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Electrical Wire and Cable


Grounds and Neutrals in Electrical Panel

How to Wire Grounds and Neutrals in Sub Panels – all the neutrals and ground wire and terminal bars must be separated from each other, and your sub feed should be a 4-wire cable that has a separated insulated neutral wire and a separate ground wire.


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Separation of Grounds and Neutrals in Sub Panels

[ad#block]Electrical Question: I have a new Siemens 100 amp panel. I removed the neutral tie bar, how do I properly bond this panel?

This electrical wiring question came from: Steve, a Homeowner from Arlington Hts ,IL

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Steve.

How to Wire Grounds and Neutrals in Sub Panels

Skill Level: Advanced – Licensed Electrical Contractor, Not Recommended for Homeowners.
Tools Required: Electricians Pouch of Hand Tools.
Estimated Time: Depends on the extent of the project, the grounding method to be used and available access to the project area.
Precaution: This is an extensive project that should be performed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
Notice: Making changes to the Electrical Service Panel should be done with a permit and be inspected.

More about Grounds and Neutrals in Sub Panels

Electrical Panel Circuit Listing

Electrical Panels
home-electrical-circuits
House Wiring Circuits and Circuit Breakers

Sub-Panel Electrical Wiring for the Home

electrical-panel-wiring Summary: Electrical Sub-Panel wiring considerations for the home complete with pictures. Careful planning for your Sub-Panel with immediate and future load considerations will help you understand how to size your Sub-Panel. This information will help as you consider a Sub-Panel and its size.

The following may also be helpful for you:

Dave's Guide to Home Electrical Wiring:

» You Can Avoid Costly Mistakes! «

Here's How to Do It:
Wire It Right with the help of my Illustrated Wiring Book

Great for any Home Wiring Project.
  electrical wiring  

Complete Guide to Home Electrical Wiring

Perfect for Homeowners, Students,
Handyman, Handy Women, and Electricians
Includes:
Wiring GFCI Outlets
Wiring Home Electric Circuits
120 Volt and 240 Volt Outlet Circuits
Wiring Light Switches
Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Electric Range
Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Dryer Cord and Dryer Outlet
How to Troubleshoot and Repair Electrical Wiring
Wiring Methods for Upgrading Electrical Wiring
NEC Codes for Home Electrical Wiring
....and much more.


Learn more about Home Electrical Wiring
with my Online Video Course:
Basic Home Electrical Wiring by Example


Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!
Consult your Local Building Department about Permits and Inspections for all Electric Wiring Projects.

Electrical Tips to Help You Wire it Right

The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wires!

The Non-Contact Electrical Tester
This is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use.

The Quickest Way to Check for Faulty Electrical Wiring!

The Plug-In Outlet Tester
This is the first tool I grab to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring. This popular tester is also used by most inspectors to test for power and check the polarity of circuit wiring.
It detects probable improper wiring conditions in standard 110-125 VAC outlets Provides 6 probable wiring conditions that are quick and easy to read for ultimate efficiency Lights indicate if wiring is correct and indicator light chart is included Tests standard 3-wire outlets UL Listed Light indicates if wiring is incorrect Very handy and easy to use.

Strip Off Wire Insulation without Nicking and Damaging the Electric Wire!

The Wire Stripper and Wire Cutter
My absolute favorite wire stripping tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and this is the tool I use to safely strip electrical wires.
This handy tool has multiple uses:
The wire gauges are shown on the side of the tool so you know which slot to use for stripping insulation.
The end of the tool can be used to grip and bend wire which is handy for attaching wire onto the screw terminals of switches and outlets..

The wire stripper will work on both solid and stranded wire. This tool is Very Handy and Easy to Use.


More articles about Electrical Wiring, Grounding, Grounding Panels and Home Electrical Wiring:
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FAQs Frequently Asked Questions and Comments

2 Responses to “Grounds and Neutrals in Electrical Panel”
  1. Joe says:

    I have a 60 amp sub panel and want to add a subpanel off of that. How do I wire this and what size wire can I use? Does the neutral and grounds have to separate? Do I need 4 wire? What size sub panel can I add?

  2. Dave Rongey says:

    Hi Joe,
    The purpose or application for adding a sub panel will be the determining factor which will then justify the required amperage and voltage. Once this has been established then the wide variety of resources found here will help you select the cable size and the panel components. Please see the online panel sizing calculator and voltage drop calculator here on the website to assist you. When installing a 120/240 volt sub panel a 4 wire feeder is installed and the grounds and neutrals must be separated.
    I hope this helps,
    Dave