Question for the Resident Sparkies - Panel as Junction Box

[larry4406]

My detached barn has a 4-wire feed from the house.

Conduit for outdoor lighting circuits and outlets are connected directly to the barn panel. These are for post lamps at various fence posts to light the path up at night and outlets at the same posts.

I have a lighting circuit and an outlet circuit that originate at the barn panel, circuits exit the barn panel and are normally connected to their respective devices at the barn, then these circuits reenter the same barn panel to then go into the conduit and out to the remote locations. Thus the panel serves as a junction box were the Romex transitions to THHN/THWN.

When reentering the panel with the circuit, how are the neutrals and grounds landed? Wire nut the incoming Romex to the outgoing THHN/THWN or is it acceptable to land them on their respective neutral and ground bars? Obviously the black hot gets wire nutted thru.

 

[pattenp]

Why not split these circuits in the panel vs. having them loop back through the panel? To answer your question the conductors can pass through with no connection in the panel. Identify the conductors disconnect source as that panel.

 

[larry4406]

Why not split these circuits in the panel vs. having them loop back through the panel? To answer your question the conductors can pass through with no connection in the panel. Identify the conductors disconnect source as that panel.

Thanks PattenP, I will pass them through.

I did split the outlet circuit at the panel. The Eaton CH breakers permit two 12g wires (double tap). This was easy.

The lighting circuit I ran power from the Barn panel to the first 3-way switch at the barn. From there I have a switch leg to the barn light and from this light I ran back to the panel so the light circuit can run thru the conduit to 2 post mounted exterior lights.

From the Barn 3-way, the 12/3 runs to a 4-way switch at the other barn door, and from the 4-way the 12/3 runs back to the panel so the switching circuit can run thru conduit all the way back to the house ending at a 3-way switch.

My simpleton head could not figure out how to do the lighting circuit and switching without exiting the panel then coming back in to access the conduit due to the 2 switch locations at the barn.

3-way and 4-way switching always makes my brain hurt so I try to always have power and light off first switch then just daisy chain the switches.

 

[Bert_]

No real reason to bring the neutral out to the switches and then back to the panel.

 

[larry4406]

No real reason to bring the neutral out to the switches and then back to the panel.

I used 12/2 and 12/3 Romex at the barn for the lighting circuit so the neutral came along for the ride I guess.

 

[Bert_]

I used 12/2 and 12/3 Romex at the barn for the lighting circuit so the neutral came along for the ride I guess.

Just because it's white doesn't mean it needs to be neutral.

12-2 = hot and switched hot.
12-3 = travelers and switched hot.

Done deal power comes back in the same cable it went out in.

 

[slow]

Doesn't code require a neutral in a switch box?

 

[Bert_]

Doesn't code require a neutral in a switch box?

Doesn't apply if the light isn't in the room with the switch.

Not a bad idea to bring a neutral to one of the switch locations if you envision yourself installing smart switches. Still no reason to bring the neutral all the way around.

 

[slow]

That makes sense, Thanks!