In a setup where three 120-volt circuits are GFCI protected, the fewest number of neutrals that can be installed in the conduit is ___.

In a setup where three separate 120-volt circuits are GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) protected, each circuit generally requires its own neutral wire to ensure proper function and safety. However, when these circuits are installed in the same conduit and are serviced by the same GFCI device, it is possible to share neutral conductors between circuits, under certain conditions.

In this case, while each circuit can have its individual neutral, it is also allowed to use a common neutral for circuits that have a balanced load, which means that the currents on the hot wires should ideally oppose each other to avoid overloading the shared neutral. Therefore, in this scenario, if each circuit is independent and has the potential for unbalanced loads, it's usually recommended to have separate neutrals for safety reasons.

The correct answer requires understanding the requirement for reliable protection and preventing nuisance tripping. While technically, if balanced, you could share a neutral (thus allowing fewer neutrals), GFCI regulations often recommend keeping neutrals separate for circuits that could potentially have unbalanced loads.

Consequently, the scenario of three circuits would indeed typically require three separate neutrals to maintain effective protection and address any potential issues stemming from shared neutral configurations, thereby leading