If circuits have a grounded neutral conductor, you are permitted to tap the circuit's ungrounded conductor.

• A. Permitted
• B. Not permitted
• C. Only with additional protection
• D. Only for lighting circuits

Answer: (A)

When a circuit has a grounded neutral, the neutral is bonded to earth at the service equipment, giving a safe reference and fault path. That grounding does not prevent you from drawing power from the same circuit by tapping the ungrounded conductor (the hot). In practice, you can create an additional branch off the hot lead to feed another device or small circuit, as long as you keep the branch within the circuit’s ampacity and follow proper wiring rules.

Key points to keep in mind are that the new tap must be installed with correct conductors, in an accessible junction box, with appropriate splicing methods, and protected by the correct overcurrent device. The neutral will continue to serve as the return path for loads on that circuit, and if the branch shares a neutral with other branches (a multi-wire arrangement), you must manage the conductors and breakers per code (for example, using a tied two-pole breaker and proper neutral sizing). But the mere presence of a grounded neutral does not prohibit tapping the ungrounded conductor.

So, tapping the circuit’s ungrounded conductor is permitted, provided all wiring methods and protective requirements are correctly followed.