My understanding is that it's ideal to bond the neutral to ground at only one location for an electric service. Therefore, there is only one path for fault current to ground. Many of the meter sockets that I see have the neutral connection bonded to the enclosure itself. With this being the case, is a neutral to ground bond required at the panel, as well? Should the ground and neutral remain isolated at the panel with this bond at the meter socket?
Neutral to Ground Bonding
- Thread starter ccarr7
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
The neutral and ground are the same (bonded together) until you leave the main disconnect. Any connection after the main disconnect will need a separate neutral and ground assuming the circuit needs a neutral.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
CC, first of all, welcome to the zoo! :smile: To expand a bit:
Everything ahead of the main disconnect enclosure ignores the separation rules, so there would be no separate EGC. We think of the meter as a "lump in the service cable."
When metal raceway is used between the meter and main enclosures, there is a technically-improper parallel neutral-current pathway, but we've learned to ignore the conflict.
Everything ahead of the main disconnect enclosure ignores the separation rules, so there would be no separate EGC. We think of the meter as a "lump in the service cable."
When metal raceway is used between the meter and main enclosures, there is a technically-improper parallel neutral-current pathway, but we've learned to ignore the conflict.
- Status