04-03-2019, 08:30 AM
(04-03-2019, 08:18 AM)rwe2156 Wrote: The neutral was tied to the ground in the panel. So was the neutral was also acting as ground?
If it was the main panel, and was the service equipment (no disconnect before that panel), then the grounds and neutrals all go to the same bus. The utility's service conductors, of which there are only three (two hots and a neutral), land on the main breaker and the large neutral conductor is landed on the same neutral/ground bus as the circuit conductors, under the big lug intended for that. The grounding electrode system is also landed on that bus, and includes (probably) the cold water pipe from the city and the ground rods or ufer grounds or whatever they used.
From there, grounds and neutrals are completely separate, not counting pre-1996 3-wire dryer and range circuits. But in the main panel only, grounds and neutrals and service neutral and grounding electrode conductor all come together in that one place and at no other location. Subpanels have a 4-wire feeder, and grounds and neutrals are separate, on separate bus bars, all the way back to the service equipment (main panel usually, but can be something before that, like with a manufactured home).
So yes, at the service equipment, the neutral is also the ground, and is in fact called the 'grounded conductor' in NEC-speak, while the 'ground' is actually called the 'equipment grounding conductor'. Those terms are unfortunately a little too close sounding, and can cause confusion.
Tom
“This place smells like that odd combination of flop sweat, hopelessness, aaaand feet"
“This place smells like that odd combination of flop sweat, hopelessness, aaaand feet"