Sub Panel Wiring. Need Electrician??

A sub panel is located directly under the main panel. The branch circuit wiring runs through the main panel into the sub panel. However, the grounds and neutrals of the sub panel circuits are terminated in the main panel. I’m pretty sure this is wrong but need some confirmation. Suggestion Required Thanks in advance

brownstone1171

in About Brooklyn 10 years and 3 months ago

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ihhsitbcjyvev | 10 years and 3 months ago

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It looks like all of the load is passing through main panel. I am not certain if this is to code, but rather in principle, there is nothing wrong with it. But still if you feel something went wrong, discuss that with the electrician. Emma Taylor.

thetinkerswagon | 10 years and 3 months ago

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CMU: I’ve learned something with what you are saying, but I think the OP is saying that the grounds and neutrals simply pass through the sub and connect where they should in the main. in other words they did not run a neutral from the main panel neutral bus to the sub neutral bus. not sure why they would do that as it seems like more work to run the individual lines back, but sounds ok. and here in the city, it had always been that the armored wire and the metal piping did the grounding to the main box and the main box was supposed to be cold water grounded to a water main on the street side of the meter. now though, with the use of the plastic coated romex, the ground goes to where? there must be a bus for that now? Steve

cmu | 10 years and 3 months ago

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You cannot have multiple ground paths due to a phenomenon called ground-looping. Importantly, the sub-panel neutral bar should not be grounded (i.e, the neutral busbar should be isolated from the metal box), and thus is carried thru to the main (via the white from main). The ground from the main must be connected to the sub-panel (usually via the metal conduit connection.) I think what you have may correct from your description, but you mention sub-panel ground which is confusing.

thetinkerswagon | 10 years and 3 months ago

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you know what you can do, call tom munetz (licensed, the full gig) and tell him I suggested you call – that I said he was a really nice guy who likes to help people – and pose the question to him. You will get the answering machine so be brief and describe what you said here. he will get back to you. he may even take a quick look for you. Steve (the contractor he knows in middle village)

thetinkerswagon | 10 years and 3 months ago

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First, I am NOT and electrician. Now, either way, the ground/neutral lines are going to go back to the main panel whether they are grounded in the sub and then the bus bar in the sub is grounded to the main panel or if they are individually ground to the main panel bus. I am not sure if this is to code, but in theory there is nothing wrong with it – all of the load is passing through the main panel anyway. if I saw this in my house, I would not worry about it. THAT DOES NOT MEAN I AM NOT WRONG IN THE LETTER OF THE LAW. The most important thing is that all of the connections are tight. Steve