square d pannel question pic enclosed

[justin1795]

i purchased this square d panel to run for my pool as a sub panel. I see the ground and neutral are connected with a bar across them. im thinking perhaps I purchased the wrong panel or I need to add a separate ground bar?

 

[n8n]

Usually the bar is removable so that it can be used as either a main or sub panel.

 

[Mustang51js]

That green screw is the bonding screw for a main panel, you need to buy and add a ground bar. They are about $5,just make sure it's for homeline panel and it will line up with the holes in panel.

 

[justin1795]

ok thanks. will be a few days till I make it back to the store but wanted to make sure I was right before I mounted it.

 

[teamextreme]

The 2 bars you see are both neutral bars. You need a ground bar kit like Mustang suggested. And don't use the green bonding jumper screw.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The bar is made to be removed. You don't show a pic of the top of the bars but I'll bet one has a large lug for a large (neutral) cable and one has a much smaller lug for a wire such as the one to the ground rod.

Most of these are designed to remove the connecting bar, and drive the green screw thru the bar with the smaller lug on top, and convert the panel to one ground, and one neutral. If used as a main panel, the bar remains and you run the green screw into place and use both bars as a combination ground and neutral.

There will be one position in the bar with the smaller lug, that if you remove the setscrew will be open thru the insulator and line up with a prepunched threaded hole in the back of the panel. Instructions should show where it goes.

AS an option, you may purchase a separate ground bar and screw it into prepunched holes in the back panel, and discard the green screw.

Charles

 

[Mustang51js]

The bar is made to be removed. You don't show a pic of the top of the bars but I'll bet one has a large lug for a large (neutral) cable and one has a much smaller lug for a wire such as the one to the ground rod.

Most of these are designed to remove the connecting bar, and drive the green screw thru the bar with the smaller lug on top, and convert the panel to one ground, and one neutral. If used as a main panel, the bar remains and you run the green screw into place and use both bars as a combination ground and neutral.

There will be one position in the bar with the smaller lug, that if you remove the setscrew will be open thru the insulator and line up with a prepunched threaded hole in the back of the panel. Instructions should show where it goes.

AS an option, you may purchase a separate ground bar and screw it into prepunched holes in the back panel, and discard the green screw.

Charles

The panel he posted is a homeline version from square d, it's actually upside down in the pic so the lug you see on the right is the nuetral lug. I don't believe there are any other options to make the bar on left bonded if you removed the jumper without adding a wire from the bar to a screw or lug that you have to install anyway, so prob easier to get the ground bar made for it. I still don't know why all panels just don't come with them separate anyway,prob just a money thing.

 

[Norcal]

IMO, it should be NEVER be recommended to remove the bar, I doubt too many people bother to bond the former neutral bar, now ground bar to the box, ground bar kits are cheap & a split neutral makes it easier to make up the panel.

If that panel is going to be anywhere near a pool or pool chemicals, a HOMOline or any other aluminum bussed panel is a bad idea.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Seems like a lot of panel to run a pool. Cannot see it all, but just looking at the neutral bars tells me its large.

I don't care for an aluminum bus panel at all. My shop is a copper Siemens, house is old copper Square D, and I helped a neighbor install a GE with tin plated copper bars.

Charles

 

[Mustang51js]

Justin1795 what size panel is that, looks like it's maybe a 20 space. And where are you putting it. Most pool panel end up being outside next to the equipment. So u need to make sure you get the right panel if it will be outside, they do make pool panels but not sure on the price. Is the pool in ground or above ground

 

[mr overdunne]

You bought the wrong panel. It will work but its not the ideal setup.

 

[Speedy Petey]

You bought the wrong panel. It will work but its not the ideal setup.

No he didn't, it's fine.
What makes you say this?

 

[rubberrodder]

From what I am seeing, it is the same panel I have for my garage. And that connecting bar is NOT easily removed.{I just tried mine} At least not without doing major surgery or damage to the box itself.

 

[gatchel]

Isn't that one of those panels where the connecting bar can be removed and cut next to the screw hole on the right on the OP's picture and installed back in to allow the green screw to be installed to bond the now ground bar to the panel?

IIRC, there's even a line scored on the connecting bar of where to cut...

 

[Mustang51js]

sure you can cut it and remove parts and hope you dont break anything, or you can go and spend $4 on the ground bar made for this application

 

[gatchel]

sure you can cut it and remove parts and hope you dont break anything, or you can go and spend $4 on the ground bar made for this application

I get it. I didn't say to do it that way I was simply confirming what I thought I had seen.

 

[justin1795]

I removed the old grounding bar from the panel I removed. its 125 amp outdoor panel. it is a 8 spot panel but they use the same size box for panels that have more. I wanted a large panel for the large wire I plan on running. this will also later feed my garage. that is why such a large panel.

 

[Mustang51js]

I get it. I didn't say to do it that way I was simply confirming what I thought I had seen.

I'm not sure you could've cut that panel anyway or you would've needed to move the nuetral lug onto the other bar. But I try not to cut anything because there's to many lawyers around looking for reasons to sue people.

 

[Mustang51js]

I removed the old grounding bar from the panel I removed. its 125 amp outdoor panel. it is a 8 spot panel but they use the same size box for panels that have more. I wanted a large panel for the large wire I plan on running. this will also later feed my garage. that is why such a large panel.

If you ever had it inspected you have to watch because I'm pretty sure if it's a dedicated pool panel it's only supposed to have pool things on it. If someone says something you could say it's just a sub panel for something else or was existing as is.

 

[justin1795]

The reason I wanted to do it this way is because our panel in the house is almost full. Also the garage electrical would have to run right next to the pool electrical. The pool was there already so I may have to say that