Electrical Service Panel Question from a Newbie

Specific Inspection Topics Electrical Inspections
42

Inkedf80afdb918eaed66093cf2f90f2d54ff81cb64cc_LI

Hello everyone, Jacob, ME., here.
I also am new and working through the courses at InterNACHI.
I have some background experience working in construction
in various areas, but electrical is a weak spot for me, too.

I was looking at OP’s picture and I had two observations, as
I recently completed the Electrical Course.

  1. I see several neutrals in one connection, and I’m wondering
    if that is providing a solid connection to all those wires. I
    recall a part of the Electrical Course saying something about
    how the set screw wouldn’t be able to make a very good
    connection when there is more than one wire inserted.

  2. I circled the area where one neutral appears to be damaged.
    That also causes me to question the ability of this component to
    function correctly.

Please, anyone, feel free to correct me if I am mistaken. Also,
any advice or input is welcome.

Thank You!

43

Jacob,

  • Only 1 neutral is allowed per termination

  • I can’t tell how badly it is damaged but might as well recommend assessment and/or correction as long as there will be a qualified electrician there.

Happy inspection.

1 Like
44

Those are not neutrals but equipment grounding conductors (EGC’S) and typically two or three are permitted to terminate in a single hole.

2 Likes
45

Thank you @rmeier2
When I zoomed in, I saw 4, maybe 5 conductors going to that single termination.

That’s not too many?

I’m asking in earnest, there’s a lot I still don’t know.

1 Like
46

Your eyes are better than mine. :smiley:
I’ve never seen an EGC bus that was listed for that many conductors in a single hole. Generally it’s two or three with the number and sizes listed on the label in the panel.

47

Try this closeup…

2021-03-20_100932
2021-03-20_100932441×510 79.3 KB

1 Like
48

Thank you, yes I agree it’s probably about 5 conductors. Nice job Jacob. :sunglasses:

1 Like
49

So how is this any different than a single, multi-strand cable, with multiple strands?

50

Looks like bunched ground terminals on the right under one lug.
The ground bus is isolated from the neutral bus.
Just my 2 cents.

1 Like
51

I’ve been asking that same question for 20 years regarding the neutral in SE cable. :thinking:

3 Likes
52

I have an idea why that may matter. A single multiple strand cable is wound together a million times. Which in my opinion would certainly guarantee connectivity. Similar to a “pig tail” or “rat tail”. But, I need to disqualify myself, I am NO electrician.

4 Likes
53

Well glad to know I can help. Type it into Google and you will see them for 240/120 by Eaton, federal , and a dozen more. Cheers
Theo

1 Like
54

Jeffrey, There are standard specifications for the manufacture of all wires, cables, and terminals. They take into account such things the ratio of cross-sectional area of the conductors, the cross-sectional area of the terminals, the ratio of the cross-sectional areas, heat dissipation properties, and so on. The size of the individual strands in a multi-strand conductor are also all the same size and metallurgy.

Components are tested for specific installation configurations. It isn’t possible to cover every conceivable arrangement. There are potential problems when there are different sizes and different metallurgy. To keep things simple, everything is rated for use in the way that it was tested and listed. As a practical matter, you could put multiple stranded conductors and probably not have a problem because there is a large margin for error with electrical equipment in general. But that’s another discussion.

2 Likes