Wiring 2 outlets to 2 dedicated 20 amp circuits with a single 10/3 electrical wire.
Here's an idea (and it is code compliant), using one 10/3 romex electrical wire (three insulated conductors, and a bare ground wire - 10 gauge), you can wire two outlets to a double pole breaker (and yes the legs would not be the same, which on a quiet electrical system is not a big deal).
In this situation, 2 hot wires from the outlets would be wired directly to each of the circuit breakers, the neutral would be bridged between the two outlets and then connected to the appropriate spot on the panel, and the grounds for each outlet would be attached to the single ground wire that goes back to the panel. This would all appear within a quad outlet wall panel (ie. Two 20 amp outlets side-by-side)
For a long 70 foot run this seems prudent thing to do, less costly and kosher.
I get the conversation for intellectual reasons, just not practical ones.....but thank you for the education! My electrician does work for two audio installers, and has plenty of experience with 2 channel and home theater wiring. He charged me $300 plus parts to install 1 dedicated circuit, and $100 plus parts for the second dedicated line.....and highly recommended pulling 2 completely separate lines. The extra $150 made it a simple decision. |
At long last I think I understand what’s being said here and it concerns me that the work is already done and that I may have to take a full loss on the work that was done even though I haven’t paid for it yet. Basically I have two circuit breaker’s where the related hot wires from each breaker are connected to the two outlets and there is a neutral that bridges these two outlets and then the two hot wires are wired back to the panel to a double pole breaker. And because I’m on alternate phases the voltage flow is circular. And because of the push pull action of the circuit because it’s on alternate phases the neutral wire has no current. So the flow goes from the first breaker to the first outlet to the second outlet and then back to the second breaker. Each breaker is 20 AMps. So this means the first outlet is used and contaminates the second outlet there by introducing noise to the second outlet. Basically, the configuration is crap and the second outlet is of no value since it’s not dedicated. I don’t understand the 120+120 involvement between the two outlets, in terms of is this a 240 V quad panel? It was hard for me to appreciate that the second hotwire has a directional flow back to the panel from the outlet. But since it’s on different phases I guess this makes sense. If this all makes sense and it’s correct then it seems I have to fix the crap work that was done. I asked for two dedicated circuits and I thought it involved two Romex wires as I was told it would and then I got this one wire crap. To say the least I am super super pissed. And now I’ve got a quad panel on my wall and wonder if I can do 2 dedicated circuits to be wired into that one 2 outlet plastic box inserted into my wall. Or do I need to create a new hole in the wall for the new dedicated outlet and convert quad panel to one circuit. What a mess. |
What a mess? Did you actually read the part where jea48 explained how your new work could easily be converted to one dedicated circuit in about 10 minutes? Then add a second one, and you're finished. You're out some additional money due to the first electrician not doing exactly what you asked. Stuff happens. |
From a previous thread Jea was on, I would suspect the a quad is closer together than he would like the outlets to be? But cutting a new hole in the wall isn’t that big a deal. Or you could try using just one circuit for your gear and see what you think of that. |
@emergingsoul said:
Not exactly... Only the unbalanced 120V loads of L1 & L2 returns on the neutral conductor to the source. The balanced 120V loads of L1 & L2 are in series with one another and fed by 240V. Example: Say L1 120V load is 2 amps and L2 120V load is 6 amps. 2 amps is the balanced load. The difference of 6A minus 2A = 4A. 4A is the unbalanced load and returns on the neutral conductor to the source. The L1 120V 2A load represents digital equipment. The L2 120V 6A load represents a preamp and power amp. . |
