gfci wiring

the nuetral and common legs are on seperate buss bars in the gfci disconnect box, yet go to a common bar at the main panel...is this right?

 

I'm assuming you mean the neutral and the ground wires. If this assumption is correct then that is the way it should be.

 

then why are they seperated at the disconnect box? it works but i do not understand why!! thanks for the reply, sparky, and yes i was referring to the wires themselves. (2 blk hot legs, one white, nuetral and green ground)

 

If the neutral and ground wire were connected beyond the main panel, the ground wire would have current flowing on all of the time. That would be bad, as it would potentially energize everything that is bonded to the ground system.

 

The reason they are seperate (neutral wires and ground wires) At the device is because the neutral is designed to carry current as a part of the normal opeating circuit. The ground on the other hand is designed to carry current only under fault conditions. If the ground wire and the neutral wire were to be connected at the device it would enable the ground wire to carry current and this would energize all the metal parts of the electrical system> This would include refrigerator doors, metal power-tool cases and any other item that would have (for the lack of better words) a case ground. I hope this helps to understand a little better.

 

said the blind carpenter as he picked up his tools and saw!!! Thanks!