Home electrical

[1930]

Good morning, I can’t seem to find anyone that can give me a clear answer.
The video below is as close as I have come.
The question is: if the neutral ( in most cases white ) is connected to the same bus bar as the grounds and the neutral is what carries the electricity back to the source ( which is maybe a different topic ) than why are the grounds not energized within the panel ( including but not limited to the exposed ground that I’ve placed on the exterior of my wall to ground the system)
Thank you and I hope that you all have/had someone special to spend your holiday with.
Good video here

 

[mikester]

The grounds can have potential...if you have a bad ground you will discover that problem the hard way.

 

[Runner]

It is my understanding (and also stated in the video) that the only reason the grounding conductors aren't energized is because the neutral bar and main connection is a "better" path to ground than going to the water pipe or rod.

I don't know (but I think) that if you were standing in a pool of water, barefooted on a concrete floor and touched the neutral bar, you could become the better path for current to flow.

Of course, if there is a fault condition (like the hot wire contacting the metal components of the outlet in the video) then the grounding conductor absolutely is carrying current.

The EE's and electricians will be along shortly to provide the correct answer.

Edit: Even though I just said that I don't trust that touching the neutral bar (while standing in a puddle) is safe, it is bonded to the main service panel, so it can't be any worse that touching the service panel.

 

[DarkBlack]

Ground wires are every bit as “energized” as the neutral wires. They’re essentially the same. They’re both derived from the exact same center tap point on your electric pole transformer (which is also physically grounded).
Ground also isn’t technically “the return path”, as it’s AC going back and forth, so both of your hots from the pole, plus your ground from the system are returning paths for 1/2 the cycle.
At the entrance of your home, the wires to be used as neutral are treated as grounded, and those to be kept as ground are deemed grounding.
The 120 volts from a hot to neutral, is 99.9% the same as the 120 volts from a hot to ground. A lightbulb will light, or you will get shocked the same if connected from a hot wire to a ground wire, as you would to a neutral wire, unless there is a GFI device in between.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

Ground wires are only intended to become energized when there is a fault (shorted circuit). When the unintentional high current flows on the shorted path, the over current protective device will trip de-energizing the circuit. So it is serving its purpose as a the safety component in the circuit.

The ground wire is there to prevent a fire or prevent you from getting electricuted.
It is at the same voltage potential as the "grounded conductor" (neutral), but its sole purpose is for your safety and protection of your property.

 

[Roadworthy]

Obviously in the main or house panel ground and neutral are the same. In your appliance they are not. Your appliance frame ground is a safety return path while neutral is used to complete the circuit. A wiring fault can carry the current to ground hopefully preventing a shocking experience. In an add on panel such as your barn the neutral bus and the ground bus are separate and generally the neutral is not grounded.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

Also don’t forget that the ground buss and neutral buss are separated in a sub panel.

 

[D&D]

Also don’t forget that the ground buss and neutral buss are separated in a sub panel.

Yep, just adding to the confusion most people have.

 

[DarkBlack]

In reality, very rarely does a residential ground wire run prevent electrical shock, unless as I stated before, the load is downstream of a GFI breaker. Almost all shocks are from touching a hot wire, and either the neutral, or ground.
Look at all your 120v appliance plugs. You’ll probably see 8 out of 10 don’t even have a ground wire prong.

 

[1930]

Also don’t forget that the ground buss and neutral buss are separated in a sub panel.

I had read this but had not taken the time to look. Sure enough
Thanks for the reminder
Can you tell me why?