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12-3 Double Circuit Run Length - Should I Split the Circuit?

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12-3 Double Circuit Run Length - Should I Split the Circuit? kevharper@gmail.com 05-17-2006
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Posted by kevharper@gmail.com on May 17, 2006, 10:41 pm
Hello

I just finished wiring my basement with 12/3 wire. I was planning on
using a double pole breaker with two circuits and a shared neutral
(alternating circuits between outlets). My run is around the
perimeter of my basement inside wood framing studs. After all was said
and done with the requried routing, I've used about 250ft of wire.

I'm concerned that I may have too long of a run and that, instead of
creating one big 250ft run with alternating circuits on a double pole
20A breaker, I should just have two 125ft circuits on separate 20A
breakers. I guess now's the time to make my decision before I go into
my panel. I've already run the 12-3 wire but I don't mind using only
2 of the 3 wires if that will make these circuits better performing and
safer.

The reading I have done so far and the 13.6% voltage drop at 20A
calculated using this website:

http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

has me leaning heavily toward two separate 125ft circuits.

Any feedback is apprecaited. Thanks!

Kevin


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Posted by Toller on May 17, 2006, 11:05 pm

> Hello
>
> I just finished wiring my basement with 12/3 wire. I was planning on
> using a double pole breaker with two circuits and a shared neutral
> (alternating circuits between outlets). My run is around the
> perimeter of my basement inside wood framing studs. After all was said
> and done with the requried routing, I've used about 250ft of wire.
>
> I'm concerned that I may have too long of a run and that, instead of
> creating one big 250ft run with alternating circuits on a double pole
> 20A breaker, I should just have two 125ft circuits on separate 20A
> breakers. I guess now's the time to make my decision before I go into
> my panel. I've already run the 12-3 wire but I don't mind using only
> 2 of the 3 wires if that will make these circuits better performing and
> safer.
>
> The reading I have done so far and the 13.6% voltage drop at 20A
> calculated using this website:
>
> http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
>
> has me leaning heavily toward two separate 125ft circuits.
>
> Any feedback is apprecaited. Thanks!
>
A balanced multiwire circuit can be half the voltage drop because there is
no return path.
So, there are two things to consider... will you actually be using 20a on
each side, and can you get a balanced circuit.

Then you might want to rethink things; 20a is too much for a 125' run of
12/2.



Posted by blah@blah.com on May 17, 2006, 11:19 pm
I really don't plan on using 20A on either side. I was planning on
using the 20A mainly because I had the 12 gage wire & I was sticking
with the 12 gage because of my run length. I originally thought the
length would be about 170ft but I didn't take into account the routing
I had to do up and down to my outlet boxes and around things.

I would call the circuits light use with a TV, dehumidifier
(spring/summer) and possibly an electric space heater (occasionally) in
the winter. Maybe a computer and some lamps will eventually be down
there too but I don't plan on using really heavy draw power tools or
having a workshop down there or anything.

Lights are on a separate 15A circuit.

Thanks for your feedback!


Posted by blah@blah.com on May 17, 2006, 11:22 pm
Also, could you elaborate on how I can reduce the voltage drop with my
12-3 wire?


Posted by blah@blah.com on May 17, 2006, 11:38 pm
One other thing I forgot to mention...

If I split the circuit into two 125ft runs, most of my electrical loads
I mentioned above would end up on one of the circuits. And, naturally,
my circuit breaker box is at the opposite corner of my basement from
where most of the used outlets will be.

Thanks again for your feedback.
Kevin


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