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Electrical Inspections Contains discussions about electrical systems. This includes receptacles, panels, wiring, etc.

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  #1  
Old 10/6/09, 9:17 PM
Joshua L. Frederick Joshua L. Frederick is offline
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Default Ground not bonded to neutral in main panel?

First pic shows main panel (CH 125 amp). BTW, the electrical panels were recently updated and both were very neat, proper, and professionally done (the garage distribution panel was even wired correctly!). The second pic shows the bonding strap which is not connected to the ground bus bar. The third pic shows the bonded neutral bus bar with the strap/green screw. Now my question, am I missing something obvious here? The ground needs to be connected/bonded to the neutral, no?
It just seems to me, the way these were both professionally done recently, that this seems to be too obvious (it even appears that the strap was "pulled away" from the grounded bus bar a bit). Additionally, don't these panels come connected (neutals & grounds strapped), and then installer adds bonding screw at time of install?

Any help/insight is always appreciated!
Attached Thumbnails
ground-not-bonded-neutral-main-panel-903-north-lane-defiance-064.jpg   ground-not-bonded-neutral-main-panel-903-north-lane-defiance-061.jpg   ground-not-bonded-neutral-main-panel-903-north-lane-defiance-063.jpg  
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  #2  
Old 10/6/09, 9:21 PM
Jeffrey R. Pope's Avatar
Jeffrey R. Pope Jeffrey R. Pope is offline
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Default Re: Ground not bonded to neutral in main panel?

Yes. The grounding terminal-bus needs to be bonded to the enclosure by attaching it to the bonding strap.



IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ®
Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
Santa Clarita CA
(661) 212-0738
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  #3  
Old 10/11/09, 10:49 PM
tmcsweeney tmcsweeney is offline
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Default Re: Ground not bonded to neutral in main panel?

main panel should have the grounding bar bonded to the panel. Both ground and neutral wires maybe connected to this bar. On a sub panel the neutral wire bar should be insulated from the panel.
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Old 10/12/09, 12:39 AM
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Jeffrey R. Pope Jeffrey R. Pope is offline
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Default Re: Ground not bonded to neutral in main panel?

Quote:
Originally Posted by tmcsweeney View Post
main panel should have the grounding bar bonded to the panel.
All panels must have the grounding bus bonded to the enclosure. In the service equipment, the neutrals must be bonded as well.



IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ®
Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
Santa Clarita CA
(661) 212-0738
Santa Clarita Home Inspection
http://www.MyInspector.net


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  #5  
Old 10/12/09, 6:46 PM
Frank P. Newman Frank P. Newman is offline
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Default Re: Ground not bonded to neutral in main panel?

What he said ! This appears to be one of the most difficult for H.Is to grasp.



Frank P. Newman
Emerald City Inspections, LLC
Dublin, GA
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