Ground Buss
#1
Ground Buss
Scenario:
Running wire from the house to a separate garage.
Main panel to a sub in the basement, from there to the garage sub. (I know there are guys against this--has to be done this way. Hardly anything on the basement sub so far).
Main panel 60 amp breaker, 6 gauge to sub. Sub panel 40 amp breaker, 8 gauge 8-3 type UF-B buried in 1 1/4 inch schedule 40 24 inches deep, 70 foot underground run.
Questions:
I know that I need another ground buss as the sub panel distribution box has only 1 neutral buss. Do I need stand-offs between the ground buss and the box? It would seem that I would as the ground buss would be at the same potential as the box would be. I've seen a variety of busses that you can buy, but none come with a plastic separation between them and the box.
I'm going to drive a copper grounding rod next to the garage and connect to the ground buss. I also connect the ground from the first sub to this?
How can I make this a neat installation when running the ground wire into the wall. Could I run a separate section of conduit with the ground wire in it?
What size wire should I use for the ground buss to rod?
Some guys would think that 40 amps isn't much and it isn't. But it will keep the kegerator, fan and radio going!
Running wire from the house to a separate garage.
Main panel to a sub in the basement, from there to the garage sub. (I know there are guys against this--has to be done this way. Hardly anything on the basement sub so far).
Main panel 60 amp breaker, 6 gauge to sub. Sub panel 40 amp breaker, 8 gauge 8-3 type UF-B buried in 1 1/4 inch schedule 40 24 inches deep, 70 foot underground run.
Questions:
I know that I need another ground buss as the sub panel distribution box has only 1 neutral buss. Do I need stand-offs between the ground buss and the box? It would seem that I would as the ground buss would be at the same potential as the box would be. I've seen a variety of busses that you can buy, but none come with a plastic separation between them and the box.
I'm going to drive a copper grounding rod next to the garage and connect to the ground buss. I also connect the ground from the first sub to this?
How can I make this a neat installation when running the ground wire into the wall. Could I run a separate section of conduit with the ground wire in it?
What size wire should I use for the ground buss to rod?
Some guys would think that 40 amps isn't much and it isn't. But it will keep the kegerator, fan and radio going!

#2
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Central New York State
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The ground bus you add to the sub panel should not have standoffs. It MUST connect to the panel. The neutral buss should have standoffs.
You need a ground rod at the garage, but it is the only connected to the garage panel. The main panel should already have it's own ground rod or other means of a ground. 8 gage protected by conduit is allowed.
You need a ground rod at the garage, but it is the only connected to the garage panel. The main panel should already have it's own ground rod or other means of a ground. 8 gage protected by conduit is allowed.
#3
Originally Posted by Don W
Scenario:
Running wire from the house to a separate garage...70 foot underground run.
Running wire from the house to a separate garage...70 foot underground run.
Do I need stand-offs between the ground buss and the box? It would seem that I would as the ground buss would be at the same potential as the box would be. I've seen a variety of busses that you can buy, but none come with a plastic separation between them and the box.
The neutral bus, on the other hand, should be insulated from the subpanel box. You want to ensure there is no connection there.
I'm going to drive a copper grounding rod next to the garage and connect to the ground buss. I also connect the ground from the first sub to this?
How can I make this a neat installation when running the ground wire into the wall. Could I run a separate section of conduit with the ground wire in it?
What size wire should I use for the ground buss to rod?