33
votes
Is it OK to create a third prong ground from a cold water pipe, for a 2-wire circuit?
When or is it NEC code compliant to upgrade a 2-wire circuit, by adding a third prong equipment ground from a nearby galvanized cold water pipe?
Never!
Article 250.118 of the National Electrical ...
- 19.3k
25
votes
Accepted
Is this box bonded properly to the ground?
I do a lot of work on older homes and see stuff like this all the time. Keep in mind that the equipment grounding conductor (EGC), that bare safety ground, was not always present in wiring systems. ...
- 24.3k
20
votes
Can ground attached to neutral fool a receptacle tester?
The tester can't tell the difference. One way to look at is that electrically, since neutral and ground are already bonded at one location (normally the main panel), the electrons don't know the ...
18
votes
Accepted
Are the grounds and neutrals in this electrical subpanel reversed?
Whoever wired this panel simply was not paying attention
The installer who wired this panel did not pay attention to the schematic on the label, assuming that removing the bonding strap was enough ...
- 72.6k
13
votes
Sub panel install issue
I'd be seriously tempted to email that picture to the licensing board...
I assume from your question that this was installed, incorrectly, by licensed electricians.
Buy a ground bar to fit your panel, ...
- 136k
12
votes
Accepted
Is an explicit ground wire required through steel conduit?
Conduit (RMC, IMC or EMT) is an NEC-accepted ground path. So, if the wires are in steel conduit, no OTHER ground wire is required.
If that gives you concerns, you might find this link reporting ...
- 136k
12
votes
Can ground attached to neutral fool a receptacle tester?
Yes, it will misread. Because magic-8-ball testers are built for one thing: a quick pass/fail test for brand new wiring you just installed.
Obviously, in new wiring, you don't have a bunch of the ...
10
votes
I have 11V between neutral and ground, how can I isolate the problem and solve it?
What's up with all the voltage drop?
Easy. You have a 2.5mm2 cable (~13 AWG) going 50m (160'). That's a very small wire for such a long distance. In Canada you would not draw more than 15 amps on ...
9
votes
Accepted
Does this "creative" grounding meet 2017 or 2020 NEC?
Three 8' ground rods with #4 copper is all the Grounding Electrode you'll ever need for any conceivable residential service. However the run of copper wire must be continuous from the closest rod ...
8
votes
Is an explicit ground wire required through steel conduit?
National Electrical Code does allow metallic conduit and tubing to be used as an equipment grounding conductor, as long as it's installed properly.
However, before using it as such in an existing ...
- 128k
8
votes
Should I bond neutral in sub panel- there is no electrical ground
If you're in an area that has adopted National Electrical Code, you'll have to run a 4 wire feeder. You'll also still need the ground rods at the shed, which you'll bond the grounding bar in the panel ...
- 128k
8
votes
Are the grounds and neutrals in this electrical subpanel reversed?
understand the logic behind Bonding the Neutral and Isolating Ground
the green earth ground or bare copper always connects to the metal of the panel box, or any metal that you touch.
the [white] ...
- 540
8
votes
Accepted
Is my main panel improperly bonded?
It's bonded, alright
Meter-main boxes like yours have their neutral bars permanently bonded to the case at the factory, and thus have a notation on their label saying that they are "suitable only ...
- 72.6k
8
votes
Should a subpanel in the same building have its own grounding rod?
No, you don't need separate grounding rods for a sub-panel in the same building. It just needs a 4 wire circuit (appropriately sized): 2 hots, a neutral and a ground. As always, the neutral and ...
- 15k
7
votes
Mild Electric Shocks in Bathroom
Sounds like you have an improperly bonded neutral somewhere. If it isn't easily identified at the main service panel, you'll want to do a couple of things:
Call your electrical company and request (...
- 6,825
7
votes
Is it OK to borrow a ground wire from a different circuit?
It turns out that between the 2011 NEC (which Tester101 cited) and the 2014 NEC -- the answer to this question changed! Under current (2014) code -- a new point 4 was added under 250.130(C):
(4) ...
- 72.6k
7
votes
Accepted
What can I do about a severed grounding wire?
Here is what the National Electrical Code says:
250.64 Grounding Electrode Conductor Installation. Grounding electrode conductors at the service, at each building or structure where supplied by a ...
- 19.3k
7
votes
Grounding 200A Main Panel with Changes to Water & Gas
Grounding Electrode System
You're going to have to install a grounding electrode system. This is typically done by driving two ground rods spaced at least 6' apart, and connecting the rods together ...
- 128k
7
votes
Accepted
Replacing subpanel that was fed with 3 wires
Your feeder appears to be in metal conduit, which is the grounding conductor
Since your feeder appears to have been run as wires in a metal conduit, that conduit would serve as your grounding ...
- 72.6k
7
votes
Accepted
Grounding tv antenna in attic?
Good choice on the antenna. Lots of high quality reception for free. In fact, OTA (over the air) TV signals are often of better digital quality than TV through cable distribution. Cable TV is ...
- 10.3k
7
votes
Accepted
Should my new service panel be bonded?
You are correct--the panel should not be bonded. Most panels will come with a bonding screw in case it is being used as a main panel and first means of disconnect, which yours isn't. When you install ...
7
votes
Accepted
Should the grounds and neutrals be isolated in this subpanel?
Yes, pull the jumper and move the grounding wires
You have a classic "service disconnect outside, panel inside" configuration, and with that, the inside panel is a subpanel. So, you'll need ...
- 72.6k
7
votes
Does my house have a grounding problem?
OK, let's talk about the electrical system's Grounding Electrode System first off.
Out at the pole -- and this is not in our jurisdiction (NEC), it is in the power company's codebook (NESC): the pole-...
7
votes
Accepted
Risk of bonding neutrals and grounds in sub-panel
Prior to the 99 code sub panels were wired the same as main so there are possibly 10’s of millions of homes that still have the neutral-ground bond on the sub.
So is there a risk? Sure about the same ...
- 97.6k
7
votes
Risk of bonding neutrals and grounds in sub-panel
I commented earlier and this might not be a true "answer", but it'll be too long for a comment. Years ago, I replaced an ancient fuse type panel for my father-in-law. Due to a remodel and ...
- 15k
7
votes
Accepted
I have 11V between neutral and ground, how can I isolate the problem and solve it?
I have a 5/8" 8' copper-plated ground rod connected with 6mm^2 copper wiring to the ground bus bar in my Schneider consumer unit
This may be the key. In the US (different system, but hopefully ...
7
votes
Accepted
Is my non-standard outlet box grounding screw code-compliant? (US in 2022)
No, that won't pass.
You need a fine thread screw - 10-32 is the stock size.
1/4-20 would not be acceptable. 1/4-32 would be (it's number of threads in the not very thick box metal that matters, here.)...
- 136k
7
votes
Accepted
How to ground two circuits in same box without violating neutral bonding
The 15A lighting circuit neutral goes via the subpanel. That's how "neutral bonding is not violated."
Grounds can be freely tied together. The whole thing could be wired in steel conduit and ...
- 136k
6
votes
Accepted
How to properly bond metal junction box with 6 AWG conductors
First off, why is the ground #6? Seems big unless the circuit is over 60A.
Personally, as Tester commented, I'd use a double lug screwed to the box via a machine thread screw, that is if you can find ...
- 16k
6
votes
What are the grounding requirements for a panel fed from another panel?
The new 30A panel needs a 4-wire feeder from the 60A panel. This is two hots, a neutral and an equipment ground.
The remote 30A panel also needs a grounding electrode (or two) since it is in a ...
- 16k
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