User: munisparki, Location: Texas
Asked on: Friday, June 20, 2025 at 12:19 am EDT
Answered on: Friday, June 20, 2025 at 12:52 am EDT
Question: Installing a temp pole.Power is supplied from the utility ground transformer to the utility meter. The meter is grounded with it's own ground rod. This is the only ground rod.Typical 120/240 3 wire split phase coming into a small temporary service panel through a metal conduit.Panel only has one bus bar where both grounds and neutrals are landed as well as the service neutral.The single bus bar is for some reason not bonded to the panel enclosure. It is "floating" on a plastic spacer.There is no main bonding jumper or bonding screw. I'm not that familiar with temp poles but shouldn't the panel enclosure be bonded to the single neutral/ground bus bar with a main bonding jumper?Or would this cause neutral current to flow from the bus through the MBJ through the metal conduit to the meter?Also why does this panel have the only bus bar floating and on a plastic fitting?
You've identified some significant safety issues with this temporary service setup. Here's a breakdown
Problems:
Floating Neutral/Ground Bus
This is a
major safety hazard. The neutral and ground need to be bonded together at the service. The fact that the bus bar is floating on a plastic spacer means there is no reliable path for fault current to return to the source. This can leave the enclosure, conduit, and anything connected to them energized during a fault. Missing Main Bonding Jumper (MBJ)
The MBJ is essential. It's the connection that bonds the neutral/ground bus to the metal enclosure.
Single Ground Rod
The NEC (National Electrical Code) generally requires two ground rods for a temporary service. There are exceptions, but they require testing the resistance to ground of a single rod to be 25 ohms or less, which is rarely the case.
Potential for Neutral Current on Conduit
This is a consequence of the missing MBJ. Without a proper bonding connection, fault current can potentially find its way back to the transformer via the metal conduit, which is not designed for this purpose and can be dangerous.
Why the Bus Bar is Floating (and why it's wrong)
It's hard to say for sure why someone installed it this way. Here are some possibilities, but
none of them are valid reasons to leave it as-is: Misunderstanding of Grounding
The person installing might have thought that keeping the neutral and ground "isolated" in the panel was somehow beneficial. This is incorrect and creates a dangerous situation.
Incorrect Parts
It's possible that the wrong bus bar or mounting hardware was used, and rather than correct it, the installer simply left it floating.
Ignorance
Unfortunately, some people simply don't understand the principles of grounding and bonding.
What Needs to be Done IMMEDIATELY
Do NOT Use This Service
It is unsafe and should not be energized until these issues are corrected.2.
Call a Qualified Electrician
This is not a DIY situation. You need a licensed electrician with experience in service installations to inspect and correct the wiring.3.
Correct Grounding and Bonding
Bond the Neutral/Ground Bus
The electrician will need to properly bond the neutral/ground bus to the metal enclosure. This likely involves removing the plastic spacer and directly bolting the bus bar to the enclosure. If the panel isn't designed for this, a suitable bonding jumper (wire) will need to be installed.
Install a Main Bonding Jumper
A properly sized MBJ must connect the neutral/ground bus to the enclosure.
Install a Second Ground Rod
If a single ground rod hasn't been tested and confirmed to be at or below 25 ohms to ground then a second ground rod will need to be installed at least 6 feet away from the first.4.
Inspect the Entire Installation
The electrician should thoroughly inspect the rest of the temporary service for other code violations or safety concerns.5.
Verify Proper Wiring
The electrician should use a meter to ensure that the grounding and bonding are correctly implemented and that there are no stray voltages on the enclosure.
Why This is So Important
Proper grounding and bonding are critical for electrical safety. They provide a low-impedance path for fault current to return to the source, causing the overcurrent protection device (circuit breaker or fuse) to trip quickly and safely de-energize the circuit. Without this, the enclosure of appliances and equipment can become energized during a fault, posing a risk of electric shock.
In Summary:
What you've described is a dangerous situation. Do not use this temporary service until a qualified electrician has corrected the grounding and bonding issues. Your safety and the safety of others depend on it. Flag for review