homeowner, amateur home electrician; Do I isolate an add on grounding buss bar to the metal breaker box with non metallic spacers; or do I just fasten the buss bar to the inside of the breaker box with a few machine screws?
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Replies
There are usually threaded holes already in the box to accomodate the ground buss bars from the manufacturer.
Add-on ground bar is screwed directly to the panel box.
In the main service entrance panel, the neutral bar is also bonded to the metal panel box - either by a screw or a small rod.
In a sub-panel, in the same building: the ground bar is still attached directly to the metal panel box. BUT, the neutral bar is isolated from the metal box by removing any bonding screws / rods / bars.
Service entrance panel -- ground and neutral are both bonded to the metal panel box. Continuity exists between panel box, ground bar, neutral bar, and ground rod or ufer.
Sub panel in same building -- neutral bar is isolated from the metal panel. Ground bar is attached directly. Continuity exists between ground bar and box. Neutral "floats" within the panel box.
Jim