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The Meaning of 2023 NEC 300.13(B) Multiwire Branch Circuits

jar546

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(B) Device Removal.
In multiwire branch circuits, the continuity of a grounded conductor shall not depend on device connections such as lampholders, receptacles, and so forth where the removal of such devices would interrupt the continuity.

So what does that mean?

Grounded conductors (neutrals) of multiwire branch circuits supplying receptacles, lampholders, or other devices are not permitted to depend on terminal connections for continuity between devices. For multiwire installations, a splice can be made with a jumper connected to the terminal or the neutral can be looped. This allows a receptacle or device to be replaced without interrupting the continuity of energized downstream line-to-neutral loads. Opening the neutral could cause unbalanced voltages, and a considerably higher voltage would be impressed on one part of a multiwire branch circuit, especially if the downstream line-to-neutral loads were appreciably unbalanced.

In other words, these devices must be pigtailed and for a receptacle for example, you can't use all 4 terminals of a receptacle and feed through it.
 
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