RangerMike
New member
- Location
- Chicago, IL
I own a campground and have been studying the NEC so that I can identify possible safety issues that may exist as numerous people with varying levels of experience have worked on the electrical system of the campground over the years, especially prior to my purchasing it. One question I have relates to how the ground bar is connected in the main campsite box or first disconnect. Our typical installations have 2 or 4 meters in a single box going to (usually) a single campsite box with a 20A/30A/50A receptacle and then 1 disconnect (if just two meters) going to an adjacent campsite. I understand that in both of these services the main bonding jumper should be installed, but not in the far campsite box that runs off the disconnect. In that far campsite box the neutral should be isolated from the case. My question relates to how the wires from the disconnect and the directly connected campsite box are connected to the meter. In the NEC handbook and the diagrams in the Mike Holt Grounding vs. Bonding book and video they show the Ground Bar bonded to the Neutral in both those points of first disconnect which is the way we have them wired, However our existing wiring has an equipment grounding conductor running from the ground bar in both of these points of first disconnect fastened to a terminal on the neutral bar of the meter can. In the NEC Handbook and the Mike Holt products, they show an equipment grounding conductor terminating on a bonding bushing where the rigid metal conduit attaches the first site box or disconnect to the meter can. They don't show a ground wire connecting the ground bar to neutral bar of the meter. Does this do any harm to leave things connected the way they are currently connected? It's hard to explain so I've attached a diagram. In other words, the way the books show things, there are only 2 hots and a grounded conductor (neutral) going from the meter can to the main service, and in our installations there is also a green or bare ground wire. Does having an ground wire running from the main panel or disconnect to the neutral bar of the meter can create safety issues? Is it okay the way it is or should that wire terminate at a bonding bushing in the main panel or disconnect? View attachment Scan1.PDF
