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Dwall174 · May 15, 2008, 10:16 AM

I have an older style breaker panel where the neutral & ground wires are connected at the same strip! I plan to upgrade the panel to a 4 wire system with a separate neutral & ground, However since I also need to have the service entrance line upgraded also it won’t be until later this year before I can have that done.

For now I would like to change the Dryer & Range over to the new 4 wire outlets, But I’m not sure if it would create any problems connecting the neutral & ground to the same strip in the main panel!

cdefraia · May 16, 2008, 03:40 AM

Unless the old panel you have is a sub panel the neutral and grounds are not separated.What you have is probably considered the main panel where the wire from the meter goes right to this panel.You can absolutely change over those 220 lines.Even if you get a new service it will still be a three wire system with the ground and neutrals connected to the same bus bar.I am a licensed electrical contractor in New York.

stanfortyman · May 16, 2008, 03:49 AM

Exactly what cdefraia said.
If this is your main panel it is absolutely correct.

No, there is no problem connecting the ground and neutral to the same bar in the main panel, you have no choice.

There is much confusion with grounds and neutrals and their purpose and where they connect.
Just remember, IN the main panel/disconnect the neutral is "bonded" to "ground". After that they must remain isolated.

Dwall174 · May 16, 2008, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by cdefraia

unless the old panel you have is a sub panel the neutral and grounds are not separated.What you have is probably considered the main panel where the wire from the meter goes right to this panel.

Yea it is the main panel that comes from the meter!
In fact the SE line coming from the meter to the panel is only 3AWG so for me to upgrade my current 100 amp panel to a 150~200 amp panel I also need to have the service line upgraded.

Originally Posted by stanfortyman

There is much confusion with grounds and neutrals and their purpose and where they connect.

I have to admit I was also part of that confusion!

The new panel I want to have installed has two terminal strips one on each side of the breakers! I just assumed with two strips, one would be for ground & the other for the neutral!

Thanks all that’s what I though I just wanted to make sure!

KISS · May 16, 2008, 11:10 AM

The two strips are for convience, so the ground an neutrals are near the hot(s) of the respective cable.

stanfortyman · May 16, 2008, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by KeepItSimpleStupid

The two strips are for convience, so the ground an neutrals are near the hot(s) of the respective cable.

EXACTLY.
If you look closely, you'll see a solid bar connecting the two terminal bars.

stanfortyman · May 16, 2008, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by Dwall174

Yea it is the main panel that comes from the meter!
In fact the SE line coming from the meter to the panel is only 3AWG so for me to upgrade my current 100 amp panel to a 150~200 amp panel I also need to have the service line upgraded.

Not just the service line, the WHOLE service.

That is why it is called a service upgrade, not just a panel upgrade.

Dwall174 · May 16, 2008, 03:34 PM

Yea I need to get someone out here & give me a idea of what all I will need! I know it’s going to be $$$$

Originally Posted by stanfortyman

Not just the service line, the WHOLE service.

Does that mean the main overhead lines also? Or just the meter & lines going into the house?

stanfortyman · May 16, 2008, 03:58 PM

If you have an overhead service it means everything from the splices at the service drop down and in.
The drop is owned and maintained by the POCO, as is the glass meter itself. The pan the meter sits in is typically the responsibility of the homeowner.