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Subject Author Date
Double Tap on CKT Breaker Roger Morton 08-02-2005
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Posted by Roger Morton on August 2, 2005, 11:36 pm


To make a long story short ... About 10 years ago had an electrician add
a subpanel in my then new workshop (state of Virginia). He placed a 30
amp breaker in my main box and used that breaker to feed the subpanel in
the shop. Wiring was run in such a way that if 220v was ever needed it
would be a simple matter to get it to the work area. Now I am
attempting to sell my house and the inspector says "double taps on a
circuit breaker are not allowed." I think the electrician just placed
the "extra" wire there to keep it from floating around in the panel but
leave it available if 220 was ever desired. I guess I have 3 questions.

Are double taps on a circuit breaker against the NEC?

If double taps are permissible under the NEC, does anyone happen to have
the reference handy?

If it is against the NEC, can a pigtail be used to join the 2 wires and
then connect the pigtail to the circuit breaker?

Would appreciate any other thoughts. Thanks a bunch.


Posted by Spud on August 2, 2005, 8:57 pm




Roger Morton wrote:
> To make a long story short ... About 10 years ago had an electrician
> add a subpanel in my then new workshop (state of Virginia). He
> placed a 30 amp breaker in my main box and used that breaker to feed
> the subpanel in the shop. Wiring was run in such a way that if 220v
> was ever needed it would be a simple matter to get it to the work
> area. Now I am attempting to sell my house and the inspector says
> "double taps on a circuit breaker are not allowed." I think the
> electrician just placed the "extra" wire there to keep it from
> floating around in the panel but leave it available if 220 was ever
> desired. I guess I have 3 questions.
>
> Are double taps on a circuit breaker against the NEC?
>
> If double taps are permissible under the NEC, does anyone happen to
> have the reference handy?
>
> If it is against the NEC, can a pigtail be used to join the 2 wires
> and then connect the pigtail to the circuit breaker?
>
> Would appreciate any other thoughts. Thanks a bunch.

I'm not an electrician or anything But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express
double taps on a circuit breaker NOT allowed (two hot wires under one screw)
And i'm sure pigtail in breaker box is not allowed




Posted by on August 2, 2005, 9:09 pm


On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 23:36:07 GMT, Roger Morton

>Are double taps on a circuit breaker against the NEC?

This really falls back to the manufacturer's instructions. Some 15, 20
and 30a breakers are marked to accept 2 conductors.
(NEC article 110.3(B))
>
>If double taps are permissible under the NEC, does anyone happen to have
> the reference handy?
>
>If it is against the NEC, can a pigtail be used to join the 2 wires and
>then connect the pigtail to the circuit breaker?
You can splice 2 wires to one, even in the breaker enclosure, if there
is enough space.
(NEC article 312.8)


Posted by Bud on August 3, 2005, 10:33 am


gfretwell@aol.com wrote:

> On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 23:36:07 GMT, Roger Morton
>
>
>>Are double taps on a circuit breaker against the NEC?
>

Yes unless the breaker is listed for 2 wires.

>
> This really falls back to the manufacturer's instructions. Some 15, 20
> and 30a breakers are marked to accept 2 conductors.
> (NEC article 110.3(B))

As far as I know only Square D breakers 12-20-30 are UL listed for 2
conductors per breaker screw.

>
>>If double taps are permissible under the NEC, does anyone happen to have
>> the reference handy?
>>
>>If it is against the NEC, can a pigtail be used to join the 2 wires and
>>then connect the pigtail to the circuit breaker?
>
> You can splice 2 wires to one, even in the breaker enclosure, if there
> is enough space.
> (NEC article 312.8)

Agree. This is a realy simple solution. It is unlikely the side gutters
are too crowded already.

Bud--


Posted by PipeDown on August 2, 2005, 11:56 pm



> To make a long story short ... About 10 years ago had an electrician add a
> subpanel in my then new workshop (state of Virginia). He placed a 30 amp
> breaker in my main box and used that breaker to feed the subpanel in the
> shop. Wiring was run in such a way that if 220v was ever needed it would
> be a simple matter to get it to the work area. Now I am attempting to
> sell my house and the inspector says "double taps on a circuit breaker are
> not allowed." I think the electrician just placed the "extra" wire there
> to keep it from floating around in the panel but leave it available if 220
> was ever desired. I guess I have 3 questions.
>
> Are double taps on a circuit breaker against the NEC?
>
> If double taps are permissible under the NEC, does anyone happen to have
> the reference handy?
>
> If it is against the NEC, can a pigtail be used to join the 2 wires and
> then connect the pigtail to the circuit breaker?
>
> Would appreciate any other thoughts. Thanks a bunch.

A pigtail is equivelent to coming out of the box on one wire and then
branching to more than one fixture which is premitted so long as there are
not too many loads which would require another circuit anyway. Connect
pigtail outside the breaker box and inside a seperate J-box and it should be
good. Not sure, but it may be just a matter of putting two wires in a
connector made for one.


>"I think the electrician just placed the "extra" wire there to keep it from
>floating around in the panel but leave it available if 220 was ever
>desired. "

If you have a wire leading somewhere that may be used in the future than it
should be taped off and labeled "future" inside the box but not connected to
a breaker just to keep it captive. What about the other end of the wire, is
there a receptacle? Shouldn't be live if not. If he really wanted to
restrain a loose wire, it should be connected to ground or neutral. I must
be misunderstanding the reason for the double tap in the first place cause
that don't make too much sense.






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