200a feed to dwelling, 4/0 max distance?

[wyliesdiesels]

Wasn't the dryer and wasn't the basement sub.

Play with it tomorrow. There's not too many neutrals to check.

My assumption is correct though, with (existing) feed removed, there should be no continuity?

Do any appliances have ground/neutral bond that could throw off my reading?

3-wire stove?

 

[sparky 1971]

Wasn't the dryer and wasn't the basement sub.

Play with it tomorrow. There's not too many neutrals to check.

My assumption is correct though, with (existing) feed removed, there should be no continuity?

Do any appliances have ground/neutral bond that could throw off my reading?

The only appliances I can think.of would be a dryer or range, but those would have to be a four wire feed and the bonding jumper not removed to give you the situation you have. When you checked the dryer, did you unplug it and check the panel for continuity?

 

[PCustoms]

3-wire stove?

Nope, gas.

 

[PCustoms]

The only appliances I can think.of would be a dryer or range, but those would have to be a four wire feed and the bonding jumper not removed to give you the situation you have. When you checked the dryer, did you unplug it and check the panel for continuity?

Yep.

Pretty sure it was 3 wire at the old place, so was hoping I just had the plug wired wrong.

My guess is it's in one of the first circuits I replaced, likely lighting.

 

[Norcal]

That SER cable entering on the side is bent too tightly, any bends of SER, or NM, cable are required to be 5 times the diameter of the cable.

 

[PCustoms]

So plan of attack:

Pull left ground bar and isolate, if continuity disappears then the issue is on the side. Repeat for RHS if needed.

Did this and it was inconclusive. I'm confident I isolated the LHS bar, no change. The RHS bar is less accessible, and I'm thinking there was contact between a ground and Romex clamp.

Seems to indicate an issue on the right side, but I wish I had made it go away.

 

[PCustoms]

Uhh, is this tech support?

All neutral disconnected.

Still have continuity!

 

[PCustoms]

Goose chase over, and (for the moment) my workmanship is vindicated.

Pulled the neutral from the lug, my ground bars are no longer bonded to neutral.

Which leaves the question, what am I missing?

 

[mike93lx]

Goose chase over, and (for the moment) my workmanship is vindicated.

Pulled the neutral from the lug, my ground bars are no longer bonded to neutral.

Which leaves the question, what am I missing?

The ground you have at your meter must have some continuity with the ground at your panel, no?

 

[PCustoms]

The ground you have at your meter must have some continuity with the ground at your panel, no?

I don't see how, but it's either that or somehow when I tighten the neutral lug in the panel I get a bond.

I had the multimeter hooked up as I reconnected all my neutrals, nothing.

Of course, now that I have 4 wire feed from main disconnect, there is continuity. I did not think to wind the lug in on a dummy wire. Might try that tonight.

PoCo was in and out in 1hr including talking shop and me borrowing cable cutters. Lights are on and I need to clean up and get to work.

 

[PCustoms]

Bump.

Didn't get a chance last night to kill the panel and play with the neutral feed. I did get an inspection mirror behind the lug and the plastic backplane/insulator appears intact. I was able to get a zip tie behind it.

Any other ideas?

 

[PCustoms]

Bump.

Didn't get a chance last night to kill the panel and play with the neutral feed. I did get an inspection mirror behind the lug and the plastic backplane/insulator appears intact. I was able to get a zip tie behind it.

Any other ideas?

Well, I pulled the neutral this morning, as expected I had no continuity to ground.

Put in a cutoff chunk of wire, torqued down and still had isolation.

Still not clear what caused the bond I saw last week, but obviously it was in the old meter setup. Everything is correct in the house!

Buttoned up a few things inside the house sub and cut the old meter pan and SE off, in 2 weeks fiber internet gets installed and I'll be able to take down the old mast (Comcast tied to it). I transferred the generator interlock over the the new main and mounted the cover, all that's left there is to pull a couple feet of wire through and mount the inlet.

Thanks to all that have helped!

 

[Bert_]

Well, I pulled the neutral this morning, as expected I had no continuity to ground.

Put in a cutoff chunk of wire, torqued down and still had isolation.

Still not clear what caused the bond I saw last week, but obviously it was in the old meter setup. Everything is correct in the house!

Buttoned up a few things inside the house sub and cut the old meter pan and SE off, in 2 weeks fiber internet gets installed and I'll be able to take down the old mast (Comcast tied to it). I transferred the generator interlock over the the new main and mounted the cover, all that's left there is to pull a couple feet of wire through and mount the inlet.

Thanks to all that have helped!

Neutral and ground are always bonded in the meter socket.

 

[PCustoms]

Neutral and ground are always bonded in the meter socket.

Ok, but only 3 wires came out of the meter socket and went to panel.

Panel did not have any other connection to ground.

With the panel ground and neutral isolated, why did I have continuity?

 

[Bert_]

Ok, but only 3 wires came out of the meter socket and went to panel.

Panel did not have any other connection to ground.

With the panel ground and neutral isolated, why did I have continuity?

Metal conduit? Panel ground tied to a water line?

 

[PCustoms]

Metal conduit? Panel ground tied to a water line?

Nope, neither.

Edit: the old mess



Feed from overhead is in center, line to panel is bottom left. Ground (to rod) is in the center section.