What to do with un-used neutral

[Wakesurfer]

I was planning on running a neutral in my welder and compressor 240V branch circuits even though they don't require one. I thought this would be cheap insurance in case I, or future homeowners, need a neutral for another appliane. My question is what to do with the neutral that is on the sub-panel end? I will terminate the box end with a wire nut, but should I do the same in the panel, or should the wire be connected to the neutral bar?

TIA

 

[MrMark]

capped in panel.

 

[nehog]

connect to neutral bar. That way some day in the distant future someone won't wonder why the neutral wire is open!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Leave length to work with later, and cap it with a wire nut, and yes, go ahead and connect it in the panel to the neutral bar.

Charles

 

[jkwilson]

Cap it and put a label on the wire or in the panel to save somebody scratching their head trying to figure it out if it isn't obvious where it leaves the box.

I have wires in my panel for outside lights that I ran in capped conduit before the sidewalk was in. I may never use them, but there is a note on the panel telling where they go.

 

[Highbeam]

I had the exact same situation. Always land the wire in the panel and cap it in the outlet box. That way the future guy, maybe you, only has to work in the oultet box and nobody has to wonder why there is a disconnected wire in the panel can.

 

[offroadsteve]

I'm not sure if there is an actual spec that covers this situation, but I like to always land neutrals and grounds in wiring run for "future use". I do know that at work the standard practice for all medium and high voltage conductors (4160V and 13.5kV) is to keep them grounded until they are put in service (even during installation!) but thats not strictly necessary for normal house type voltages.

That way the wire is tied to ground ("0" volts) and it will indicate as such on a multimeter later on. If you leave both ends open, the adjacent line-voltage conductors will induce a voltage in the wire and could cause someone to go chasing their tail later.

 

[6768rogues]

Cap it and put a label on the wire or in the panel to save somebody scratching their head trying to figure it out if it isn't obvious where it leaves the box.

I have wires in my panel for outside lights that I ran in capped conduit before the sidewalk was in. I may never use them, but there is a note on the panel telling where they go.

I agree. I might forget or another person working on the system will not know what that wire does.

 

[Wakesurfer]

Thanks for all of the good advice! I was leaning towards connecting to the panel neutral as most of you recommended, and I think that would be best. It also avoids someone connecting at the junction box and not realizing it isn't connected at the panel! Thanks again!