Nick, the installation is exactly like you mentioned in your first post. I attended a 2011 code seminar in fort lauderdale last saturday and ask John Minick from NEMA this question and he gave me the same response you posted first. The drawing submitted by Paul is not the installation, the contractor skinned the parallel conductor before reaching the polaris tap (only one conductor).

Val Perez
City of Pembroke Pines Fl.
Electrical Inspector/Plans Examiner

I have just been watching this show and I agree it is probably a technical violation but I do not see the hazard.

After re reading Nick's first post, I see my mistake in the diagram but still agree with Nick.

I was using a lay-in lug bolted to the cabinet. Rule of thumb being the fewer conductors and connections the better.

This was an excellent question.

Electrically I have a hard time arguing with the simplicity of your installation but I agree the language of the code probably does not support it.

I too now agree with Nick.

My first understanding was that the neutral first terminated into the polaris tap, than to bonded to the gutter. I would not have a problem with that, since it terminated with the other parallel neutral conductors at the same point.

But with the new understanding, terminating to a lug bonded to the gutter first, than the polaris tap with the other neutrals I would not approve.

Thanks for the clarification.