From the pole to the panel

What to try

1. 1Start on Same load on each leg. The current goes out one hot and back on the other, so the neutral carries 0 amps.
2. 2Pick More load on one leg. The neutral carries the difference between the two legs.
3. 3Pick Utility neutral broken. Heater A gets less than 120 volts, heater B gets more, and the water pipe carries current back to the pole.

NEC 2026 sections it covers

250.24(A)

At the service, the wire to the ground rod and water pipe connects to the neutral.

250.24(C)

The neutral and the panel are tied together in the service disconnect.

250.142(A)

The meter can may be tied to the neutral ahead of the service disconnect.

250.24(B)

The neutral is not bonded again past the service.

250.52(A)(1)

A metal underground water pipe is a grounding electrode.

250.53(D)(2)

A water pipe electrode needs a second electrode, here a ground rod.

250.50

The electrodes at a building are bonded together.

210.20(A)

A continuous load gets a breaker of at least 125% of its amps.

240.4(D)

12 AWG copper gets a 20 A breaker at most.

230.54(C)

The weatherhead sits above the point where the drop is attached.

230.54(F)

The drop is spliced in drip loops so water runs off.

Section numbers only. Read the full text in your code book. Temperatures and times in the visual are teaching models.

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