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Why does the ground in home wiring go all the way to the breaker box when it could be connected to the neutral wire in the receptacle?
Robsoden
Wires can break, or connections can corrode. Consider a possible scenario:
You are using a vacuum cleaner that has a metal case. You dont know it, but the neutral wire from the receptacle to the breaker panel has come loose.
First, the correct wiring. The voltage flows from the breaker up the hot wire to the recep, then up the vac's cord, through the motor, back down the cord to the neutral in the recep, but because the wire has come loose, it stops there. No current flows. The vac does not work, but that's it. No lives are lost today.
What if we eliminate the ground wire from the recep back to the panel, and simply tie the ground and neutral together at the recep, as you suggest? Same scenario, the neutral has come loose. Now voltage flows from the breaker up the hot wire to the recep, up the cord to the motor, back down the cord's neutral to the recep. The neutral has come loose, so does the voltage stop? nope, it still has a path! voltage flows in our neutral to ground jumper, back up the cord's ground wire, to the vacuum case. Oops, the case is now HOT. Current flows from the case, through YOU to ground, and you are dead.
You can't use a normal current-carrying conductor to serve as a safety function as well. It defeats the purpose. The NEC (National Electric Code) prohibits this, and it's for a good reason. The NEC is considered a MINIMUM standard for the safe installation of an electrical system. In other words, this is the least you are allowed to do and still be safe.
It costs a lot more to manufacture, install, and connect that third wire. You can bet that if deleting it could be done safely, the NEC would allow it.
This is also why the inclusion of a ground rod in an installation is so important when the neutral and ground are bonded together. If the neutral breaks outside the premises and a ground rod isn't present, full voltage appears on the casing of grounded appliances. The inclusion of the rod pulls the voltage down to earth, and ensures that the touch voltage when a person makes contact with any metal is reduced.
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Why is the ground wire hot at all outlet boxes on a particular circuit?
Most likely the ground (green) wire is mistakenly connected to hot instead of the hot wire (black) at the breaker panel! Possibly you meant the neutral wire not the ground wire, in that case most likely the neutral (white) wire is mistakenly connected to hot instead of the hot wire (black) at the breaker panel! In either case check all three wires in the breaker panel for that circuit to make sure they are all correctly connected! Black is hot, White is neutral, Green (or uninsulated in some cases) is ground.
How do you install multiple GFCI receptacles?
A GFCI receptacle can extend its protection to regular receptacles connected to the output side of the GFCI. Each actual GFCI receptacle should be directly connected to a breaker in electric panel.
Why not hook ground to neutral since they are hooked on same spot in breaker box why not in outlet box.?
The "hot" wire and the neutral wire both carry current (the same amount, in fact) when a load is connected to complete the circuit. The ground wire never carries current except when a fault-to-ground situation occurs. Yes, neutral and ground wires should both be at ground potential, but NO they should not be connected at the outlet.
What size wire for a 40 amp breaker?
A 40 amp breaker is used in conjunction with AWG # 8 copper wire. The black and red wires are connected to the breaker. The ground wire is connected to the ground bar and the white wire is connected to the neutral bar.
Why is it good to a ground on a receptacle?
Not only is it good to put a ground on a receptacle it is mandatory by the electrical code rules. The ground is installed to provide a low impedance return to the distribution panel to trip the breaker supplying the circuit in case of a ground fault occurring on the circuit.
Can you change outlet to fit old 3 prong outlet?
An old 2 hole receptacle can be changed to a 3 hole receptacle that will accept a 3 prong plug, provided a ground wire is available at the box and connected to the ground (green) lug on the new receptacle. A 2 hole receptacle has a hot and neutral wire, while a 3 hole receptacle will require a ground wire connection -- in addition to the hot and neutral wires.
How do I convert existing 3 wire 220 volt 20 amp breaker wire system to 110 volt from the box to the recepticle?
Assuming there is no neutral: 1) Turn off the breaker. 2) Disconnect 1 of the 2 hot wires from the breaker and connect it to the neutral bar (Recommend phase taping the wire white :) ) Remember which wire you used as the neutral, in a home you will most likely have a black and a red. I would keep the black hot, and phase tape the red wire white. If it's not long enough you can wire nut another white wire onto it to make it reach the neutral bar. 3) Leave the breaker OFF, at the receptacle, change it to a 120 volt receptacle. Take the wire you made the neutral, and connect it to the white screw on the 120 v receptacle, and take the black to the hot. Ground to the ground screw. Make sure you phase tape the red wire at the receptacle white as well. 4) turn the breaker on 5) test the receptacle with a meter or receptacle testing device for correct wiring.
Why is the ground wire hot at all outlet boxes on a particular circuit?
Most likely the ground (green) wire is mistakenly connected to hot instead of the hot wire (black) at the breaker panel! Possibly you meant the neutral wire not the ground wire, in that case most likely the neutral (white) wire is mistakenly connected to hot instead of the hot wire (black) at the breaker panel! In either case check all three wires in the breaker panel for that circuit to make sure they are all correctly connected! Black is hot, White is neutral, Green (or uninsulated in some cases) is ground.
In typical home electrical panel installation the main ground wire is connected directly from a ground rod driven into the ground to the?
In North American residential homes, there are 3 wires coming from the utility company, two "hots" and neutral. The two "hot" conductors get connected to the main breaker. The neutral gets connected to the neutral bus bars located along the sides of the breaker box. There is a set screw that is placed in the neutral bar that screws into the distribution panel enclosure thereby bringing the potential of the neutral bars down to zero. The wire from your ground rod is also connected to the neutral bus bar, and thereby it is connected to the neutral from the power company. This is also often bonded to the copper cold water Plumbing in the house if the home is not plumbed in PVC water pipe. White circuit wires are then connected to the neutral bus bars. Also in the distribution panel are ground bus bars. The ground wires from circuit cables are connected to these grounding bars. Do not under any circumstance terminate the white and bare ground wires together. Ground wires to the ground bar and white wires to the neutral bar.
How do you install multiple GFCI receptacles?
A GFCI receptacle can extend its protection to regular receptacles connected to the output side of the GFCI. Each actual GFCI receptacle should be directly connected to a breaker in electric panel.
Why not hook ground to neutral since they are hooked on same spot in breaker box why not in outlet box.?
The "hot" wire and the neutral wire both carry current (the same amount, in fact) when a load is connected to complete the circuit. The ground wire never carries current except when a fault-to-ground situation occurs. Yes, neutral and ground wires should both be at ground potential, but NO they should not be connected at the outlet.
Why would your pool circuit breaker go off?
Probably because you are either drawing too much current or you have a ground fault. If your ground fault breaker is tripping, or if you have a ground fault receptacle is tripping then you have too much circulating current through your neutral. There are many factors to consider there. Provide more information about what is on the pool's circuit and we can explore the options.
What size wire for a 40 amp breaker?
A 40 amp breaker is used in conjunction with AWG # 8 copper wire. The black and red wires are connected to the breaker. The ground wire is connected to the ground bar and the white wire is connected to the neutral bar.
In the typical home electrical panel installation the main ground wire is connected directly from a ground rod driven into the ground to the?
In North American residential homes, there are 3 wires coming from the utility company, two "hots" and neutral. The two "hot" conductors get connected to the main breaker. The neutral gets connected to the neutral bus bars located along the sides of the breaker box. There is a set screw that is placed in the neutral bar that screws into the distribution panel enclosure thereby bringing the potential of the neutral bars down to zero. The wire from your ground rod is also connected to the neutral bus bar, and thereby it is connected to the neutral from the power company. This is also often bonded to the copper cold water plumbing in the house if the home is not plumbed in PVC water pipe. White circuit wires are then connected to the neutral bus bars. Also in the distribution panel are ground bus bars. The ground wires from circuit cables are connected to these grounding bars. Do not under any circumstance terminate the white and bare ground wires together. Ground wires to the ground bar and white wires to the neutral bar.
Why is it good to a ground on a receptacle?
Not only is it good to put a ground on a receptacle it is mandatory by the electrical code rules. The ground is installed to provide a low impedance return to the distribution panel to trip the breaker supplying the circuit in case of a ground fault occurring on the circuit.
What is A ground-fault circuit interrupter?
== == If the current in an ac power circuit is not balanced between hot and neutral, possibly meaning some of the current is going through a human being to ground, a GFCI breaker or receptacle will break the circuit to keep the person from being electrocuted.
Why is it good to put a ground on a receptacle?
Not only is it good to put a ground on a receptacle it is mandatory by the electrical code rules. The ground is installed to provide a low impedance return to the distribution panel to trip the breaker supplying the circuit in case of a ground fault occurring on the circuit.
