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Can neutral and ground wires be bonded downstream of electrical box?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Bonding of the neutral or grounded conductor to the earth ground or grounding conductor means that they are mechanically and electrically connected. That is, they have full continuity between each other. In most residential panels, the neutral bar, (where you screw down all of the neutral (white) wires) and the ground bar where you screw down all of the bare copper ground wires are on opposite sides of the panel. They are typically connected mechanically and electrically or bonded with a "crossover" bar which bolts in connecting the two bars. Bonding the neutral and ground is required by the NEC (National Electrical Code) on all panels which have a main disconnect. For example, if you have a typical 200 amp residential panel and it has a main 200 amp breaker or "main disconnect", then the neutral and grounds are to be bonded. If you have a main disconnect panel and the neutral and ground are not bonded, then you should bond them by running an insulated wire between them to connect them. That wire needs to be no less in size than the size of the incoming supply neutral wire in the panel. If you are at all confused, post again and be very specific about your question and someone may be able to answer you.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoYes, its a good idea to ground sensitive equipment at the surge protector. You can do this with an adapter that isolates house ground from the ground wire you are going to run from a water pipe im guessing, if you are still not sure you want to combine them. Shorting the path and and using heavy copper wire to ground from any protection devise improves its ability to protect your equipment and improves its reaction time to a spike. It is also a must to add an additional ground to both your washing machine and dryer to the chassis and to all your 220 devises that utilize high current capable wiring, this will insure that your breaker will trip if there is a short in the devise otherwise there is a possibility of a fatal shock. Run individual ground wires for each devise also. It is a good idea to have a professional to install all electrical connections.
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Are the neutral and ground bonded in a sub-panel of an out building?
The neutral and ground are only bonded in a sub-panel of an out building if the code requires a buried ground rod or plate at this location.
Why do some electric panel have ground and neutral bonded together?
By National Electric Code only the Main Panel should bond ground and neutral. If subpanels have ground and neutral bonded, it could cause ground loops and shock hazards.
Downstream of the electrical service box the neatral and gound wire should be separted?
Plain and simple.... The Neutral and Ground should ONLY be connected together inside the Main Service Box.
Is it OK illegal or dangerous to connect the neutral to ground to make the circuit work?
If you have to connect the neutral to ground to make the circuit work then you have an open neutral in your circuit. Be careful in handling the neutral as there can be voltage potential on the neutral if a load is connected. In a properly wired home that has been inspected by the local electrical inspector the neutral should be bonded to the ground at the main service distribution point. There will be a green screw that projects through the neutral bus and is threaded into the back of the electrical panel. This should be the one and only place in the whole electrical system where this neutral to ground connection takes place. Dangerous!!!!! The ground is the safety to prevent you from getting shocked due to a malfunctioning piece of equipment. By using the ground for a neutral you will be energizing the entire ground system of you house or business. Thus anything with metal on it and a ground wire going to it will be electrified if the ground fails at the breaker box or building ground rod. Do you want to take this risk? Not I..........
How can you tell if the ground wire is approriately bonded to the neutral and the cabinet at the service box?
Ground wire can be appropriately bonded to the neutral and cabinet at the service box by connecting the neutral and ground wires from the feeder wires to the neutral bus bar and the ground terminal located on the same cabinet at the service box. White wire (neutral) must be connected to bus bar and bare wire must be connected to ground terminal in the same cabinet.
The what of an electrical plug connects the metal to the ground?
The rounded third prong goes to earth ground at the main panel where the neutral is also bonded to ground.
Are the neutral and ground bonded in a sub-panel of an out building?
The neutral and ground are only bonded in a sub-panel of an out building if the code requires a buried ground rod or plate at this location.
Why do some electric panel have ground and neutral bonded together?
By National Electric Code only the Main Panel should bond ground and neutral. If subpanels have ground and neutral bonded, it could cause ground loops and shock hazards.
What besides the neutral system should be bonded to the ground?
Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hertz supply service.Nothing but the neutral bus should be bonded to the ground electrode.
Why shouldn't you ground electrical wiring?
Grounding is an important part of all electrical wiring like your home. Without proper grounding you are asking for all sorts of strange problems and safety issues. The power company provides electricity to your main panel and a good ground is required. This is usually a metal rod in the ground near your meter. This ground is bonded to the main electric panel. The neutral wire is in turn bonded to ground at the main panel. If you have a bad ground, neutral can float above ground causing shock hazards. I once had to chase down a shock problem in a shower. It turned out to be a case where the neutral and ground were not bonded at the main panel. What you shouldn't do is the hot side of power to ground.
How can the flow of electrons in an electrical circuit change without the neutral becoming hot ex. AC Power?
The neutral conductor is bonded to ground, and is therefore always at earth potential, which is the zero-reference for voltage.
Downstream of the electrical service box the neatral and gound wire should be separted?
Plain and simple.... The Neutral and Ground should ONLY be connected together inside the Main Service Box.
Is it OK illegal or dangerous to connect the neutral to ground to make the circuit work?
If you have to connect the neutral to ground to make the circuit work then you have an open neutral in your circuit. Be careful in handling the neutral as there can be voltage potential on the neutral if a load is connected. In a properly wired home that has been inspected by the local electrical inspector the neutral should be bonded to the ground at the main service distribution point. There will be a green screw that projects through the neutral bus and is threaded into the back of the electrical panel. This should be the one and only place in the whole electrical system where this neutral to ground connection takes place. Dangerous!!!!! The ground is the safety to prevent you from getting shocked due to a malfunctioning piece of equipment. By using the ground for a neutral you will be energizing the entire ground system of you house or business. Thus anything with metal on it and a ground wire going to it will be electrified if the ground fails at the breaker box or building ground rod. Do you want to take this risk? Not I..........
How can you tell if the ground wire is approriately bonded to the neutral and the cabinet at the service box?
Ground wire can be appropriately bonded to the neutral and cabinet at the service box by connecting the neutral and ground wires from the feeder wires to the neutral bus bar and the ground terminal located on the same cabinet at the service box. White wire (neutral) must be connected to bus bar and bare wire must be connected to ground terminal in the same cabinet.
What besides neutral system should be bonded to ground?
All metallic components of of any connected electrical equipment. Metallic framed buildings. Metallic well casings. Transmission towers. Antenna towers. Best rule of thumb, if it is built from metal and is used for electrical purposes, ground it.
Where are neutral and ground wires usually bonded together?
Only in the main electric panel.
Why are the GFCI breakers nuisance tripping in your 100 amp sub panel- is it because neutral bonded to ground?
It may be the GFCI breaker is defective. Make sure it is wired correctly. Neutral to neutral bar and ground to ground bar.
