david
Senior Member
- Location
- Pennsylvania
that doesn't meet article 550 requirement for a insulated equipment ground
Mobile home panel
- Thread starter Stevenfyeager
- Start date
- Status
that doesn't meet article 550 requirement for a insulated equipment ground
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
It is not code compliant, and as some have mentioned never or at least was a very long time ago if it ever was compliant to bond to the neutral.
You must decide, but I'd rather see the neutral bonded than leaving the EGC floating if going to leave any violations behind.
PVC coated RMC?
Though that is covered and not insulated.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
Remember, that guy laying on his back, in the mud, under the mobile home will be in parallel with the neutral current once you make that EQ-Neutral bond at the trailer.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
I know.
He is also subject to full 120 volts if there is no bond and the EGC becomes energized.
If neutral is only carrying a small imbalance your risk is lessened. If there is no bonding and the frame is energized you have 120 volts regardless.
If you tell them it is dangerous, disconnect things and refuse to do anything before making that right, they talk about you, may or may not be a good thing. If you have an inspector condemning it, at least they will talk more about him
There are reasons the N and EGC are required to be separated. If for whatever reason you must leave violation(s) behind, which would you rather see? Even if you looked, seen the problem and then refused to do any work, you can't unsee what you saw - you now know a potential hazard exists. If you are going to say anything at all about it, you best be consistant about telling them about the potential hazards, and why you won't add any circuits or other things without addressing this issue. If they know you made a judgement call and then something happens, you are a target for blame.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
I know. (I know you know)
He is also subject to full 120 volts if there is no bond and the EGC becomes energized.
If neutral is only carrying a small imbalance your risk is lessened. If there is no bonding and the frame is energized you have 120 volts regardless.
If you tell them it is dangerous, disconnect things and refuse to do anything before making that right, they talk about you, may or may not be a good thing. If you have an inspector condemning it, at least they will talk more about him
There are reasons the N and EGC are required to be separated. If for whatever reason you must leave violation(s) behind, which would you rather see? Even if you looked, seen the problem and then refused to do any work, you can't unsee what you saw - you now know a potential hazard exists. If you are going to say anything at all about it, you best be consistant about telling them about the potential hazards, and why you won't add any circuits or other things without addressing this issue. If they know you made a judgement call and then something happens, you are a target for blame.
Caught between a rock and a hard place.
flatlander
Senior Member
- Location
- Diamond bar, CA , Tempe AZ
I have been in many a condo or apartments built in 70- 80 where the sub does not have N and G separated , I tell the management to no avail. They tell me it passed when built usually.
So what would you do then?
So what would you do then?
jxofaltrds
Inspector Mike®
- Location
- Mike P. Columbus Ohio
- Occupation
- ESI, PI, RBO
Nothing. A 3 wire to a 'sub' panel in and of itself is not unsafe. Preventing parallel paths for 'current' is the reason for the code change to a 4 wire system.
Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Whats different about a MH is you are surrounded by metal that is bonded to the neutral. I belive the code recognized this and has always required a 4 wire feed
jxofaltrds
Inspector Mike®
- Location
- Mike P. Columbus Ohio
- Occupation
- ESI, PI, RBO
Maybe I'm reading this wrong but this is from my 2005 handbook.
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ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
That is telling you the size of the service entrance or feeder conductors can be reduced in size, not that the EG is optional.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
I agree, voltage on the frame still rises when neutral is loaded either system. 120/240 single phase does have more chance of lower load on the neutral - but will be dependent on load balance conditions.
- Status