Neutral Q

[Teken]

I have a very extensive home automation system which requires tying into the neutral wires to supply a small amount of current to power the devices.

My Q is this . . .

Is there a instance, situation, problem, or a for see able load issue in tying into a neutral wire(s) ?

Can there ever be a case of load imbalance?

 

[MrMark]

In a house? No. You could have everything on one side (let's say all 200 amps) and it shouldn't matter other than some V drop from the load. Your neutral is not undersized based on load diversity is it? If not then it is rated for the same current (ampacity) as your phase wires. The POCO does drop down a size or two for the neutral to your house, at least they do here, but I have never heard of that being a problem.

Why are you worried about a tiny amount of current?

 

[MrMark]

Here's a question Teken:

Assume a perfectly balanced load where all loads are 120 V AC.

How many total amps will go through a 50 amp dual pole breaker (assume it is the feeder breaker to a subpanel) before it trips?

 

[mrb]

which neutral wires are you tying into? You cannot do things like take a hot from one circuit and a neutral from another, or use a neutral from one romex cable and a hot from another (even for the small load of an x10 module or whatever)

 

[Teken]

which neutral wires are you tying into? You cannot do things like take a hot from one circuit and a neutral from another, or use a neutral from one romex cable and a hot from another (even for the small load of an x10 module or whatever)

That is exactly what I meant to say but could not recall how too . . . Please explain to me how this will affect the device, wires, breakers, safety etc.

 

[mrb]

That is exactly what I meant to say but could not recall how too . . . Please explain to me how this will affect the device, wires, breakers, safety etc.

im speaking based on US code

code requires all conductors of a circuit to be in the same cable or conduit.

practically speaking it will create EMF and inductive heating when a conductor passes through ferrous metal, but this requires load and wouldnt be too much of an issue with just a ma or two to power an x10 device.

can also cause issues with GFI or AFCI if these loads are downstream from one.

will it work? yes. will it be ok? probably. would I do it? no. Should someone do it? no.