In a new panel, I can't seem to find the location for the green grounding screw that's supposed to connect the neutral and grounding lug. According to the pic, seen here, it's in the center, but the screw provided won't thread there??
ALSO, without the screw in, both the neutral and ground bus are in continuity with one another, so I'm wondering the necessity of it??
Yes you need it and they are often times difficult to screw it. The threads are painted up or just a tad too small for the screw. It will (and needs) to be there assuming this is your main panel. If there is a disconnect before this panel, do not install the bonding screw.
The reason for the bond is so that the panel box is bonded.
This way if you add another ground bar it is continuous with the neutral bar. Also, it is so that if you have any AC cables entering the panel they will also be bonded through the panel box itself.
I'm going to assume the pic you posted is of your panel. Thus I am going to assume that you are reading continuity because the screw is touching the panel, but not screwed in. It needs to be screwed in.
This is, indeed, my panel. But, it came with the screw out (not installed at all). And, I used an ohmmeter to check between the neutral and the case, and the ohmmeter goes full scale, and beeps, indicating shorted (continuity).
There ain't no metallic tape over the hole, at least not on the front part. And the green ground screw that came with the panel will go all the way in without threading onto anything. What am I missing here?
Some panels tell you to install screw before you mount panel because they can bottom out against whatever you mounted it to. Loosen your panel and try again
I'm telling ya bud, there's is something on the back side of where the screw is that keeps you from being able to screw the screw all the way in unless you push really hard or tap your screwdriver to break through this "seal"
All those bars are connected at the top of the panel. They are all neutral bars (although grounds do go there in a main panel). We might be able to help you more with your question if you describe where you were metering.
OK, then, I got it going, and finished. The screw did fit (in the square hole), and I suppose that there may have been some neutral and ground wires installed when I made the measurements, though I don't see how that would have make any difference if the screw wasn't in.
Thanks for the help everyone.
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