I have purchased 8 Siemens S1224B1100 service panels for our school, I teach Property Maintenance. The older service panels have grounding/neutral bars w 21 spaces on either side. The new ones have only the right side. So I've found grounding bars kits to install on the left side. My problem is that I cannot find the copper bar that connects the two of the. Anyone know where I can find 8 of them?
Grounding Bar Connector
1 - 5 of 5 Posts
Joined
·
15,054 Posts
They do not have to be connected together. They are connected by the metal box. That bar can only be used for grounds, neutrals must be on the factory installed bar.
If it makes you feel better connect the 2 bars with a length of #6 copper.
Sent from my RCT6A03W13E using Tapatalk
If it makes you feel better connect the 2 bars with a length of #6 copper.
Sent from my RCT6A03W13E using Tapatalk
What you're talking about there is rote teaching brric... just follow the recipe exactly or get your fingers rapped, don't ask why and don't stop to understand why.
However if you actually want competent people, teaching separation is very worthwhile. Then you can teach combination as an exception to separation.
Having a separate grounding bus is a "best practice" even in a main panel. It does a number of things to help competent people; makes it easy to convert to a subpanel, and makes it easier to stick a clamp ammeter on the neutral-ground equipotential bond, and makes you realize the neutral-ground equipotential bond is actually a thing that matters and can be used artfully.
It also prepares them for wiring subpanels; i.e. you don't have to UN-teach them "glom everything on the bus".
The metal chassis of the panel is ground. So multiple ground bars simply ground via the hard metal-metal and screw-threads contact with the metal chassis. You are welcome to wire a redundant ground strap if you feel inspired.
Other important lessons are not to "runt off" the wires so short they can only reach the breaker/bar they're on now. Every circuit's hot *and neutral* should be able to reach any breaker in the panel; neutral because GFCI/AFCI. Having to rearrange breakers is very common; a bunch of things have specific positions they must be in - generator interlocks, surge suppressors, PV, MWBCs, etc.
Also make sure they know this is an exceptionally small panel and they should favor big ones.
However if you actually want competent people, teaching separation is very worthwhile. Then you can teach combination as an exception to separation.
Having a separate grounding bus is a "best practice" even in a main panel. It does a number of things to help competent people; makes it easy to convert to a subpanel, and makes it easier to stick a clamp ammeter on the neutral-ground equipotential bond, and makes you realize the neutral-ground equipotential bond is actually a thing that matters and can be used artfully.
It also prepares them for wiring subpanels; i.e. you don't have to UN-teach them "glom everything on the bus".
The metal chassis of the panel is ground. So multiple ground bars simply ground via the hard metal-metal and screw-threads contact with the metal chassis. You are welcome to wire a redundant ground strap if you feel inspired.
Other important lessons are not to "runt off" the wires so short they can only reach the breaker/bar they're on now. Every circuit's hot *and neutral* should be able to reach any breaker in the panel; neutral because GFCI/AFCI. Having to rearrange breakers is very common; a bunch of things have specific positions they must be in - generator interlocks, surge suppressors, PV, MWBCs, etc.
Also make sure they know this is an exceptionally small panel and they should favor big ones.
More rants about personal preference and not required by code. Bric knows what he is talking about without getting on a high horse.
Also it is ok to have grounds and neutrals at the service. The term main panel is undefined.
1 - 5 of 5 Posts
