etbrown4
Member
- Location
- United States
Kindly don't beat me up, as I'm somewhat new to this forum!
We all know the NEC definitely treats grounds as separate and distinct from neutrals.
For purposes of this question, let's assume that the neutral and ground bar is bonded to the service panel.
I've long wondered that since they are both often attached to the same grounding or neutral bar in the panel, if there is truly a difference - practically speaking. (We know the NEC requires wire colors to be different.)
So here is the question: If the ground wire is fully insulated over it's full length, and say, it's run 20 or 100 feet from the service to a junction box. Once in that junction box, is there any practical difference ...electrically speaking, and from the point of view of safety... as to whether that wire could safely serve as a neutral or as a ground? (I know this was covered in our first electrical class, but I've still wondered about it)
We all know the NEC definitely treats grounds as separate and distinct from neutrals.
For purposes of this question, let's assume that the neutral and ground bar is bonded to the service panel.
I've long wondered that since they are both often attached to the same grounding or neutral bar in the panel, if there is truly a difference - practically speaking. (We know the NEC requires wire colors to be different.)
So here is the question: If the ground wire is fully insulated over it's full length, and say, it's run 20 or 100 feet from the service to a junction box. Once in that junction box, is there any practical difference ...electrically speaking, and from the point of view of safety... as to whether that wire could safely serve as a neutral or as a ground? (I know this was covered in our first electrical class, but I've still wondered about it)