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I have properly buried a 12-3 with ground flat cable (UV resistant

 
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  • Answered by:AssuredElectrical
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Customer Question

I have properly buried a 12-3 with ground flat cable (UV resistant – made to be buried) to a storage barn. I am running two – 20 amp circuits using this cable. When I come up out of the ground, I am separating into 2 GFI outlets each a separate circuit. I am using red and black as my hot wires. I am using the white as the neutral for the red. My question is this: Can I use the bare copper for the neutral for the black **AND** as the ground for both circuits? What is proper wiring for wiring and grounding both GFI outlets?

 

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Make: house wiring
Model: not a car

Already Tried:
using bare copper as neutral for black wire and as ground for both GFI outlets.

Submitted: 318 days and 2 hours ago.
Category: Electrical
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED

Accepted Answer

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Expert:  AssuredElectrical replied 318 days and 2 hours ago.


AssuredElectrical :

Hi, Welcome to Just Answer. My name is XXXXX XXX would be glad to assist.

AssuredElectrical :

You need to purchase a double pole 20 amp GFCI breaker for your installation,

AssuredElectrical :

1. You CANNOT use a ground wire for neutral, it is illegal and dangerous.

AssuredElectrical :

2. You need a double pole GFCI breaker, for your particular panle

JACUSTOMER-sargz7hg- : I was cool but I could run to circuits off this wire. all I want to do is properly separate into 2 separate gfi receptacles
AssuredElectrical :

You can use the 2 GFCI receptacles, you must be sure that the white is pigtailed to 2 wires and the power has to go into the LINE side of the GFCI

AssuredElectrical :

I guess you will have a junction box before the receptacles so you can split the circuits?

AssuredElectrical :

In that junction box, you connect 2 white wires to the one in the 12/3, then you have 2 neutrals

AssuredElectrical :

Do the same for the grounds

AssuredElectrical :

Then connect all incoming power to the GFCI LINE terminals

Expert TypeMaster Electrician
Category: Electrical
Pos. Feedback: 98.8 %
Accepts: 1571
Answered: 5/28/2012

Experience: Contractor-40 Years in the ElectricalTrade

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Customer replied 318 days and 2 hours ago.

thanks

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Expert:  AssuredElectrical replied 318 days and 1 hours ago.

You are quite welcome.
You are supposed to use a double pole breaker when making the shared neutral.
Both breakers are supposed to open at the same time on a shared neutral circuit.
That is why I was suggesting the double pole GFCI breaker, to kill 2 birds with 1 stone so to speak.
So, if you use the GFCI receptacles, still use a standard double pole breaker.
The 2 circuits have to be opposite phases, not the same phase.

41057.7070957176

 
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