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Q: Can you have a neutral and common buss bars in a junction box that is connected to main panel?
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Why isn't there a ground in a junction box?

Only the main panel is grounded directly because if you ground each junction box of subpanel ground loop current paths are possible that can cause shock hazards. The ground rod is connected to main panel and the neutral is bonded to that ground as is the ground wire. The neutral and ground wire are then run to all circuits, junction boxes and subpanels throughout the house. If you tie neutral and ground together at any point in the house, other than the main panel ground loops can exist and cause shocks.


Why do white wire mark 120v?

Because the white wire on a 120 volt circuit is the neutral wire that is connected to the silver screw on outlets and switches. It is connected to the neutral bar in the service panel.


Why is it that when you touch the neutral in a box that is not connect to the panel cause the test light to come when touching the power wire?

It shouldn't. The open end of a non connected neutral should have the same potential as the voltage feeding the circuit. The only time a voltage will show is when the return neutral is tested with a meter to the neutral bar or the ground return bar. It will then show what the supply voltage to the connected load is. Once this neutral is connected to the neutral bar there will be no voltage shown across the test meter between the neutral and the neutral bar or the ground bar.


Why is the ground wire hot at all outlet boxes on a particular circuit?

Most likely the ground (green) wire is mistakenly connected to hot instead of the hot wire (black) at the breaker panel! Possibly you meant the neutral wire not the ground wire, in that case most likely the neutral (white) wire is mistakenly connected to hot instead of the hot wire (black) at the breaker panel! In either case check all three wires in the breaker panel for that circuit to make sure they are all correctly connected! Black is hot, White is neutral, Green (or uninsulated in some cases) is ground.


Where do you ground on 100 amp panel?

A typical panel has three large wires entering the main panel from the electric meter and a bare ground wire. Two of the large wires are hot and go to the busses where the breakers are mounted. The third wire is common and is connected to one or more common bus locations. It will usually be silver in color with a screw on top to connect white wires from branch circuits. The ground is the metal of the panel itself and there will be one or more ground busses usually copper colored that are connected to the metal of the panel by screws there by "bonding" these ground busses to the metal of the panel. You should also see a copper wire coming from a ground rod connected to the metal of the panel. At the main panel you need to bond the common to the ground. There is usually a screw that allows this bonding to occur. If you have subpanels ground and common are NOT connected at the subpanels.

Related questions

Why isn't there a ground in a junction box?

Only the main panel is grounded directly because if you ground each junction box of subpanel ground loop current paths are possible that can cause shock hazards. The ground rod is connected to main panel and the neutral is bonded to that ground as is the ground wire. The neutral and ground wire are then run to all circuits, junction boxes and subpanels throughout the house. If you tie neutral and ground together at any point in the house, other than the main panel ground loops can exist and cause shocks.


How can you tell if a neutral bar is bonded or not to the panel?

Take a look at the junction where the ground wire and the neutral enter the panel. There you should see a green grounding screw that protruded through the neutral block and into the metal enclosure of the distribution panel.


Is neutral connected to earth in main panel?

Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hertz supply service.Yes, the neutral is connected to a system ground in the main distribution panel.


Should neutral wire of lamp be connected to the 3amp or the 6 amp side of a canopy switch?

You should never switch the neutral wire. The neutral of the appliance should be connected directly to the neutral wire leading to the service panel neutral bar.


In the typical home electrical panel installation the main ground wire is connected directly from a ground rod driven into the ground to the?

In North American residential homes, there are 3 wires coming from the utility company, two "hots" and neutral. The two "hot" conductors get connected to the main breaker. The neutral gets connected to the neutral bus bars located along the sides of the breaker box. There is a set screw that is placed in the neutral bar that screws into the distribution panel enclosure thereby bringing the potential of the neutral bars down to zero. The wire from your ground rod is also connected to the neutral bus bar, and thereby it is connected to the neutral from the power company. This is also often bonded to the copper cold water plumbing in the house if the home is not plumbed in PVC water pipe. White circuit wires are then connected to the neutral bus bars. Also in the distribution panel are ground bus bars. The ground wires from circuit cables are connected to these grounding bars. Do not under any circumstance terminate the white and bare ground wires together. Ground wires to the ground bar and white wires to the neutral bar.


Why do white wire mark 120v?

Because the white wire on a 120 volt circuit is the neutral wire that is connected to the silver screw on outlets and switches. It is connected to the neutral bar in the service panel.


Can the bare grounded neutral conductor of a service be buried directly in the ground?

A bare grounded neutral should never get close to the ground if it is wired properly. When the neutral leaves the meter base it is in conduit and should enter into the distribution panel where it connects to the neutral buss. It is at this junction that the copper ground wire is connected after coming from the outside ground rod or ground plate which ever grounding system was used.


How do you know what wire is ground on 200 amp service?

On a 200 amp or any size service the ground wire is easily identified. Look in the distribution panel for the neutral bus bar. This is where the service neutral (white wire) is connected to the distribution panel. There you will see a bare copper wire connected to the same neutral bar. This is the ground wire that is connected to the ground rods out side of the house.


How does a neutral wire work?

Neutral wires are actually ground wires. They enable the circuit to be completed.


Does the ground wire from a 240 volt tankless water heater connect to the common wire?

Any ground wire has to be connected to an independent ground wire that returns directly to the distribution panel and not to the neutral of the circuit.


Where do you hook your neutral in your breaker panel if there is no neutral bar?

Unless the panel is the Main Panel (first panel in the system after the service feed) all panels have a neutral bar. Otherwise you are missing pieces. If this is the Main Panel, the neutral bar is bonded to the ground by a bus-bar. If this is the case, neutrals should all be connected to the same side of these bonded bars. Electrically it makes no difference, however it is a good practice to keep electrical panels neat and organized. If this is not the Main Panel and there is no neutral bar, STOP, PUT DOWN THE TOOLS, CALL A PROFESSIONAL. This panel is missing pieces and may be dangerous. It is possible to have a panel without a neutral. This panel would serve only 240 volt loads where no neutral is needed, however I have not seen this done in residential applications.


Why is it that when you touch the neutral in a box that is not connect to the panel cause the test light to come when touching the power wire?

It shouldn't. The open end of a non connected neutral should have the same potential as the voltage feeding the circuit. The only time a voltage will show is when the return neutral is tested with a meter to the neutral bar or the ground return bar. It will then show what the supply voltage to the connected load is. Once this neutral is connected to the neutral bar there will be no voltage shown across the test meter between the neutral and the neutral bar or the ground bar.