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Microwave problems--Microwave and Refrigerator sharing neutral wire.

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Microwave problems--Microwave and Refrigerator sharing neutral wire. sean_n 01-27-2008
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Posted by sean_n on January 27, 2008, 10:51 pm

In the last 2 years, our microwaves have been breaking very quickly.
We suspect that it might be our electrical wiring. I've noticed that
the microwave and refrigerator are sharing the same neutral wire.
What's the chances of this being the cause of our microwave problems?
I believe sharing the neutral wire was common practice in the old
days--but is against code. Is this true? The microwave and
refrigerator are on circuits that are out of phase--I believe that
makes a difference but would like confirmation on this. We've had
this setup for the last 17 years and only in the last 2 years we've
been having microwave problems. I would hate to have to run another
wire unless it's absolutely necessary.

Posted by RBM on January 28, 2008, 7:12 am
It's called an Edison or multiwire branch circuit. It's perfectly proper and
legal. It is essential that the two conductors sharing the neutral be on
legs of different potential in the panel, which you seemed to have verified.
It's also vital that the neutral be enact and tight or the potential for
high voltage backfeed exists



>
> In the last 2 years, our microwaves have been breaking very quickly.
> We suspect that it might be our electrical wiring. I've noticed that
> the microwave and refrigerator are sharing the same neutral wire.
> What's the chances of this being the cause of our microwave problems?
> I believe sharing the neutral wire was common practice in the old
> days--but is against code. Is this true? The microwave and
> refrigerator are on circuits that are out of phase--I believe that
> makes a difference but would like confirmation on this. We've had
> this setup for the last 17 years and only in the last 2 years we've
> been having microwave problems. I would hate to have to run another
> wire unless it's absolutely necessary.



Posted by Mike Dobony on January 28, 2008, 9:21 am
RBM wrote:
> It's called an Edison or multiwire branch circuit. It's perfectly proper and
> legal. It is essential that the two conductors sharing the neutral be on
> legs of different potential in the panel, which you seemed to have verified.
> It's also vital that the neutral be enact and tight or the potential for
> high voltage backfeed exists
>
>
>
>> In the last 2 years, our microwaves have been breaking very quickly.
>> We suspect that it might be our electrical wiring. I've noticed that
>> the microwave and refrigerator are sharing the same neutral wire.
>> What's the chances of this being the cause of our microwave problems?
>> I believe sharing the neutral wire was common practice in the old
>> days--but is against code. Is this true? The microwave and
>> refrigerator are on circuits that are out of phase--I believe that
>> makes a difference but would like confirmation on this. We've had
>> this setup for the last 17 years and only in the last 2 years we've
>> been having microwave problems. I would hate to have to run another
>> wire unless it's absolutely necessary.
>
>


This is right now legal and acceptable, but will not be in August 2008
as the code is changing.

Posted by RBM on January 28, 2008, 4:50 pm
His, and every other existing Edison circuit will still be legal come August




> RBM wrote:
>> It's called an Edison or multiwire branch circuit. It's perfectly proper
>> and legal. It is essential that the two conductors sharing the neutral be
>> on legs of different potential in the panel, which you seemed to have
>> verified. It's also vital that the neutral be enact and tight or the
>> potential for high voltage backfeed exists
>>
>>
>>
>>> In the last 2 years, our microwaves have been breaking very quickly.
>>> We suspect that it might be our electrical wiring. I've noticed that
>>> the microwave and refrigerator are sharing the same neutral wire.
>>> What's the chances of this being the cause of our microwave problems?
>>> I believe sharing the neutral wire was common practice in the old
>>> days--but is against code. Is this true? The microwave and
>>> refrigerator are on circuits that are out of phase--I believe that
>>> makes a difference but would like confirmation on this. We've had
>>> this setup for the last 17 years and only in the last 2 years we've
>>> been having microwave problems. I would hate to have to run another
>>> wire unless it's absolutely necessary.
>>
>>
>
>
> This is right now legal and acceptable, but will not be in August 2008 as
> the code is changing.



Posted by Joseph Meehan on January 28, 2008, 7:26 am
The only way it is likely to be a problem is if you have a poor
connection on the neutral somewhere. This would be especially likely of the
back stab connections were used at outlets. Check all the connections on
those lines. Each outlet and at the breaker box.

It might be interesting to set up a voltage meter (better yet a
recorder) at the microwave outlet and see what happens when the frig kicks
in and out. A recording meter could record data over say a week to see if
there are some outside problems.

You also should check the ground at the microwave.



>
> In the last 2 years, our microwaves have been breaking very quickly.
> We suspect that it might be our electrical wiring. I've noticed that
> the microwave and refrigerator are sharing the same neutral wire.
> What's the chances of this being the cause of our microwave problems?
> I believe sharing the neutral wire was common practice in the old
> days--but is against code. Is this true? The microwave and
> refrigerator are on circuits that are out of phase--I believe that
> makes a difference but would like confirmation on this. We've had
> this setup for the last 17 years and only in the last 2 years we've
> been having microwave problems. I would hate to have to run another
> wire unless it's absolutely necessary.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit




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