Grounding
Grounding
(OP)
When do I ground the neutral on a 120vac system?
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RE: Grounding
Or, when the inspector tells you to.
If you mean where, there is a neutral busbar in your breaker panel, from which goes a wire to a ground rod outside your building.
RE: Grounding
RE: Grounding
In general, the neutral is connected to ground at only one place.
RE: Grounding
RE: Grounding
I take it that all metal parts in the electrical installation are connected in some way back to this grounded neutral?
Regards,
Lyledunn
RE: Grounding
keep in mind that the neutral wire is being picked up from the "transformer" not the chassis ground...
dydt
RE: Grounding
Thanks
RE: Grounding
RE: If so, would this cause problems? -- Yes, it would be considered a safety hazard.
RE: Grounding
Would like to add however that it would be best if the designer always considered how a neutral was functioning.
In the US - Because neutral is used to make a circuit, if it is bonded anywhere beyond the service it causes the ground system to become part of a circuit, not a great idea. If neutral is bonded after the service, and either the ground or the neutral develp a high resistance then the ground circuit becomes energized.
PUMPDESIGNER
RE: Grounding
The conductor everyone call the neutral is called the "grounded conductor" in the NEC.
The neutral and "equipment ground" need to be grounded at the service to a water pipe and usually a ground rod or ufer ground "concrete encased wire that is in contact with the soil". The metal frame of the building must also be grounded to the same water pipe and ground rod.
Every transformer secondary (Certain exceptions) must be grounded to the soil too, using the various methods stated.
The control transfomer is a little different it can be grounded from the equipment grounded conductor. Only if you have a good equipment ground that is solidly bonded and if your local building department/inspector allows it.
If you can run a insulated green colored cu wire form the service grounding bus it would be best, but if it is rework sometimes it is hard to do.
Post this question with EC&M web site for more answers. They address these types of questions all the time with some really great NEC code experts. Code interpretations vary with different people and areas.
Good luck
RE: Grounding
RE: Grounding
It's important to remember that the Neutral is connected to
Ground in ONE PLACE ONLY within a "system".
Sometimes a ground grid is used, with multiple ground rods. This is still typically connected in ONE place to the Neutral.
. . . Steve