What would happen

OK Sparky 93

Senior Member
Location
Iridea14Strat
Occupation
Electrician
I've been doing this a little over 30 years. I must say that a lot of things are muscle memory. It is the way you were told it was supposed to be. Just pass the inspection! Maybe no one could really explain, or took the time, just do it.

Education is never a bad thing! Getting ready to order Mike's grounding and bonding book.

Anyway, two scenarios. at least.
1) Suppose we have a sub panel, and everything is proper. Utility loses a neutral, and at the same time you have a ground fault. Breaker wouldn't trip. Is there a potential unsafe situation?

2)The same exact situation minus an EGC.? And if in this situation, someone bonded the enclosure to the grounded conductor. I would think fault or no fault, if utility loses a neutral this could potential be a bad situation

What could be ramifications from not bonding enclosure at the main?

I ran onto one yesterday that has been that way for the last 20 plus years. New HO's. did the previous ever experience any issues? IDK!
 
IMHO....
1. Depends but leaning to yes. The loss of the Neutral should initiate a problem to be investigated and repaired.

2. The service grounded conductor is to serve as the fault current return path in the system. Without bonding, the enclosure could potentially remain energized waiting to strike.
 
1) Everything on the opposite leg sees 240V instead of the normal 120V. Probably trips some branch circuit breakers and releases the magic smoke from a lot of those loads.
 
1) Everything on the opposite leg sees 240V instead of the normal 120V. Probably trips some branch circuit breakers and releases the magic smoke from a lot of those loads.
That will be load dependent.
What if you have loads across the two legs that are pulling the same amps.
 
Top