Question for Canadian Sparkies

[theoldwizard1]

I was watching a video done by a guy in Canada. He needed 240V for a 2hp motor and said that all "modern" Canadian kitchens were wired so that the top and bottom receptacle were on opposite side of the 240V. He even provide it with a meter. Obviously, a couple of 120V plugs and a little hack wiring and the guy had 240V.

Is this Canadian code, because it sure isn't that way in the US !

 

[Stuart in MN]

This page appears to address how it's done in Canada: http://www.switchandoutletwiringmadeeasy.com/splitcircuit/ Split circuits are sometimes used in the US as well but there may be local restrictions against them, depending on where a person lives.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

This is known in the NEC as a Multiwire Branch Circuit (NEC 210.4) and is also known as an Edison multiwire circuit.

.... and has been the subject of several rather memorable debates on this board, involving several now banned members and others.

Charles

 

[awdblazer]

yes it is
double pole 20 amp breaker
12/3 wire
20amp t slot receptacle

which is code

 

[darcyh]

In Ontario current code calls for all kitchen outlets to GFCI and 20 amp. No longer split / multiwire. Conceivably with old split outlets you could draw ~15 amps from each single outlet. Perfect for powering a high wattage appliance like a toaster or coffee pot from the same outlet.

A few years ago my neighbour knocked at the door; he was perplexed. He changed out an old style outlet for a decora. He did not break the tab between the two hot screws on the outlet. Of course as soon as he turned on the power both fuses blew.

He went to Crappy Tire and bough more fuses. Same outcome. Back to Crappy Tire for more fuses... about 10 fuses later he came and asked for help. Once he split the tab between the two hots all was well.

I asked him what he was going to do with the remaining ten fuses he had bought

 

[wyliesdiesels]

.... and has been the subject of several rather memorable debates on this board, involving several now banned members and others.

Charles

Interesting. Why were people banned?

 

[theoldwizard1]

This is known in the NEC as a Multiwire Branch Circuit (NEC 210.4) and is also known as an Edison multiwire circuit.

Thanks Charles. I could not remember the proper "terminology". I fully understand the concept and implementation even though I am not an electrician (but I "play" one at relatives houses !)

 

[theoldwizard1]

yes it is
double pole 20 amp breaker
12/3 wire
20amp t slot receptacle

which is code

In Ontario current code calls for all kitchen outlets to GFCI and 20 amp. No longer split / multiwire.

Old school, new school ?

 

[tfi racing]

yes it is
double pole 20 amp breaker
12/3 wire
20amp t slot receptacle

which is code

No,its not.Counter receptacles can either be 14/3 15A with a split receptacle OR 12/2 20A T-slot receptacle.Since the receptacles adjacent to the sink need to be GFCI protected in most areas,nobody really uses the old MWBC for counters that was common practice for about fifty years in Canada.While that guy in the video could get his 240 from the split receptacle,he would still need a counter plug in addition to his circuit for his motor.

 

[jvitez]

I always thought MWBC kitchen circuits made more sense than one 20A circuit. It's really convenient to be able to plug a kettle and toaster into the same receptacle, but I guess GFCI's are considered progress.

I was at Home Depot today looking in the electrical department, and they really changed their stock vs just this past summer. They have boxes upon boxes of 15 amp and some 20 amp GFCI receptacles, and even have them in multi-packs. We now need GFCI's for every garage receptacle closer than 2.5M to grade and any outdoors, ie everything in a garage. Only exterior recepts needed GFCI's when we built our house in 2006. Home Depot also had stacks of tamper-proof receptacles, and only a few boxes of standard ones. Progress.........?

 

[Rickcnc]

I just had my garage wired by an electrician.. he indicated GFCI were not required indoors

Location Ontario

 

[jvitez]

I just has my garage wired by an electrician.. he indicated GFCI were not required indoors

Location Ontario

Hmmm, interesting. I got my quote from the City of Winnipeg "Detached Garages--wood frame" information package. I'm not in Winnipeg but I thought they would be quoting Manitoba's version of the CEC. Maybe they have city specific specs?

Maybe all the tamper proof GFCI's I saw are for kitchen circuits and outdoor receptacles. They still carry the Preferred grade of Leviton commercial receptacles I installed in my attached garage, non tamper proof.

 

[awdblazer]

that 2.5 is only for anything exposed to the weather inside a garage no

 

[jvitez]

Good to know. I wouldn't want only GFCI's inside a garage anyway. Thanks.

 

[VHF]

My 1970 tract house in Wisconsin had the kitchen wired with a MWBC. There was a black, red, and white wire into each box. When I went to install GFCI recepticles I just alternated between using the black and red and capped off the unused hot. I had to install a GFCI recepticle for every outlet because it isn't possible to protect downstream outlets when the neutral is shared between two hots. The kitchen was small, so I only need 3 GFCIs recepticles.