Inspected a 2003 mfr’d home (my first) with a Cutler Hammer BR Loadcenter. There was a disconnect outside at the hookup and a disconnect in the main panel. Does this panel still require the neutral and ground bonded since the first disconnect is at the hookup?
I could not see or find any bonding screw or strap on the neutral bus. Although, I grabbed my meter and performed a continuity test between the neutral bus and the enclosure and there was continuity. So it’s either bonded or there is a bootleg somewhere in the home, correct?
Sorry, I edited my post to say ground and neutral bonded. My question was whether or not an interior main panel with a disconnect, which is the second disconnect in this case, needs the neutral and ground bonded…as opposed to a subpanel where the neutral is not bonded to the ground/enclosure.
There is only One Service Disconnect. And with this home it is at the exterior, making the panel a remote distribution/sub panel. So it is wired correctly.
Edited: Thanks Christopher. What threw me off is the label specifically calling it a main service disconnect but I know better that the neutral and egc is only bonded at the first disconnect. If this is a subpanel, the neutral and egc is incorrectly bonded but it doesn’t appear to be bonded at the panel. There is continuity (confirmed with a meter) between the neutral bus and the enclosure so I’ll have to figure out what I want to put in the report. I didn’t test for bootleg grounds on-site.
There should be continuity because the ground is wired back to the service panel where the ground and neutral are bonded. There shouldn’t be anything to report other than the other issues in the panel.
Thanks Richard, that sure does make sense. My tunnel vision gave me the impression that if the neutral and egc’s weren’t bonded at the panel, there would be no continuity but there definitely would be continuity as you mentioned. I guess I need to get my head completely wrapped around it.
I’m going to need a little help with this panel to determine all the defects that you see. I wish they jumped out at me like a seasoned pro It appears I’m going to need much more experience but I’ve only been getting a few inspections a month right now so its not sticking.
Edited:
My thoughts on other issues:
15 amp breaker for bathroom-looks like a 1999 NEC change to 20 amps…my research showed that it didn’t get adopted in Cali until around 2003 when the home was built?
Conduit cap didn’t get installed in the center knockout to protect the feeders.
It appears I’m going to need much more experience but I’ve only been getting a few inspections a month right now so its not sticking.