Isolate Ground

[monitaverma]

Furniture power outlets for data requires both ground + isolated ground wires. The electrical panel (H1) that feeds this outlets doesn't have an isolated ground bar. Do I need the panela nd transformer to achieve this? Please advise.

 

[augie47]

Not to meet NEC requirements. The need for the isolated ground is a customer/engineer/equipment mfg./ (?) decision.
Some isolated grounds stop at sub-panels, some go all the way back to the service panel. Basically a design issue.

 

[LarryFine]

Furniture power outlets for data requires both ground + isolated ground wires. The electrical panel (H1) that feeds this outlets doesn't have an isolated ground bar.

The best fix is to install an isolated bus (like an unbonded neutral bus) in that panel and run an IG conductor back through the feeder conduit(s) and panel(s) to the MBJ location.

If you don't want or need a bus, you could probably just join the IG conductors in that panel, or you could even run a separate conductor for each circuit for maximum isolation.

 

[LarryFine]

Please advise.

See responses in the other topic where you asked this.

 

[hurk27]

I would weigh it on a case by case bases, if a sub panel id fed from a SDS transformer there is no need to carry the IG back to the main service and doing so could cause a voltage on it, if a sub panel is fed from the main service panel it should have separated grounding and neutrals, and should not be a problem bonding the IG to it's grounding bar, if the subpanel does not have isolated neutral and grounding, then not only is it in violation of the NEC, the grounding has current on it, in that case and if the owner didn't wish to make this panel right then I would most defiantly run the IG back to the main service panel.

 

[LarryFine]

... if a sub panel id fed from a SDS transformer there is no need to carry the IG back to the main service and doing so could cause a voltage on it ...

I agree, and the SDS's MBJ point would be the place.

... if a sub panel is fed from the main service panel it should have separated grounding and neutrals, and should not be a problem bonding the IG to it's grounding bar ...

I disagree. The proper place is where the MBJ is, partly because it's where the GEC's land, and mainly because it's where the neutral bond is.

... if the subpanel does not have isolated neutral and grounding, then not only is it in violation of the NEC, the grounding has current on it ...

Agreed, and would make it the worst place to land an IG conductor.

... in that case and if the owner didn't wish to make this panel right then I would most defiantly run the IG back to the main service panel.

Agreed, but I sure would insist that caring about data integrity requires correcting the bonded neutral.

If the feeder is in conduit, at least it's more easily corrected, as is adding the IG conductor.