Sharing a neutral on same circuit

[checkthisout]

So, I'm putting a up a couple light poles.

On this pole I want spotlights that are separately controlled from the downlight.

I want to control both these lights from inside the house. Can I run 14/3 or 12/3 and share the neutral but have each component on a separate switch?

In other words: Switches (2) in same box in house --> One switch connected to red wire in 12/3, the other switch connected to black wire ---> 12/3 out to post junction box--> Red wire to downlight on post, black wire to spotlights on post, both lights connected to same neutral.

Both switches will be connected to same phase I.E. the same incoming power in the box in the house.

 

[aandpdan]

Yes, you can use the same neutral.

 

[Rookie2]

yep ! you got it.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

As long as theyre fed by the same circuit its fine.

 

[pattenp]

Both switches will be connected to same phase I.E. the same incoming power in the box in the house.

To be clear a multiwire circuit sharing the neutral, the 2 hots are not to be wired on the same phase. The circuit needs to be on a double pole breaker or two single pole with handle ties with the two hots on opposite phases.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

To be clear a multiwire circuit sharing the neutral, the 2 hots are not to be wired on the same phase. The circuit needs to be on a double pole breaker or two single pole with handle ties with the two hots on opposite phases.

I think he meant single hot feed to the switches then branch off to 2 separate switched hots with a shared neutral that goes out to the pole.

I dont think he will have 240v potential at the switch j box

 

[grizz_660]

I think he meant single hot feed to the switches then branch off to 2 separate switched hots with a shared neutral that goes out to the pole.

I dont think he will have 240v potential at the switch j box

+1.

Yes you are ok to run a 3 wire and share the neutral.

 

[rburke65]

I vote yes with the above folks. Single hot feed to the 2 switches controlling 2 lights....one neutral.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

I think he meant single hot feed to the switches then branch off to 2 separate switched hots with a shared neutral that goes out to the pole.

I dont think he will have 240v potential at the switch j box

Thats my guess also,1 120v circuit feeding 2 switches.

 

[pattenp]

I think he meant single hot feed to the switches then branch off to 2 separate switched hots with a shared neutral that goes out to the pole.

I dont think he will have 240v potential at the switch j box

I was thinking he was running power to the pole with a multiwire circuit and switching the power feed back at the house when he said shared neutral. I assume now that he wants to add a double switch loop running back to the house from the power at the pole. I guess that's what he wants to do? Technically there is no neutral in a switch loop to share if he's switching the power at the pole. But I see your way with splitting the hot with the power source being switch at the house. I'm just over thinking it, it's time to shut up. I'm starting to sound like someone else we know on this forum that just rambles on an on.

 

[dave*99]

I was thinking he was running power to the pole with a multiwire circuit and switching the power feed back at the house when he said shared neutral. I assume now that he wants to add a double switch loop running back to the house from the power at the pole. I guess that's what he wants to do? Technically there is no neutral in a switch loop to share if he's switching the power at the pole. But I see your way with splitting the hot with the power source being switch at the house. I'm just over thinking it, it's time to shut up. I'm starting to sound like someone else we know on this forum that just rambles on an on.

I don't think he is referring to a switch loop. In the house he has a single feed with line and neutral. This feed enters a box with 2 switches, both fed from a single phase. Leaving the switch box he has a switched red and a switched black and a neutral in 12/3. From there, 12/3 runs to a pole with 2 switched lights. One fed from red and the other from black. And I'm sure you will agree that this is OK.

 

[checkthisout]

I think he meant single hot feed to the switches then branch off to 2 separate switched hots with a shared neutral that goes out to the pole.

I dont think he will have 240v potential at the switch j box

Yes, sorry to let that drag on. I kept viewing the responses on mobile and I hate responding to posts on my phone.....

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I was thinking he was running power to the pole with a multiwire circuit and switching the power feed back at the house when he said shared neutral. I assume now that he wants to add a double switch loop running back to the house from the power at the pole. I guess that's what he wants to do? Technically there is no neutral in a switch loop to share if he's switching the power at the pole. But I see your way with splitting the hot with the power source being switch at the house. I'm just over thinking it, it's time to shut up. I'm starting to sound like someone else we know on this forum that just rambles on an on.

The last sentence he wrote in his first post says the incoming power is in the switch j box....the power feed isnt coming into the pole first.

 

[pattenp]

The last sentence he wrote in his first post says the incoming power is in the switch j box....the power feed isnt coming into the pole first.

Yeah... I see that now. I just read too quickly and jumped to a wrong conclusion. I now see the light and agree with your conclusion.

 

[LXCam]

I'm starting to sound like someone else we know on this forum that just rambles on an on.

Yes you are now stop it! Nothing against the guy, seems like a really nice dude and offers up some good advice. But I can't read what he writes, it makes me crazy.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I did this with three ceiling fans. One hot to a single pilot light on/off snap switch, then three pigtails supplying the three fan speed controllers and then three separate hots to each fan. The neutral was pigtailed off at the snap switch for the pilot light, then continued to the first fan, the second fan, then the third, pigtailing off at each of the first two fans and ending at the third, all run in one conduit.

Charles