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Definitely not. The neutral wires must be put on the neutral buss and that is the only place that they are to be terminated in a distribution panel. In a distribution panel there is no ground buss, it is just the metal enclosure that is used. The ground wire is only used to return a system fault back to the distribution panel to trip that circuits breaker.
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Distribution panels typically have two "busses"-- one for ground and one for neutral. These are terminal strips where the ground and neutral wires are connected. In some panels, these busses are electrically connected or "bonded." In other panels they are isolated. Most panels come with an optional "bonding screw" that can be installed or removed depending on whether the busses need to be connected. NEC is very specific on when these busses are to be connected. Ground and neutral busses should only be bonded at the main panel where the service enters the building. Other distribution panels will have separate ground and neutral busses and they should be isolated electrically--connecting these is a commonly seen mistake.
I believe the question refers to the case where the two busses are properly bonded together, so are electrically equivalent. Then is it acceptable to have some ground wires on the neutral bus and vice-versa. Electrically it will work, but code or electrical inspectors may deem it to be confusing or sloppy practice and reject the installation.
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As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
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MaxineNo, the neutral wire from a branch circuit must go to the neutral bus and the ground wire from a branch circuit must go to the ground bus. In some panels there is no ground bus but ground screws located in the back on the metal enclosure that houses the breakers. Terminate the ground wire on these ground screws.
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You only bond neutral and ground at the main entry panel, not at any sub-panels. From a strictly practical standpoint it wouldn't make any difference if you did what you suggest in the main panel, but I expect an electrical inspector would reject it because it is bad practice. This is for the same reason that if you look at the internal wiring in a main panel that the wires are all "dressed" in a neat way and it is easy to tell what is going on when it is necessary to troubleshoot a problem. If later on an electrician has to trouble something in box he/she would see the misplaced ground wire and "wonder" what else was screwed up in the box.
No, with some exceptions, the equipment ground is kept separate from the neutral in a subpanel so that the equipment ground doesn't carry neutral current. This prevents the equipment ground from carrying neutral current. If it did the resistance of the wire would develop a voltage in proportion to the neutral current, and then equipment ground would no longer be at ground potential.
There is a different answer if this is a subpanel in a different building and some additional conditions are met, or if this is related to a separately derived power source.
See the National Electrical Code for complete information.
In North America the ground and neutral only come together on the main neutral bus. On a combination panel this bus is in the main breaker compartment of the panel. Also this is where the panel enclosure is bonded to the neutral and ground wire through a bolt that passes through the neutral bus and screws into the panels enclosure. On sub panels from the main panel this bonding bolt has to be removed.
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Where are neutral and ground wires usually bonded together?
Neutral and ground wires are usually bonded together at the main service panel of a building, but should never be bonded together at any subpanel or other point downstream. This connection is made to provide a safe path for stray electrical current in case of a fault, and to ensure proper grounding and equipment safety.
Where is the only place the neutral and ground wires can be on the same buss bar?
The main electric panel is where neutral is bonded to ground. There is usually a screw or strap that connects the two so the same type panel could be used as a subpanel and have the neutral and ground unbonded in subpanel.
Are the neutral and ground bonded in a sub-panel of an out building?
No, in a sub-panel of an outbuilding, the neutral and ground should be kept separate and not bonded together. This is to prevent the potential for ground loops and to ensure proper functioning of the grounding system.
Why do some electric panel have ground and neutral bonded together?
Some electric panels have the ground and neutral bonded together for safety reasons. This bonding can help prevent dangerous voltage levels and reduce the risk of electrical shocks in case of a fault. However, it is important to check local electrical codes and guidelines before making any modifications to ensure compliance and safety.
How can you tell if the ground wire is approriately bonded to the neutral and the cabinet at the service box?
To check if the ground wire is properly bonded to the neutral and the cabinet at the service box, you can use a multimeter to test for continuity between the ground wire, the neutral wire, and the metal cabinet of the service box. If there is continuity between all three, then the bonding is appropriate. It is important to ensure that this bonding is done correctly to provide a safe electrical system.
