Main Panel - InspectionNews

Tom Rees · #1 (**permalink**) 03-19-2010, 01:44 PM

These are pictures of main service panel. Both of the grounds from SEC are attached to neutral bar and the A/C wiring is grounded at neutral bar also. I know that grounds and neutrals can be connected at main panel but shouldn't there be a grounding bar?

fritzkelly · #2 (**permalink**) 03-19-2010, 02:53 PM

Tom, all 3 of these bars are already bonded by the configuration of the panel. You can't see the neutral SEC in your picture, it is connected to the bar on the far left in the enclosure above. The green grounds or white stripe neutrals you are looking at are going out to other equipment or panels.
Panel2.jpg

Tom Rees · #3 (**permalink**) 03-19-2010, 03:13 PM

Thanks fritz, It has a been a long week and I just could not get my mind wrapped around this.

Jerry Peck · #4 (**permalink**) 03-19-2010, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Rees

These are pictures of main service panel. Both of the grounds from SEC are attached to neutral bar and the A/C wiring is grounded at neutral bar also. I know that grounds and neutrals can be connected at main panel but shouldn't there be a grounding bar?

Tom,

Here is some different wording you should try using and, when you are through reading this, you should see why.

Those are picture of "service equipment". Both of the grounds from "the feeders" are attached to the neutral bar and the A/C wiring is grounded at the neutral bar also. I know that grounds and neutrals "must be" bonded together at the "service equipment".

By recognizing that as "service equipment" you should be able to immediately recognize that the "service entrance conductors" are hidden behind the interior dividers within the combination meter/service equipment and you do not see them - all you see are the bus bars coming down from the hidden area above: the neutral/ground on the left and which is one and the same; the two hot phase legs in the center.

Looks like you have two mains going to remote panels and the other main breaker must be for the a/c condenser unit. All the conductors coming from those mains are "feeder conductors".