Can a 240 Volt, 3 wire circuit be split into two 120 Volt circuits?

A 240 Volt, 3 wire circuit can indeed be split into two 120 Volt circuits under the right conditions. This typically involves utilizing a multi-wire branch circuit configuration, where two opposing phases (legs) of the 240 Volt supply are connected to two separate circuits.

In a standard residential electrical service, the two hot wires in a 240 Volt circuit will often be from different poles of the service panel. When tapped correctly, each of these hot wires can provide a 120 Volt supply when referenced to a neutral wire. This method is commonly employed in situations where you need the flexibility of both 120 Volt and 240 Volt functionalities while reducing the overall amount of wiring needed.

It's essential to ensure that the circuits share a common neutral and are properly rated for the loads they will carry to avoid potential overloads or tripping of breakers.

While using a transformer is another valid method to achieve a similar outcome (particularly in different scenarios), it's not the sole way to split a 240 Volt circuit into 120 Volt circuits. Hence, stating that it can be split into two 120 Volt circuits as the primary condition holds true.