35
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 ...
- 19.7k
26
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. ...
- 24.9k
21
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 ...
19
votes
Accepted
How do I check if my outlet's ground and neutral are connected correctly?
Neutral is not Earth
They are completely different wires with completely different jobs. Neutral is the normal everyday path for return current. Earth is a fault catcher, it only flows current when a ...
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 ...
- 80.7k
16
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 ...
- 191k
15
votes
Changing out GFCI disconnect for new hot tub
Neutrals and grounds are kept separated everywhere except at the main panel.
- 21.9k
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, ...
- 191k
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 ...
11
votes
Accepted
Why is it required in some countries to sleeve uninsulated earth wire in junction boxes, but not required and not practiced in other countries?
On one hand it improves safety very marginally... on the other hand it escalates time and cost. Simple as that. In marginal-benefit cases like this, every country makes that call in their own way.
...
11
votes
Am I supposed to ground the breaker box itself?
All metal boxes get grounded first
So yeah. If you're sticking an outlet in a metal box and you have your Romex coming in, you don't take the ground to the outlet like you do in a plastic box. You ...
10
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 ...
- 131k
9
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
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 ...
- 131k
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] ...
- 1,035
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 ...
- 80.7k
8
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 ...
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 ...
- 23k
8
votes
What types of conduit would be appropriate to extend a circuit inside a storage bench?
I'd use the blank cover with the knockout and a 90 degree MC connector (shown below) and run the MC stapling it to the edge around the storage bench. Then terminate it in a metal old work box. Connect ...
- 76.8k
8
votes
Accepted
How is a Ufer ground attached to the panel?
You will connect a bit of rebar to the reinforcement of your foundation and leave it sticking out of the concrete, that will be your ground connection.
Internal to the concrete you will need larger ...
- 10.9k
8
votes
Accepted
Upgrading 240v 3 prong dryer outlet to 4 prong
The ground wire coming off the cable must go to the metal box first. That's a Code requirement.
If it is competently attached to the metal box using a feature intended for that purpose, you're all ...
8
votes
Do the EGC and GEC both terminate at grounding bar in new sub-panel in detached building (garage)?
Great question, well formed. You clearly understand much of this. In my answer I'm not going use abbreviations so I can be very clear.
The 2 hots obviously go the 2 hot lugs, the neutral conductor ...
- 148
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 ...
- 19.7k
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 ...
- 131k
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 ...
- 80.7k
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 ...
- 15.7k
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 ...
- 80.7k
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 ...
- 102k
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