Was it ever legal to run a 2 conductor feeder w/o ground?

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SteamDonkey

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Hi,

I'm working on a small rural project where the 120/240V service is stepped up to 480V and run underground across a field with two conductors to a step-down transformer near the utilization equipment. One of the conductors is grounded at the service end as a neutral and the other is the hot. 100% of the current returns on the grounded conductor, which seems bad. All of the wiring is customer owned and the conduit is PVC. Has this type of installation ever been allowed in the NEC?

Thanks.
 
Yes it was legal until 2005 as long as there were no other metallic pathways between the two structures.

As far a current flowing on the grounded conductor- that is where it supposed to flow. If it went on any other path you would have an objectionable current.
 
SteamDonkey said:
Hi,

I'm working on a small rural project where the 120/240V service is stepped up to 480V and run underground across a field with two conductors to a step-down transformer near the utilization equipment. One of the conductors is grounded at the service end as a neutral and the other is the hot. 100% of the current returns on the grounded conductor, which seems bad. All of the wiring is customer owned and the conduit is PVC. Has this type of installation ever been allowed in the NEC?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I'm wondering what it is that you feel is wrong with it. Lack of ground rods? ????

The whole thing sounds expensive... shoulda just got the utility to take a primary out there.
 
ActionDave said:
Yes it was legal until 2005 as long as there were no other metallic pathways between the two structures.

As far a current flowing on the grounded conductor- that is where it supposed to flow. If it went on any other path you would have an objectionable current.
Click to expand...

In typical circuits yes, but this conductor is sort of pulling double duty as it's bonded to the disconnect enclosure on the load side if the feeder. What I?d rather see is the transformer on the supply side get grounded at the center tap and have two ungrounded conductors each 240V to ground instead of one grounded conductor and one conductor at 480V to ground, but I?m not sure that?s allowed.
 
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