mixed neutral and ground-clarification
I thought the safety ground "network" (including a ground rod and other grounding electrodes) was only supposed to be bonded to neutral at the main panel.
In this old house, these is no separate ground network. The ground rod connects to the meter base neutral and to neutral conductors (via a wire nut) in a junction box. One ungrounded duplex apparently was replaced with a grounded receptable and the ground is simply connected to the neutral conductor. A wire from the well pipe is also connected to the water heater frame and to neutrals in a nearby juction box (via a wire nut). I suspect there are other boxes where neutrals are bonded to box metal. In the main panel, some neutrals go to the a bar that bonds to the panel. One neutral is connected to panel itself -- so panel metal is part of the conducting path back to the PoCo neutral.
I propose to replace the main panel, connect the ground rod and well pipe only to the main panel, and to provide a separate safety ground to a few receptacles and main junction boxes -- until I get around to rewiring everything.
My question is how unsafe is the present hodge-podge of grounded neutrals and what can go wrong if some boxes (receptacles, lights) and conduits are bonded to neutrals?
Thanks,
Daneel
I thought the safety ground "network" (including a ground rod and other grounding electrodes) was only supposed to be bonded to neutral at the main panel.
In this old house, these is no separate ground network. The ground rod connects to the meter base neutral and to neutral conductors (via a wire nut) in a junction box. One ungrounded duplex apparently was replaced with a grounded receptable and the ground is simply connected to the neutral conductor. A wire from the well pipe is also connected to the water heater frame and to neutrals in a nearby juction box (via a wire nut). I suspect there are other boxes where neutrals are bonded to box metal. In the main panel, some neutrals go to the a bar that bonds to the panel. One neutral is connected to panel itself -- so panel metal is part of the conducting path back to the PoCo neutral.
I propose to replace the main panel, connect the ground rod and well pipe only to the main panel, and to provide a separate safety ground to a few receptacles and main junction boxes -- until I get around to rewiring everything.
My question is how unsafe is the present hodge-podge of grounded neutrals and what can go wrong if some boxes (receptacles, lights) and conduits are bonded to neutrals?
Thanks,
Daneel
