Shop panel upgrade

[otef546]

Please be gentle lol. Just a average diy guy.

when I bought the house the shop was already here. The electric service was poor at best. I made a decision to have a new meter set due to the distance to my house and the huge amount of rock I have. My electric companies transformer is literally 20 feet from the shop. I hung a new 200 amp meter/main disconnect box with feed through lugs. It has 4 spaces. Used them for air compressor and R/v outlet. Fed through to my new panel on opposite side of the wall. Reconnected my circuits with a ton of leftover space if/when I need it. Any constructive criticism is welcomed.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Looks like you terminated neutral and ground onto the same bar in the subpanel

This is a big no no

Ground wire needs to go to its own bar and the neutral bar(s) needs to be isolated by removing the green bonding screw.

 

[acer66]

I like the labeling of the wires in the box and it looks like the lb box in the first picture is packed.

 

[Terry D]

You need to install a ground bar to the metal can of the panel, remove the ground from the lug that it is connected to now and connected it to the new ground bar. All the branch circuit grounds need to be removed from the neutral buss and extended to the new ground bar.

Neutrals and grounds can not be tied together in a sub panel.

I only see one ground rod also. You should have a grounding electrode and a grounding electrode conductor in the meter/main

 

[otef546]

Looks like you terminated neutral and ground onto the same bar in the subpanel

This is a big no no

Ground wire needs to go to its own bar and the neutral bar(s) needs to be isolated by removing the green bonding screw.

I questioned this with my "help". I was told this wasn't technically a sub panel so separate wasn't required. I read it and understood it as you do but took the bad advice. I can correct it. What device to you prefer to extend my ground wires ?

 

[otef546]

You need to install a ground bar to the metal can of the panel, remove the ground from the lug that it is connected to now and connected it to the new ground bar. All the branch circuit grounds need to be removed from the neutral buss and extended to the new ground bar.

Neutrals and grounds can not be tied together in a sub panel.

I only see one ground rod also. You should have a grounding electrode and a grounding electrode conductor in the meter/main

I questioned this with my "help". I was told this wasn't technically a sub panel so separate wasn't required. I read it and understood it as you do but took the bad advice. I can correct it. What device to you prefer to extend my ground wires ?

 

[Terry D]

I questioned this with my "help". I was told this wasn't technically a sub panel so separate wasn't required. I read it and understood it as you do but took the bad advice. I can correct it. What device to you prefer to extend my ground wires ?

It is a sub panel. Your meter/ main is your main panel. It has your first means of disconnect. You did right by the 4-wire feed to your sub panel. There should be spots to attach ground bars in the panel. That is a Square D Homeline panel, just get ground bars made for that panel and the holes will line up to mount them. I like putting one on each side. If you have to extend the grounds on the branch circuits, i just use wire nuts and the same size wire. If you want to extend the main equipment ground to the ground bars, you just have to attach it to one, you can use a split bolt to do this. Make sure it is the same size wire also. You could also just add a lug down by the equipment ground and not extend it.

I still would think you need another ground rod. If your utility has a service hand book, it would be in there. what size is that conduit and wires feeding the sub panel?

Commercial Electric #4 SOL/STR to #16 SOL/STR Split Bolt Wire Connector 4SBC-B1-5

Use the Blackburn #4 SOL/STR to 16 SOL/STR Split Bolt Connector to join 2 copper wires in power or grounding electrical connection applications. Copper alloy bolt and nut construction provides reliable

www.homedepot.com

Also, here is a thread on extending ground wires

Extending Ground wires

What would you guys recommend if I need to extend the ground wires in my panel?

www.garagejournal.com

 

[otef546]

It is a sub panel. Your meter/ main is your main panel. It has your first means of disconnect. You did right by the 4-wire feed to your sub panel. There should be spots to attach ground bars in the panel. That is a Square D Homeline panel, just get ground bars made for that panel and the holes will line up to mount them. I like putting one on each side. If you have to extend the grounds on the branch circuits, i just use wire nuts and the same size wire. If you want to extend the main equipment ground to the ground bars, you just have to attach it to one, you can use a split bolt to do this. Make sure it is the same size wire also. You could also just add a lug down by the equipment ground and not extend it.

I still would think you need another ground rod. If your utility has a service hand book, it would be in there. what size is that conduit and wires feeding the sub panel?

Commercial Electric #4 SOL/STR to #16 SOL/STR Split Bolt Wire Connector 4SBC-B1-5

Use the Blackburn #4 SOL/STR to 16 SOL/STR Split Bolt Connector to join 2 copper wires in power or grounding electrical connection applications. Copper alloy bolt and nut construction provides reliable

www.homedepot.com

Also, here is a thread on extending ground wires

Extending Ground wires

What would you guys recommend if I need to extend the ground wires in my panel?

www.garagejournal.com

Thank you. I will get it corrected. I do have two grounds, the second connection is under the dirt. Conduit is 1&1/2. Wish it was 2" but I already had it and was trying to save a couple $

 

[otef546]

Thank you. I will get it corrected. I do have two grounds, the second connection is under the dirt. Conduit is 1&1/2. Wish it was 2" but I already had it and was trying to save a couple $

The wire feeding the sub is 2/0 with a 4 gauge ground wire

 

[alfredeneuman]

The wire feeding the sub is 2/0 with a 4 gauge ground wire

You need a wrap of green tape on the ground wire (at both ends) to identify it as a ground.

 

[yatg]

Your RV circuit is using a red with white tape as neutral. Pretty sure that #6 and smaller neutrals must be white/gray and you're not allowed to reidentify them.

 

[otef546]

You need to install a ground bar to the metal can of the panel, remove the ground from the lug that it is connected to now and connected it to the new ground bar. All the branch circuit grounds need to be removed from the neutral buss and extended to the new ground bar.

Neutrals and grounds can not be tied together in a sub panel.

I only see one ground rod also. You should have a grounding electrode and a grounding electrode conductor in the meter/main

Ok Terry I think I have it corrected. Here's a couple pics

 

[otef546]

Looks like you terminated neutral and ground onto the same bar in the subpanel

This is a big no no

Ground wire needs to go to its own bar and the neutral bar(s) needs to be isolated by removing the green bonding screw.

I think I have it corrected. Pics are dark but I think u can zoom in and see

 

[Terry D]

Ok Terry I think I have it corrected. Here's a couple pics

Looks good. Is that splice connector you used dual rated for copper and aluminum. Most of them are. I know you used all copper, just making sure the connector is rated for copper. Other than that you have fixed the problem.

 

[otef546]

Looks good. Is that splice connector you used dual rated for copper and aluminum. Most of them are. I know you used all copper, just making sure the connector is rated for copper. Other than that you have fixed the problem.

Yes it did say on the package that it was rated for both

 

[PCustoms]

Is that bushing on the bottom white PVC?

 

[alfredeneuman]

I think I have it corrected. Pics are dark but I think u can zoom in and see

There's still no green tape on the #4 ground.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I questioned this with my "help". I was told this wasn't technically a sub panel so separate wasn't required. I read it and understood it as you do but took the bad advice. I can correct it. What device to you prefer to extend my ground wires ?

Your “helper” was dangerously wrong.

Hopefully theyre not licensed.

See the electrical FAQs sticky for wiring diagrams.

 

[otef546]

Your “helper” was dangerously wrong.

Hopefully theyre not licensed.

See the electrical FAQs sticky for wiring diagrams.

Scary thing he is licensed. Thanks for your help. Bad thing I was 90 percent that it was wrong but let myself get convinced otherwise

 

[wyliesdiesels]

There's still no green tape on the #4 ground.

huh? I see green on it in the subpanel

 

[alfredeneuman]

huh? I see green on it in the subpanel

It needs to be on both ends of the wire