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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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13y ago
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13y ago

No, 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.

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12y ago

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.

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11y ago

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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12y ago

Neutral and ground are only bonded at the main panel, not subpanel.

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8y ago

It is more usual to ground the neutral back at the transformer. This decouples the local earth wire from the supply wires.

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Q: Is the neutral bus bonded to the equipment ground in a subpanel?
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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?

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 happens if you splice ground wire and neutral wire in a high hat fixture?

Ground and neutral are kept separate for a reason. They are only "bonded" at the main panel. The reason is that you can create what are called ground loops where current can flow. This is because all wires have some resistance and by connecting neutral and ground you open yourself to these ground loops which can cause shocks or can adversely affect electronic equipment.


In a home circuit are the neutral and ground bare wires always connected?

They are always connected, but at one and only one place, the service entrance. For instance, if you are adding a subpanel to an existing house, the subpanel will probably come with the ground bus and the neutral bus tied together with a special bonding screw. To be legal, you must remove this screw, isolating the neutral from ground. The house's main panel still has the bonding screw or jumper in place, and remains the only place the connection is made.

Related questions

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.


Do you need a grounding rod at a subpanel on a detached building?

Yes. The panel must be grounded with its own grounding rod. The ground will not be provided with the feeders to the panel, these will only contain your phase wires and neutral. Also make sure that any subpanel installed does not have the neutral bonded to ground. This should only be done at the main panel where the electrical utility service is connected.


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 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.


What happens if you splice ground wire and neutral wire in a high hat fixture?

Ground and neutral are kept separate for a reason. They are only "bonded" at the main panel. The reason is that you can create what are called ground loops where current can flow. This is because all wires have some resistance and by connecting neutral and ground you open yourself to these ground loops which can cause shocks or can adversely affect electronic equipment.


In a home circuit are the neutral and ground bare wires always connected?

They are always connected, but at one and only one place, the service entrance. For instance, if you are adding a subpanel to an existing house, the subpanel will probably come with the ground bus and the neutral bus tied together with a special bonding screw. To be legal, you must remove this screw, isolating the neutral from ground. The house's main panel still has the bonding screw or jumper in place, and remains the only place the connection is made.


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.


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.


What happens when neutral is bonded to ground wire most especially to dry type transformers?

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