Whether it's OK or not, I have seen mixed G and N conductors on both bars many times.The panel being bonded, why is it not okay to have the branch circuits neutrals on the ground bar and vice versa
In the service equipment, often all of the bars are neutral bars and both white and green conductors are permitted to be landed on the neutral bar in the service equipment.Whether it's OK or not, I have seen mixed G and N conductors on both bars many times.
200.2 (B) Continuity.
The continuity of a grounded conductor shall not depend on a connection to a metallic enclosure, raceway, or cable armor.
250.24(A)(5) Load-Side Grounding Connections.
A grounded conductor shall not be connected to normally non–current-carrying metal parts of equipment, to equipment grounding conductor(s), or be reconnected to ground on the load side of the service disconnecting means except as otherwise permitted in this article.
OK, but it's a real PITA for an installer when an ATS is installed ahead of an MDP with a bazillion EGC and neutral conductors all mixed on both bars.In the service equipment, often all of the bars are neutral bars and both white and green conductors are permitted to be landed on the neutral bar in the service equipment.
Not a code issue. You just have to add more time to your bid for that type of project. There is no electrical or code reason not to mix the conductors in the enclosure that contains the main bonding jumper, assuming that both bars are directly connected to the service neutral bar by busing or wires.OK, but it's a real PITA for an installer when an ATS is installed ahead of an MDP with a bazillion EGC and neutral conductors all mixed on both bars.
Never said it was.Not a code issue.
"Objectionable current"The panel being bonded, why is it not okay to have the branch circuits neutrals on the ground bar and vice versa
"Objectionable current"
you don't want current on the ground from a distribution panel back to the main.
Did he say "Main Panel" ? I must have missed that, but thanks for letting me know.The OP was talking about a main service panel with the neutral and ground bonded, typically residential. Nobody was talking about neutral and ground bars after that like in a sub panel.
-Hal
He said the panel being bonded.Did he say "Main Panel" ? I must have missed that, but thanks for letting me know.
If you saw as much bad work as we do, you would never assume that.He said the panel being bonded.
Pretty safe assumption that he meant the neutral bar is bonded, which would be the main service panel
While everything is connected together in the service equipment enclosure, auxiliary grounding bars in the service equipment enclosure are often only connected to the enclosure and those bars cannot be used for the connection of neutral conductors. 200.2(B)For a main service, find the answer to your question by reading NEC Article 250.90.
Moreover, at the main service, one might consider the total metal enclosure (including screws) as a grounding conductor to the main bonding jumper, which is used for fault or ground currents. For this reason, the neutral conductors and equipment grounding conductors connect together.
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Fair point, for sureIf you saw as much bad work as we do, you would never assume that.
1. Enclosure is not allowed to carry the neutral current. If you land the neutral on the cabinet ground bus the neutral current would have to travel on the enclosure to get back to the service neutral. No different than trying to use the grounding conductor as the neutral.The panel being bonded, why is it not okay to have the branch circuits neutrals on the ground bar and vice versa