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Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Question:
Hello and thanks for hosting this NEC Blog!
My question is, can a branch circuit be wired (connected) through a back-wired device, such as a receptacle? The ground is connected together in the box, but the neutral and hot wires of the circuit are connected through the back-wired receptacle.
Christopher Bell
A
Answer:
Hi Christopher,
Thanks for participating. Some listed receptacle devices can be back-wired (connected) in the manner you described (through the device) however this is not permitted for devices in a multiwire branch circuit. Section 300.13(B) which indicates that in multiwire branch circuits, the continuity of a grounded conductor (neutral) shall not depend on device connections such as lamp holders, receptacles, and so forth, where the removal of such devices would interrupt the continuity. A good practice is to always splice the branch circuit conductors and install pigtails from the splices to the device.