Exactly.
At one end (its disconnect) three conductors would be switched or fused. At the other end (the supplied equipment and structure), the grounded conductor serves the same purpose as the grounding conductor (so it is essentially one and the same) by bonding all necessary components to the GE of the detached bldg.
I don’t think there’s any question as to the load side configuration at the detached bldg.
At the disconnecting means, yes. Three conductors - all connected the disconnecting means.
By GEC I mean grounding electrode conductor.
All I can say is in almost 20 yars I have NEVER seen this done, never been asked to do it, and the concept has never even been brought up (until now), even by an inspector.
That said, you are of course entitled to your opinion and interpretation.
I think I’ll leave it at that.
Of course, and yes, at the service side.
Geezz. guys, I am a stupid Frenchmen or (frog), but this underpaid Carpenter needs an education. ha. ha.
In years past, I was always told that if you wanted to supply power to an outside dwelling such as a garage with a sub-panel coming off the Main Panel, you needed a four wire, notice how I use the simplictic language, a red wire=110, a black wire=110, a white wire =neutral, and a bare wire =ground.
Is that what we are talking about or am I confused to wholly glory.
At least I was told that by an Old Electrician back 36 years ago, hold on a moment, that Electrician was not that old, I am older than he was now. ha. ha.
Thanks for the information guys, but stop confusing me. ha. ha.
Marcel
A four wire feed eliminates the last couple pages of this thread 
How true!
Thats how it is in Canada .
This also tends to stop all Eddie currents .
I remember a story years ago where all the farm animals would drink from a certain trough except one day the horses refused .
. They finally found out that the neutral was broke and the unbalanced current was going back to source of supply via the ground and the horses obviously could feel it in their feet they would not even go near the trough.
Roy Cooke
Cool Roy;
Marcel
Roy said…
Yes I have heard of this on cattle farms too, it is not uncommon.
Mooooouch! 
So runnin’ a coupla 250-ft extension cords out to that thar barn ain’t right? Well, doggone. :margarit:
Should work fine provided you do not want much power .
The voltage drop could be pretty severe unless you got some pretty big extension cords…
Makes me think of the Toronto University students who made and electric car .
Went from Toronto to LA and only cost $17;00 for the electricity . Unfortunately the extension cords cost them $33,942:00 not so good an idea .
Roy Cooke
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Extension cords are not permissible, replace with hardwire circuits. Haven’t you been paying attention all these months?
“Udderly” insane. 