switched split receptacles using same 20 amp source- Double pole breaker?

[Schibig87]

Hello again,

I am wiring my living room outlet circuit with half switched receptacles- top switched.
My source entered the first outlet so I used 12/3 back to the switch to allow for the neutral, I removed the tabs in my outlets and wired with 12/3 between them all via pigtail- red on top for switched and black on bottom always "hot" DID NOT break the neutral tab ( shared).
After reading NEC - I would like to confirm if I do need a double pole breaker since I am not using two separate sources. Or if it's still needed due to sharing a neutral?

I have my inspector coming next week for final and would love to have this all figured out.

Thanks for all you help on my other posts. You all made things very straight forward for me.

Best,
Patty

 

[Reach4]

If using a GFCI breaker, you would need a two-pole breaker. If not, you can have separate breakers with the handles tied together so they would be turned off together, but could trip separately.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[wwhitney]

After reading NEC - I would like to confirm if I do need a double pole breaker since I am not using two separate sources. Or if it's still needed due to sharing a neutral?

Sharing a neutral between switched hot and constant hot, both of which originate from the same pole of a breaker (e.g. a single pole breaker) does not trigger any requirements within the NEC to do anything special regarding the breaker.

So if your source 2-wire circuit does not elsewhere interact with any other circuits in a way that triggers handle-tie or double pole requirements, it's fine on a single pole (AFCI) breaker.

Note that if you replaced any of the receptacles as part of this project, or added any, then AFCI protection is required per NEC 406.4(D). I guess if you literally just modified existing receptacles by breaking the tab off, that wouldn't count as replacement and wouldn't trigger an AFCI requirement.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Reach4]

Good point. I was misreading.

 

[Schibig87]

Sharing a neutral between switched hot and constant hot, both of which originate from the same pole of a breaker (e.g. a single pole breaker) does not trigger any requirements within the NEC to do anything special regarding the breaker.

So if your source 2-wire circuit does not elsewhere interact with any other circuits in a way that triggers handle-tie or double pole requirements, it's fine on a single pole (AFCI) breaker.

Note that if you replaced any of the receptacles as part of this project, or added any, then AFCI protection is required per NEC 406.4(D). I guess if you literally just modified existing receptacles by breaking the tab off, that wouldn't count as replacement and wouldn't trigger an AFCI requirement.

Cheers, Wayne

Ok Perfect! I thought this may be the case and second guessed myself a bit.
It's new construction, one circuit with some switched outlets, reg outlets and a light at the end.
Thank you very much for your reply.
Warm Regards,
Patty