Neutral and ground busbar

I am adding some new circuits while finishing my basement. There is room for new breakers, but no mare space on the neutral and ground busbars. Is it acceptable to put two wires into a single hole on the busbar? If not, how do I get more space? Do I have to add another subpanel? Do they make busbar extensions?

Thanks.

 

You can put multiple ground wires together (as long as they fit in the whole), but not multiple neutrals. Each neutral has to be in its own "hole".
You can generally buy longer ground and neutral bars and replace the shorter ones. Some panels have additional screw holes so you can install aditional bars. If this a main panel the ground and neutral are bonded, so it should make no difference where the ground and neutral are connected.

 

I suggest you fit an additional Grounding terminal bar into the panel.The Grounding terminal bar must be throughly "Bonded" to the metal surface of the enclosure, which means that the bar must come into direct contact with the exposed metal surface of the enclosure, not just painted surface.

You'll need a Bonding-jumper between the new & existing terminal bars, so use the largest conductor that will fit into the holes, possible a #4 conductor.

Good Luck & Enjoy the Experience!!!!!!!!

 

"If this a main panel the ground and neutral are bonded, so it should make no difference where the ground and neutral are connected."

You cannot use the enclosure as a current carrying conductor. If you add a nuetral bar it must be bonded with a wire cross section equal to the circuits connected to the bar. A real PITA. If you add a grounding bar you can simply bond it to the enclosure with a bonding strap. Best method is usually to add a grounding bar, move all the grounds to it and free up the holes needed in the original nuetral/grounding bar.

 

After closer inspection, it turns out that the neutral and ground buses are not bonded, so I can not add a new ground and move neutrals to the original ground bus. It appears I will have to add an additional neutral bus bar, but I can't find one. None of the local electric supply shops carry bus bars with isolators. Any idea where I can find such a thing?

 

What exactly is connected to the existing Neutral terminal bar?; both Neutral conductors (White wires) and bare Equitpment Grounding conductors, or Neutral conductors only???

Is this panel the Service-panel, or a seperate sub-panel "feed" from the Service-panel??

 

about the box the best way is to tell us what manufacter box it is maybe we can get the isolated nuetal bus bar bigger verison .

merci , marc

 

There is a main panel on the outside of the house where the sevice comes in and it contains only a main breaker. From there, it goes to a panel inside the house where all of the individual circuit breakers are. In this sense, I suppose that this is considered a sub-feed panel.

Inside the panel there are two bus bars - one has only neutral connections (white wires) and one has only equipment grounds (bare wires). The two bus bars do not appear to be connected in any way.

 

The box is made by GE.

It appears that the reason for the shortage of busbar terminals is that the box has space for 20 full size breakers and 20 neutral and 20 ground terminals. There are only, however, mini-breakers in the box. There are currently 36 mini breakers, and I would like to add 4 more. Is this an issue?

 

this is a big issuse there and sound like you have 100 amp breaker box ..


for some reason you should able find the manufacter label in the box as long the cover is off and i will like to know the main breaker rating you have there ( it will be printed on handle tell you how many amprages) if 100 amp there then i really seriosly condersing to up grade to 200 amp box,


if the box say 20 full size breakers and the number of compact breakers ( sometime combation of two)

if i am reading this correct you have 12 circiut breakers over the limit of the box can handle and i really suggest strongly replace the box to 200 amp it have 30 to 42 space there.

the reason why because the wire in the box is pretty well packed now and it can get pretty hot if dont look out with it.


please condersing about this ok .


merci, marc

 

I have an extreme aversion to "twin", or "mimi" breakers, and-----the number of conductors for 36 circuits in a 20-circuit panel suggests a congested- wiring condition. Adding more circuits will exaserbate the congestion.

I advise connecting a 2nd 20-circuit panel to relieve the congestion in the existing panel and to provide space for future circuits.

If you have a 200 amp Main-breaker feeding a 200 amp, 20-circuit Main Lugs panel, I conclude it was an El Cheapo installation.

Good Luck and Enjoy the Experience.

 

Although I can not find any info on the box that specifies the maximum number of breakers, I did find a listing for the panel model number online. A description of the panel can be found at http://www.doityourself.com/store/6117493.htm. This panel appears to be designed to house 40 of the 1/2" breakers. Given this, it would seem to me that adding another panel shouldn't be necessary.

I believe that I should be able to add a small neutral bus - say 4 or 5 lugs - and bridge it to the existing bar with #4. The problem I'm having is that I can't seem to find any bus bars with isolators. They don't carry such a thing at the local electric supply store, and I can't find anything online.

I would really appreciate an suggestions on where I might find such a part.