Neutral Bar

Merry Christmas
Jimmy7 said:
I think I have a picture of it the background of this picture. If this is it, do I need to scrape the paint, or do the screws just tap the holes themselves?
Click to expand...
The screws packaged with the ground bar should be self tapping.
 
jim dungar would know but most SquareD panels I have seen have a diagram somewhere (often on the door) that will show where the MBJ should be so you can confirm it's presence.
(I have been know to install a jumper from my neutral to my ground bars when I couldn't install a MBJ screw)
Post #17 and #30 seem to be the most relevant.
Bite the bullet,take all that mess off the existing neutral, add the PK ground bars and neatly terminate,
 
augie47 said:
jim dungar would know but most SquareD panels I have seen have a diagram somewhere (often on the door) that will show where the MBJ should be so you can confirm it's presence.
(I have been know to install a jumper from my neutral to my ground bars when I couldn't install a MBJ screw)
Post #17 and #30 seem to be the most relevant.
Bite the bullet,take all that mess off the existing neutral, add the PK ground bars and neatly terminate,
Click to expand...
How do I size the jumper? Would be something like a #4?
 
SqD or any manufacturer is not going to tell you it's ok to modify an old pane with no parts available. Why should they? They don't want to take on any liability even though there is none.

I look at it this way. You add a ground bar. Screw it on or bolt it on whatever. You making it safer than it is now
 
Eddie702 said:
SqD or any manufacturer is not going to tell you it's ok to modify an old pane with no parts available.
Click to expand...
Drilling a conduit entry hole instead of using a factory knockout is as much a modification as adding a ground bar kit. The manufacturer doesn't really have a say in it and UL only applies to the factory.
Everything you do in the field requires approval only from the AHJ.
 
Last edited:
augie47 said:
250.102 #4 is correct
Click to expand...
I’m planning on mounting a ground bar somewhere in the panel along with a #4 jumper from the neutral bar to the new ground bar. I’ll just be moving ground wires, but if I install a jumper I could move neutrals to it if I really had to, correct?
 
hbiss said:
No, then you are getting into carrying current. The jumper would have to be the same size as the service neutral. But just for grounds, a jumper isn't even necessary as long as the ground bar is installed correctly to the sheet metal.

-Hal
Click to expand...
The jumper would be necessary if there is no MBJ. OP hasn't confirmed that yet.
 
Little Bill said:
The jumper would be necessary if there is no MBJ. OP hasn't confirmed that yet.
Click to expand...
That's just conjecture that somebody threw into the post and gets brought up every so often. Looks to me like it is there and the OP needs to put his mind at ease before coming up with more ideas. Simple enough to fix if the screw isn't installed instead of thinking about jumpers.

-Hal
 
Jimmy7 said:
This is an old Square D QO panel, if there is not a designated spot for a ground bar would you scrape the paint and drill and tap?
Click to expand...
Unless that listed bar is going in a factory provided location within the panel the paint must be removed. {250.12}
 
Jimmy7 said:
Drill and tap is okay?
Click to expand...
Drill and tap is fine. You could also drill and through bolt with a nut. Either way the paint has to be removed behind the EGC bar unless the bar is listed for installation in that panel without removing the paint. If you had a new Square D panel with a listed Square D EGC bar the installation instructions would tell you to simply mount it using the two provided screws. That would be acceptable because the bar, screws, and mounting holes have been tested and evaluated without removing the paint.
 
infinity said:
Drill and tap is fine. You could also drill and through bolt with a nut. Either way the paint has to be removed behind the EGC bar unless the bar is listed for installation in that panel without removing the paint. If you had a new Square D panel with a listed Square D EGC bar the installation instructions would tell you to simply mount it using the two provided screws. That would be acceptable because the bar, screws, and mounting holes have been tested and evaluated without removing the paint.
Click to expand...
Since the panel is mounted on plywood could I mount the bar on one of the sides to nut and bolt it? Do you have your own preference on mounting bars? I appreciate the help
 
Jimmy7 said:
Since the panel is mounted on plywood could I mount the bar on one of the sides to nut and bolt it? Do you have your own preference on mounting bars? I appreciate the help
Click to expand...
Yes since this an old panel with no designated location it can be on the side of the panel.
 
I don’t know if anyone stated this yet but when I come across those, I take all the grounds off and I just automatically either put them in like a six port Wego or a big blue wire nut- tie them together get a jumper largest EGC to an another group of jumpers .so I only have one wire going back to the bar
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top