so in my shop I have an amp draw on the neutral wire? the red load wire shows that same draw as the neutral and the black shows little or nothing? when I disconnect the breaker to the ceiling lights the draw on the neutral is gone. there are 5 lights (not ballest type) in this configuration but I'm really curious what could cause this yet not trip the breaker?

Jay

This does not sound like a problem, it sounds like normal operation. It sounds like the current is going out to the lights on the red wire and coming back on the neutral.

It sounds like you have 240VAC available in your shop. If you have devices that are 120VAC they will use the black phase or red phase and the neutral.

Now if some device is 240VAC it may not use the neutral, and you would only measure the current on the black and red wires.