Sub-panel issue
#1
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Sub-panel issue
My subpanel has some unconventional installs. There is only one busbar and both ground and neutral conductors are wired to this busbar. I know that grounds and neutrals should be seperated with the neutral bus "floating". Can I install a second busbar so that I can segregate the grounds and neutrals or will I need to replace the panel and its components? In addition, I found one branch circuit with the hot lead wired to the sub-panel with that same branch circuit ground and neutral wired directly to the main panel. This seems unusual to me. Is this acceptable? Furthermore, are there inherent safety issues with this way of wiring the circuit?
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Yes, you should isolate the ground. Find the panel name and model #, go to the supply house and get the correct ground kit.
All conductors should derive from the same source. Hot in one neut/ground in the other.. Thats NOT good.
All conductors should derive from the same source. Hot in one neut/ground in the other.. Thats NOT good.
#3
Furthermore, are there inherent safety issues with this way of wiring the circuit?
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yes, there is.
with the ground neutral bonded in the second panel, the ground is now a current carrying conductor. Never a good thing unless it is actively being used for its' purpose.(fault path)
hot from one panel and ground and neut from another.
I can imagine a scenario where you could have the circuit hot and remove the neut not realizing the circuit is hot and get zapped in the process. As lee posted, they need to come from the same source.
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yes, there is.
with the ground neutral bonded in the second panel, the ground is now a current carrying conductor. Never a good thing unless it is actively being used for its' purpose.(fault path)
hot from one panel and ground and neut from another.
I can imagine a scenario where you could have the circuit hot and remove the neut not realizing the circuit is hot and get zapped in the process. As lee posted, they need to come from the same source.