Neutral & CCC code question

[sierradmax]

1. In a single phase and 3-phase system, are branch circuit neutrals considered CCC's? NEC is quite vague on this.

2. A friend of mine intends to surface mount a 42 pole sub-panel in a finished
commercial garage and use wiremold as a raceway. A conversation came up about maximum number of circuits in a raceway (NEC 376.22) as 30 CCC's in a particular cross section. Hypothetically, does this rule limit to 15 circuits, considering neutrals as CCC's?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

1. In a single phase and 3-phase system, are branch circuit neutrals considered CCC's? NEC is quite vague on this.

2. A friend of mine intends to surface mount a 42 pole sub-panel in a finished
commercial garage and use wiremold as a raceway. A conversation came up about maximum number of circuits in a raceway (NEC 376.22) as 30 CCC's in a particular cross section. Hypothetically, does this rule limit to 15 circuits, considering neutrals as CCC's?

1. yes a neutral is a CCC by definition. need to read the definition in article 100

2. i think youre skipping the first part of that code which says that adjustment factors in 310.15(B)(3)(a) are only applied when the number of CCC exceeds 30 at any cross section of the wireway.

I see no circuit limiting factor in that code section and not every circuit has a neutral.

 

[klassenl]

The neutral on a three wire, single phase circuit is not counted as a current carrying conductor and the neutral on a 4 wire, 3 phase circuit is not counted as a current carrying conductor.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The neutral on a three wire, single phase circuit is not counted as a current carrying conductor and the neutral on a 4 wire, 3 phase circuit is not counted as a current carrying conductor.

yeah whoops. that the one caveat i forgot to mention.

 

[alfredeneuman]

..... the neutral on a 4 wire, 3 phase circuit is not counted as a current carrying conductor.

...if the loads are linear. With non linear loads (computers, motors, ballasts etc) on Wye systems have to be counted.

 

[klassenl]

...if the loads are linear. With non linear loads (computers, motors, ballasts etc) on Wye systems have to be counted.

We talked about inductive loads and harmonics when I was school. I have never dealt with this kind of thing personally but I understand it can be a real problem.