shared?
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Posted by Cwatters on August 13, 2009, 3:36 pm
> I'm adding a 120 Volt outlet to a duplex apartment. I have one 120
> volt hot wire that needs a neutral to complete the circuit.
Sounds like you are getting your hot wire from the wrong place. Go find
somewhere that has both.
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> volt hot wire that needs a neutral to complete the circuit. The
> problem is the neutral wire I found is in a wall that is shared with
> the neighbor. I'm not sure who's neutral wire this is, the neighbors
> or this unit. It does produce 120 volt upon testing both wire.
> However, I'm pretty sure it's the neighbors neutral wire and they are
> on a separate electrical meter. Are all neutral wires in 120 volt
> residential shared?