If it doesn't come as a kit, get a short piece of #4 to link them together


"Jethro" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 9 Sep 2006 18:20:50 -0400, "RBM" rbm2(remove
wrote:

HD has them. A small one is a couple of dollars

One more -

I can examine breaker boxes in the store I guess to see how two
ground-busses are linked, but do you know? That is, should a second
new buss be connected to the first one (which of course is grounded)?
Or does a second buss need its own ground?

Thanks

Jethro



"Jethro" wrote in message
. ..
On Sat, 9 Sep 2006 17:16:55 -0400, "RBM" rbm2(remove
wrote:

You can always add a ground-neutral buss

You know - you are right there. I'll have to look again to see if
there is room. I would think so, since the box itself is quite large.
Can you buy a short buss at Lowes or HD? I never saw one, for what
that's worth.

Jethro



"Jethro" wrote in message
m...
On Sat, 09 Sep 2006 11:10:28 -0400, tom wrote:

On Sat, 09 Sep 2006 11:27:52 GMT, Jethro wrote:

I added a circuit breaker to my box yesterday. In the process, I
found that the ground buss their-in was already totally occupied with
existing white and bare-copper wires. In fact one buss spot had two
white wires held in one spot (under one screw). So, I figured it
would be okay for me to do the same with my new white wire and
bare-copper wire. So now I have three buss screws that each hold two
wires.

Any problem here?

Thanks

Jethro


2005 NEC information, summerized, so read the codes directly.

110.14 "Terminals for more than one conductor and terminals used for
to connect aluminum shall be so identified"

- Unless you have a lables and listings in your panel, or put out by
the panel manufacture you can not put two conductors under a terminal
screw.

110.3(b) "in accordance with any instractions included in the listing
or lableing"

- Get information from the manufacturer

110.12 "Electrical equipmen shall be installed in a neat and
workmanlike manner"

- No guessing allowed.

408.41 "Each grounded conductor [neutral wire] shal terminate within
the panelboard in an individual terminal that is not also used for
another conductor"

There is an exception for parallel conductors, but from you
description, you need to not double up seperate circuts under a screw.


Conclusion?

1. Get information for your panel. Find out if you grounds can be
doubled up. In my square-d panel, equipment grounding conductors
"grounds" can be doubled up if they are of the same guage "size".

2. Following manufactures instructions, re-manage your wires, and if
you run out of room, invest in installing a seperate ground bar, if
allowed.

3. Get a qualified electrician!

Nothing of this is meant as a how-to, just a starting point to
understand that only 'qualified personel' should work on electrical
equipment. The potential for problems isn't just limited to voided
house warranties, code violations, fires, loss of property, and worse,
loss of life.

hth,

tom


Tom

My panel is a Siemens W0816MB1200CT Series E Type 3R

It is now full with 8 breakers:
left side 220V 20A for garage baseboard heat
(double)
110V 15A for porch addition (single)
110V 20A for 8000 BTU window A/C alone (single)

right side
110V 15A for reefer and freezer in garage alone (twin with next)
110V 15A for garage lights and door openers (twin with prior)
110V 15A for garage workbench alone (twin with next)
110V 15A for computer equipment only (what I added this) (twin with
prior)
220V 20A for outside whole-house surge protection device (double)

It has a 200A Main Breaker

What do you think?