I'm replacing a door chime transformer with a new 16v 30va transformer to accommodate a new Ring doorbell. The existing transformer is attached in our circuit breaker panel through a knock out at the bottom of the panel. This morning I shut off power to the breaker panel, removed the panel cover, and found that the old transformer has two red wires and no green/ground wire -- the new transformer has a white, black and green/ground.
I'm trying to figure out whether I need to attach the new transformer's green/ground within the breaker panel or can I cap it off. I'm asking because the new ground wire is too short to reach the neutral bus higher up in the panel where I assume it should be attached.
If I do need to attach the new ground wire to the neutral bus, can I/should I extend it? If so, can you tell me an acceptable way to extend -- e.g., can I use a standard wire nut or lever nut, or is there something more I need to do? Any other suggestions as to what to do with that new ground wire? The only other thing nearby the transformer location on the panel is a neighboring panel outlet which shares the circuit with this transformer.