I installed a multi-wire circuit and tried to follow advice found on this board. over the past year or so. Would appreciate clarification on a couple of points:

1. I used a double pole breaker but am wondering if this is required in my set-up: The two hot legs of the multi-wire circuit run to different rooms with the neutral (and ground) split in the attic to run to each room. The two hot legs are "independent" in this sense and at no point do they power the same device. Under these circumstances could I use two single pole breakers instead of the double pole? Not a big deal either way, but I figure that two single poles are slightly better if permitted because if anything causes one breaker to trip I still have power in the other room.

2. Same question with respect to wire nutting the neutrals in each J-box as opposed to wiring them through the receptacle. Are wire nuts required for the neutrals in my setup?

In general, I have the impression that multi-wire circuit requirements vary depending on whether the hot legs power the same device or are separate in the way I described. Correct?

Thanks

 

Your impressions are correct.
The only time a tied breaker is required is if the two circuits land on the same device yoke. In your case you could use two singles if you wanted.

Also, the only time the neutrals need to be spliced is in the first box or if the hots are spliced such as the example above using multiple receptacles. Once the circuit is split to two individual 2-wire circuits the neutrals can be landed on the receptacle as is typical.

 

Also, if you are wiring a series of devices, wirenut the supply and traveler hots, neutrals and pigtail to the device.
Should a device fail, simply disconnect the leads and wirenut so you can continue to have use of the circuit.

 

The original question dealt with what was required, and Speedy effectively dealt with that. Snoonyb gave some good recommendations, but they are not requirements in this situation.