Electrical question

Flash

In the breaker box under my Pole Barn there is a Ground Bus Bar. Evidently when I had some lighting and plug outlets install, one of the screws that secure the ground wire was lost. I am now adding another plug outlet and was wondering if two ground wires can run to the same hole on the Ground Bus? Nothing heavy duty involved. Just plug outlets that see occasional usage, some halogen lights an eventually a gas stove with electronic ignition.

Mango Man

Here is some sage advice. Get an electrician before you kill yourself or burn something down. :wink

Flash

Mango Man wrote: »

Here is some sage advice. Get an electrician before you kill yourself or burn something down. :wink

But I have my "Handy, Dandy" Basic Electrical Wiring Techniques book by Ortho. :grin

Really just a single pole Breaker and a new plug outlet.

DONY 1

Code says you cannot put 2 wires under 1 screw unless it is rated for it. Will it work? Yes. You can pick up another ground bar from HD for a couple bucks and add it to the existing panel easy.

Stugots

Home Depot has plenty of screws to replace the one you lost. Better to keep them separate.


[video=youtube_share;G2gTFBhQ7Ko]http://youtu.be/G2gTFBhQ7Ko[/video]

Mango Man

Sure, ground away.

big_t

Its done regularly. Or you can attach a single lug to the can and use it for a new connection. Or you can land one larger wire under the screw and wire nut the three of them together. Would not be able to estimate the number of times I have seen more than one wire landed under one screw/lug. without a problem.

ps: home depot sells a little yellow book, darned if i can remember the name, thats like a bible for electricity. if you are gonna putz around with electricity get one and read it.

Capt'n. Chumbucket

DONY 1 wrote: »

Code says you cannot put 2 wires under 1 screw unless it is rated for it. Will it work? Yes. You can pick up another ground bar from HD for a couple bucks and add it to the existing panel easy.

Keep this in the back of your mind if you ever need an inspection in the future.

DONY 1

big_t wrote: »

Its done regularly. Or you can attach a single lug to the can and use it for a new connection. Or you can land one larger wire under the screw and wire nut the three of them together. Would not be able to estimate the number of times I have seen more than one wire landed under one screw/lug. without a problem.

ps: home depot sells a little yellow book, darned if i can remember the name, thats like a bible for electricity. if you are gonna putz around with electricity get one and read it.

Ugly's book. Ive given them to a ton of my guys over the years.

razorreilly09

you can also buy another grounding terminal bar from most hardware or electrical stores and install or use the screws from it, home depot carries them

Fish Haid

I have done 3 or 4!

Just remember to tug on them to make sure they are tight!

While you are there, tighten all the other screws too.

charlie tuna

The whole idea is to connect the bond wire from your new circuit to the frame of the breaker box that is feeding your new circuit. This can be done in many approved ways as described in above posts. Before they had grounding bars, electricians would use the screws that secured the panel in place. This is the most important connection of your new circuit because it can carry fault current back to the power source to trip the overload(breaker) during a ground fault.

T Top

By code...No.


Functionally...Yes.

Bruce LB

It will work.

Flash

razorreilly09 wrote: »

you can also buy another grounding terminal bar from most hardware or electrical stores and install or use the screws from it, home depot carries them

I saw a small mini one at Ace Hardware today for like $4.00. Gonna check the box tomorrow and see where I would install it. Otherwise, I will just take one of the screws. Thanks guys.

charlie tuna

Most bond screws are a 10/24 You can buy just the screw.

T Top

charlie tuna wrote: »

Most bond screws are a 10/24 You can buy just the screw.

He's not asking about "bonding" he is asking about "grounding".:blowkiss:grin

muddpuppy01

If you add another ground bar make sure to scrap the paint off the panel to get a good bond and use a machine screw and not a self tapping screw. Grounding wires can be doubled up, current carrying conductors cannot ( grounded "neutral" and ungrounded "hot" ).