<html><head></head><body><div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Catching up on last weeks email. Michael and Texx had tails about building wiring.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Yes, at one time it was considered proper to wire 2 out of phase legs with an under-sized neutral, aka return, wire. In principle the currents for the two circuits should cancel each other. <br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Save on copper. It was called an Edison circuit. As has already been said, it worked well enough until it didn't.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Some years ago, my house was experiencing problems with PG&E voltage. Everytime the neighbors air conditioner turned on, our lights would dim. PG&E came out and put a recording device on our line. The weather was cool for the next week, the neighbor's AC didn't run, the recorder didn't see any problem.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Then hot weather returned. Called PG&E. The truck arrived well after dark. He set about making measurements, and quickly found that the power in our house was out of balance by several volts. If memory is correct, there was also a big difference between neutral and ground.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">The power comes down the opposite side of the street. One cable comes across to a short pole at the corner of the 2 lots. Then separate cables to each house. So there are some common connections between the two houses. <br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">About 11 PM he went back to his truck, turned on the work lights, started the cherry picker, and set about replacing the cable from the pole to our house and obviously making new connections. Almost midnight (is that 12AM?) all was well and he drove off.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Texx: How hard did Cupertino Electric laugh at the melted buss bar? <br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Paul<br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div></div></body></html>