Electrical Wiring Question, - Ring Circuit?

[CADplans]

We are going to wire my SIL's office, and I was reading on the internet (yes, I know how dangerous that is , LOL! )

Anyways, I read about the "ring circuit" basically a circuit fed from both ends, typical in the UK,,

Is that against code in the USA?

I could see the advantage of that for a home office, having a much more stable voltage for an office setting.

A little extra wire for the office would be insignificant, if the outlet voltage was more stable,,

Hmmmm,, am I barking up the wrong tree even considering a ring circuit in the USA??

Our home is located on a power grid ring circuit, basically 10 miles of distribution makes a loop, and both ends are fed.

If a branch falls, damaging a wire, only a few homes loose power, the other direction feeds the remaining part of the loop.
When they changed from a branch to a ring loop, our home voltage really stabilized,,,

 

[clemsonfor]

Seems like if the wires were not upsized you could burn up wires?

 

[Rock knocker]

Is that against code in the USA?

They are prohibited for a number of reasons, the prohibition against parallel wiring being one.

 

[CADplans]

They are prohibited for a number of reasons, the prohibition against parallel wiring being one.

Thanks, that is what I was looking for,, :thumbsup:

 

[Molalla1]

They are prohibited for a number of reasons, the prohibition against parallel wiring being one.

Good answer Rock . . .

 

[herm0016]

further, if you have voltage problems on a regular branch circuit in a home, then you have other issues that need to be addressed.

 

[Topzide]

To keep voltage consistent, go with larger gauge feeding circuit. Used to have a hum in ceiling fans with 14ga. Changed to 10ga still on 15 amp circuit and hum is much less noticeable.

 

[Diggin It]

Probably not what I was thinking of, but I had something conjured up in my meek little mind one time. Never even got to the point of asking if it was legal or would work.

Concept was to run a single larger AWG wire each for ground and neutral that would literally encircle or 'ring' the house basement. Each outlet or switch would tap those loop lines at pre-installed junction boxes. The only thing that would go back to the panel was the hot for each circuit. Concept was to save on the amount of wire needed overall.

 

[Rock knocker]

That’s a major fail

 

[radios1]

this is common on utility poles only. the idea is to ensure power to the pole in the event one feed goes down, the other feed then takes over.. it would be disastrous to do this inside a Building..

 

[drssg]

They are prohibited for a number of reasons, the prohibition against parallel wiring being one.

Would you mind clarifying what you mean by parallel wiring?

I’m not an electrician, and I’ve done very little electrical work. I’m mostly just curious.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I never heard of such a thing. My neighbour who got his electical engineering degree while working for Ontario Hydro (His Boss Didn't know, or I guess care what he did with his time) once complained during a power outage, why he can't be connected to two sources as there is another coming close to him from the other direction. I couldn't believe he would suggest that. Goes against so many basic electrical circuit rules.

 

[Rock knocker]

Would you mind clarifying what you mean by parallel wiring?

The British ring circuit is the best example. It is a circuit where the devices are fed from more than one direction. There is not an upstream or downstream

 

[Industrial Toys]

I once scratched my head for hours not being able to turn a circuit off in a new house, by going through breakers, "one at a time".

 

[bunyip]

The way I see that if there is a break in the wiring you do not lose continuity as active and neutral are fed from both ends from the same source.

 

[drssg]

The British ring circuit is the best example. It is a circuit where the devices are fed from more than one direction. There is not an upstream or downstream

Thank you. I don’t really understand, but maybe that’s OK.

 

[3Ts]

Sometimes telephones are connected in a ring circuit. There are also star and daisy chain configurations. I've never heard of house wiring done in a ring, and anything "out of the ordinary" will be a surprise to someone working on it. A "surprise" is not recommended for electrical wiring.