Ground as a neutral??
- Thread starter WIMaster
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
250.119 is another
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
250.140 exception actual permits it
Sparky Marky
Member
- Location
- Berks County, PA USA
250.24(A)(5)
curt swartz
Electrical Contractor - San Jose, CA
- Location
- San Jose, CA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Dennis, I disagree. That allows you to use the neutral as a grounding conductor. It does not allow you use a grounding conductor as a neutral.
When ever this subject has been brought up one is to be reminded that even though neutrals a commonly grounded you can not use a grounded neutral to short cut the need for an EGC. I do realize that the older 3w appliance circuits have been grandfathered in where the neutral and ground conductor are combined, a practice which is not allowed to be used today.
The neutral carried the unbalance current and as such is a current carrying conductor. Usind the nuetral grounded conductor at any point down steam from the the point that it is grounded at the service entrance will allow any devices that use the grounded neutral as a grounding point to be exposed to the neutral current. Thus it exposes anyboby who is touching a device that is supposed to grounded to a potential shock hazzard. As a reminder GFCIs have a 5ma sensitivity. If you are using this method to ground and electric tool with a metal case for example can you be guaranted should someone be using the tool would not be exposed to any current higher than 5ma? I think not.
The neutral carried the unbalance current and as such is a current carrying conductor. Usind the nuetral grounded conductor at any point down steam from the the point that it is grounded at the service entrance will allow any devices that use the grounded neutral as a grounding point to be exposed to the neutral current. Thus it exposes anyboby who is touching a device that is supposed to grounded to a potential shock hazzard. As a reminder GFCIs have a 5ma sensitivity. If you are using this method to ground and electric tool with a metal case for example can you be guaranted should someone be using the tool would not be exposed to any current higher than 5ma? I think not.
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
Also, just for grins, there are limited special cases where the NEC allows a true neutral to not be a grounded conductor at all. (This is only allowed in an ungrounded system (and only special wye systems are allowed to be ungrounded) or in a symmetric/balanced 120V system for special purposes.
frank everingham
Member
- Location
- michigan
harpo
harpo
200.6
harpo
200.6
- Status