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Default Two circuits in one box?

I want to put in 2) 20A curcuits in my shop area. I would like to have them
both go to a string of twin duplex boxes, with the left-hand duplex
recepticle in all boxes on one curcuit, and the right-hand on the other
circuit.
My calculations show a 32 c.i. box is required for 12ga. wire.
Questions:
1) I assume the grounds for both circuits can/should be tied together,
correct? They are uninsulated, so I can't see how that could be avoided.
2) If the first box in line gets two GFCI outlets (one for each circuit),
does that change the calculation for box size? Does the yoke count of 2 for
each device change because of the depth of a GFCI receptacle?
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Default Two circuits in one box?

In article , Al Tsiemers wrote:
I want to put in 2) 20A curcuits in my shop area. I would like to have them
both go to a string of twin duplex boxes, with the left-hand duplex
recepticle in all boxes on one curcuit, and the right-hand on the other
circuit.
My calculations show a 32 c.i. box is required for 12ga. wire.
Questions:
1) I assume the grounds for both circuits can/should be tied together,
correct? They are uninsulated, so I can't see how that could be avoided.


There's no particular reason why they need to be tied together, and if you use
non-metallic boxes, it's avoidable.

2) If the first box in line gets two GFCI outlets (one for each circuit),
does that change the calculation for box size? Does the yoke count of 2 for
each device change because of the depth of a GFCI receptacle?


I don't see anything in the Code that indicates that it does.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.
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Default Two circuits in one box?

For safety of anyone working on these outlets in the future, I would suggest
using a tiebar breaker (like for 240 volt circuits) for the circuits in
these boxes and placing a note in the breaker panel that these outlets are
on two circuits.

The tiebar will force them to turn off both circuits at the same time.

This would keep someone from turning off the circuit to say the left outlet
and still having live power on the right side and zapping themselves...



"Al Tsiemers" wrote in message
I want to put in 2) 20A curcuits in my shop area. I would like to have them
both go to a string of twin duplex boxes, with the left-hand duplex
recepticle in all boxes on one curcuit, and the right-hand on the other
circuit.
My calculations show a 32 c.i. box is required for 12ga. wire.
Questions:
1) I assume the grounds for both circuits can/should be tied together,
correct? They are uninsulated, so I can't see how that could be avoided.
2) If the first box in line gets two GFCI outlets (one for each circuit),
does that change the calculation for box size? Does the yoke count of 2
for
each device change because of the depth of a GFCI receptacle?



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Default Two circuits in one box?


"Doug Miller" wrote in message
. net...
In article , Al Tsiemers

wrote:
I want to put in 2) 20A curcuits in my shop area. I would like to have

them
both go to a string of twin duplex boxes, with the left-hand duplex
recepticle in all boxes on one curcuit, and the right-hand on the other
circuit.
My calculations show a 32 c.i. box is required for 12ga. wire.
Questions:
1) I assume the grounds for both circuits can/should be tied together,
correct? They are uninsulated, so I can't see how that could be avoided.


There's no particular reason why they need to be tied together, and if you

use
non-metallic boxes, it's avoidable.

2) If the first box in line gets two GFCI outlets (one for each circuit),
does that change the calculation for box size? Does the yoke count of 2

for
each device change because of the depth of a GFCI receptacle?


I don't see anything in the Code that indicates that it does.


When I read your reply and the original post, I starting thinking (always a
dangerous thing to do.)

Would it be "legal" to just run a single 120/240 circuit and at the first J
box put in a pair of GFCI's with the other circuits fed by the load side of
that first pair? The advantage is there would be two less current carrying
wires in each box (except the last), only one pair of GFCI's would be
needed. The neutral and ground would have to be pigtailed of course.

Along that line, it is "legal" to have a 240 volt outlet share a 120/240
circuit with the 120 volt duplex outlets? I understand that the 15/20 amp
duplex outlets are treated differently that the 120/240 or 240 outlets
although it doesn't make much sense from a safety view point.


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Default Two circuits in one box?

In article , "Bill" wrote:
For safety of anyone working on these outlets in the future, I would suggest
using a tiebar breaker (like for 240 volt circuits) for the circuits in
these boxes and placing a note in the breaker panel that these outlets are
on two circuits.


That's a good idea ... but IMO it's even more important to put that note at
the *outlet* box.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.
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Default Two circuits in one box?

In article . com,
N8N wrote:

Goedjn wrote:
On Fri, 08 Dec 2006 16:29:18 GMT, (Doug Miller)
wrote:

In article , Al Tsiemers wrote:
I want to put in 2) 20A curcuits in my shop area. I would like to have them
both go to a string of twin duplex boxes, with the left-hand duplex
recepticle in all boxes on one curcuit, and the right-hand on the other
circuit.
My calculations show a 32 c.i. box is required for 12ga. wire.
Questions:
1) I assume the grounds for both circuits can/should be tied together,
correct? They are uninsulated, so I can't see how that could be avoided.

There's no particular reason why they need to be tied together, and if you use
non-metallic boxes, it's avoidable.

2) If the first box in line gets two GFCI outlets (one for each circuit),
does that change the calculation for box size? Does the yoke count of 2 for
each device change because of the depth of a GFCI receptacle?


Since we've recently, after a mere thousand messages, convinced me
that you can put GFCI outlets on an edison circut, why not
pull one 4-wire cable off a double-pole 20-Amp breaker?

That will reduce the # of wires in each box.


You'd only need a 3-wire cable, actually. they can share a neutral if
they are on opposite phases.

nate


Yes, he can do that. However, if he does that he'll need to use a 2-pole
GFCI breaker instead of two GFCI outlets.
Have you seen the price of a 2-pole GFCI breaker recently?



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Default Two circuits in one box?

John Cochran wrote:
In article . com,
N8N wrote:

Goedjn wrote:

On Fri, 08 Dec 2006 16:29:18 GMT, (Doug Miller)
wrote:


In article , Al Tsiemers wrote:

I want to put in 2) 20A curcuits in my shop area. I would like to have them
both go to a string of twin duplex boxes, with the left-hand duplex
recepticle in all boxes on one curcuit, and the right-hand on the other
circuit.
My calculations show a 32 c.i. box is required for 12ga. wire.
Questions:
1) I assume the grounds for both circuits can/should be tied together,
correct? They are uninsulated, so I can't see how that could be avoided.

There's no particular reason why they need to be tied together, and if you use
non-metallic boxes, it's avoidable.


2) If the first box in line gets two GFCI outlets (one for each circuit),
does that change the calculation for box size? Does the yoke count of 2 for
each device change because of the depth of a GFCI receptacle?

Since we've recently, after a mere thousand messages, convinced me
that you can put GFCI outlets on an edison circut, why not
pull one 4-wire cable off a double-pole 20-Amp breaker?

That will reduce the # of wires in each box.


You'd only need a 3-wire cable, actually. they can share a neutral if
they are on opposite phases.

nate



Yes, he can do that. However, if he does that he'll need to use a 2-pole
GFCI breaker instead of two GFCI outlets.
Have you seen the price of a 2-pole GFCI breaker recently?


Depending on the breaker panel, they may actually have them at Home
Depot - I know I've seen them and I don't remember what they went for
but I don't recall being shocked by the price.

nate


--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel
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Default Two circuits in one box?

Bill wrote:
For safety of anyone working on these outlets in the future, I would suggest
using a tiebar breaker (like for 240 volt circuits) for the circuits in
these boxes and placing a note in the breaker panel that these outlets are
on two circuits.

The tiebar will force them to turn off both circuits at the same time.

This would keep someone from turning off the circuit to say the left outlet
and still having live power on the right side and zapping themselves...


I'm sorry, but IMHO, anyone who doesn't check all wires in a box for
voltage deserves what they get......as they don't have any business
doing electrical work in the first place.

Here's the preferred tool to use:
http://www.emsco-usa.com/fluke/flvolt.htm

IMO, using a tied breaker just sets up an unqualified person who has a
very bad habit of not testing for a presence of voltage on all wires
for a wake up call. It doesn't happen a lot but sometimes circuits are
accidently backfed. If the backfeed is on the same leg, the miswiring
often goes unnoticed. I saw this on a circuit just two months ago on a
service call. A tied breaker won't protect against it, as the circuit
will still be fed from another circuit. Bottom line, the first rule to
doing electrical work is to TEST ALL WIRES, even equipment grounding
wires, for voltage with a known to be good tester. If one doesn't want
to invest the $25(US) for the Fluke Volt Alert, or similar device, the
old standby $3 neon tester will do, although more time consuming. And,
yes, both can sometimes give a false positive from induced voltages, in
which case one should investigate further with an analog meter or a
test lamp.



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Default Two circuits in one box?

In article . com, "volts500"
wrote:

Bottom line, the first rule to
doing electrical work is to TEST ALL WIRES, even equipment grounding
wires, for voltage with a known to be good tester.


The most important part of this sentence is the last five words: "known to be
good tester".

Before using the tester to verify that a wire is dead, test it on something
that's supposed to be *live* to make sure it lights up / reads voltage /
whatever. EVERY TIME.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.
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Default Two circuits in one box?

volts500 wrote:
Bill wrote:

For safety of anyone working on these outlets in the future, I would suggest
using a tiebar breaker (like for 240 volt circuits) for the circuits in
these boxes and placing a note in the breaker panel that these outlets are
on two circuits.

The tiebar will force them to turn off both circuits at the same time.

This would keep someone from turning off the circuit to say the left outlet
and still having live power on the right side and zapping themselves...



I'm sorry, but IMHO, anyone who doesn't check all wires in a box for
voltage deserves what they get......as they don't have any business
doing electrical work in the first place.

Here's the preferred tool to use:
http://www.emsco-usa.com/fluke/flvolt.htm

IMO, using a tied breaker just sets up an unqualified person who has a
very bad habit of not testing for a presence of voltage on all wires
for a wake up call. It doesn't happen a lot but sometimes circuits are
accidently backfed. If the backfeed is on the same leg, the miswiring
often goes unnoticed. I saw this on a circuit just two months ago on a
service call. A tied breaker won't protect against it, as the circuit
will still be fed from another circuit. Bottom line, the first rule to
doing electrical work is to TEST ALL WIRES, even equipment grounding
wires, for voltage with a known to be good tester. If one doesn't want
to invest the $25(US) for the Fluke Volt Alert, or similar device, the
old standby $3 neon tester will do, although more time consuming. And,
yes, both can sometimes give a false positive from induced voltages, in
which case one should investigate further with an analog meter or a
test lamp.

What a load

The tie bar is a damn good idea.

Read this as "anyone who doesn't pay me to do the work is an idiot"

Why did they invent lock out tag out rules? Shouldn't they always check
to see if its live?

Anything that is safer and not more complex/expensive is the way to go


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Default Two circuits in one box?

I test everything with a test lamp then intentially short stuff just to
be safe.

getting hit doesnt scare me but I would prefer top avoid it.

very careful though in my jammed breaker box or on wet floor, stuff
like that can be lethal.

having been a copier technician and fixing office equitment getting hit
occasionally is part of the job

electronics school was a shocking experience at times..........

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Default Two circuits in one box?

yourname wrote:
volts500 wrote:
Bill wrote:

For safety of anyone working on these outlets in the future, I would suggest
using a tiebar breaker (like for 240 volt circuits) for the circuits in
these boxes and placing a note in the breaker panel that these outlets are
on two circuits.

The tiebar will force them to turn off both circuits at the same time.

This would keep someone from turning off the circuit to say the left outlet
and still having live power on the right side and zapping themselves...



I'm sorry, but IMHO, anyone who doesn't check all wires in a box for
voltage deserves what they get......as they don't have any business
doing electrical work in the first place.

Here's the preferred tool to use:
http://www.emsco-usa.com/fluke/flvolt.htm

IMO, using a tied breaker just sets up an unqualified person who has a
very bad habit of not testing for a presence of voltage on all wires
for a wake up call. It doesn't happen a lot but sometimes circuits are
accidently backfed. If the backfeed is on the same leg, the miswiring
often goes unnoticed. I saw this on a circuit just two months ago on a
service call. A tied breaker won't protect against it, as the circuit
will still be fed from another circuit. Bottom line, the first rule to
doing electrical work is to TEST ALL WIRES, even equipment grounding
wires, for voltage with a known to be good tester. If one doesn't want
to invest the $25(US) for the Fluke Volt Alert, or similar device, the
old standby $3 neon tester will do, although more time consuming. And,
yes, both can sometimes give a false positive from induced voltages, in
which case one should investigate further with an analog meter or a
test lamp.

What a load

The tie bar is a damn good idea.


For people who need laws to protect themselves from themselves?

Read this as "anyone who doesn't pay me to do the work is an idiot"


Read it as "how to protect yourself from idiots."

Why did they invent lock out tag out rules?


To keep people like you from energizing circuits that other people are
working on? To absolve employers and insurance companies from
responsibility? LO/TO is one of the biggest screw jobs running for
employees. I once worked for a large, top 50 in the US, electrical
contracting company who went out of their way to bring a safety officer
to the jobsite just to tell 60 electricians that they would be fired on
the spot if they did not use LO/TO. By chance, later that day I had to
LO/TO a 200 amp feeder to work on it. The jobsite LO/TO kit did not
have a 200 amp breaker LO, so I told my supervisor that I needed one.
What do you suppose I was told? That's right, just get r done.

I'd tell you how to _really_ protect oneself in such cases, but since
you seem to think that I'm in it for the money, make a deposit in my
PayPal account and I'll be glad to tell you.

Shouldn't they always check to see if its live?


If they did that then they wouldn't need to have breakers tied now
would they?



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Default Two circuits in one box?

On Fri, 08 Dec 2006 16:14:22 GMT, Al Tsiemers
wrote:

I want to put in 2) 20A curcuits in my shop area. I would like to have them
both go to a string of twin duplex boxes, with the left-hand duplex
recepticle in all boxes on one curcuit, and the right-hand on the other
circuit.
My calculations show a 32 c.i. box is required for 12ga. wire.
Questions:
1) I assume the grounds for both circuits can/should be tied together,
correct? They are uninsulated, so I can't see how that could be avoided.


YES on the grounds.

2) If the first box in line gets two GFCI outlets (one for each circuit),
does that change the calculation for box size? Does the yoke count of 2 for
each device change because of the depth of a GFCI receptacle?


I never get this technical. If the device fits in the box, plus the
wires (without overcrowding or pinching a wire), it will work. GFIs
take up quite a bit of space compared to a common outlet. Either get
a large box, or just use 2 boxes. Dont evn think of trying to put a
GFI in a standard handy box. It wont easily fit. I tried it once,
that was a major headache. I just use a 4 inch quare box now for each
GFI, and get the special cover plates for the larger box,

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