Thread: Service entrance ground wire

There are two 70 amp. services coming into this service box but only one ground wire is that acceptable.

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Originally Posted by Ryan Stouffer

There are two 70 amp. services coming into this service box but only one ground wire is that acceptable.

Ryan,

I don't think you can really call them mains, since main refers to one, but I am at a loss as to what to call it.

The single ground is fine.

You probably noticed that the doubled neutral conductors in pic #4 are not. Each conductor should have it's own terminal.

Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist

I don't think you can really call them mains, since main refers to one, but I am at a loss as to what to call it.

Actually Gunnar, there can be up to SIX "mains".

Those are both "main disconnects" or "service disconnects".

Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist

You probably noticed that the doubled neutral conductors in pic #4 are not. Each conductor should have it's own terminal.

Exactly.
What's crazy is that there is an empty lug right there.

Originally Posted by Ryan Stouffer

There are two 70 amp. services coming into this service box but only one ground wire is that acceptable.

"two ... services coming into" or do you mean 'two feeders going out from' that service equipment?

I see the meter right there to the right, which likely means there are bus bars feeding those two mains, which are feeding (i.e., 'have feeders' going out to panels).

On the open lug and double tapped neutrals I am going to guess that who ever wired that up (most likely an electrician as that is service equipment) looked at the larger neutral terminal lug and the smaller ground terminal lugs and thought to themselves ... 'Hmmmm ... I have 3 ground wires and 2 neutral wires but only 1 neutral terminal.', not realizing that at service equipment they are all basically both.

Originally Posted by Speedy Petey

Actually Gunnar, there can be up to SIX "mains".

Those are both "main disconnects" or "service disconnects".

Well, that is good to know. I have never know what to call it when there are multiple mains.

Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist

I have never know what to call it when there are multiple mains.

Gunnar,

You know what to call it ... you just did: "multiple mains".

Those multiple mains, however, cannot be added up to determine a service size.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Gunnar,

You know what to call it ... you just did: "multiple mains".

Those multiple mains, however, cannot be added up to determine a service size.

Of course not. They are "multiple mains", so you multiply! Right?

Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist

Of course not. They are "multiple mains", so you multiply! Right?