novajohnb said:
Kampr,
From memory, an attached garage (I believe a garage is technically considered "attached" if it is connected to the main house via any metal conduit or even telephone/ TV cable) has to have four wires {hot, hot, nuetral, ground} going to subpanel with *non-bonded* nuetral and ground.
A non-attached garage can have three wires in the conduit {hot, hot, neutral} The ground wire is attached from the sub panel to an approved earth grounding rod system at the garage. Again, *non-bonded* neutral and ground.
As far as I know, sub-panel neutral and ground *never* bonded. Neutral and ground only connected once in the system at main service panel (house.)
Check the above info with the NEC and local code officials, as they may go above and beyond NEC.
Kampar,
1st off this statement is true. a
sub-panel neutral and ground *should never* be bonded. the Neutral and ground should only be connected once in the system at the main service panel (house.)
is correct !
novajohnb offense here and I'm not trying to start a argument with you but incorrect information can pose harm injury or death in this case.
novajohnb said:
Kampr,
A non-attached garage can have three wires in the conduit {hot, hot, neutral} The ground wire is attached from the sub panel to an approved earth grounding rod system at the garage. Again, *non-bonded* neutral and ground.
novajohnb
By NO MEANS can a ground rod/earth ground be the sole means of a ground in any electrical system ! and by having a earth ground/ground rod and having your neutrals & grounds separate and Not bonding a panel the ground rod/earth ground would be the sole means of a ground in this type of a system as you described it.
A non-attached garage can have three wires in the conduit {hot, hot, neutral} feeding it if that was the main service to a non-attached garage and if it has the panel bonded and a ground rod is included
I know is 100% correct, IF it's not fed from a breaker in side the main residential house service panel.
but when a non-attached garage is feed from a breaker in side the main residential house service panel then I think it becomes considered a sub-panel and should be treated and wired as one.
check your NJ codes and laws cause i'm not sure if NJ wants 4 wires and a non bonded panel with no ground rod in a a non-attached garage feed from a breaker in side a residential home main service panel or not.
now here if the city service comes into the meter on the outside of the house and from meter to a terminal box or a weather proof panel
on the out side of a house, you could feed a non-attached garage with three wires in the conduit {hot, hot, neutral} or it could be fed over head to the non-attached garage and the panel would be bonded and a ground rod is included
I know is 100% correct, IF it's not feed from a breaker in side the main residential house service panel but
IF it's feed from a breaker in side the main residential house service panel it's a different story.
(as it's done here like this on the farms, buts it's all outside. the service comes into the meter on a pole then to a pole mounted weather proof disconnect or a weather proof terminal box and each building or grain bin including the house is feed with 3 wires and is like a main service to each building, grain bin & house, each building, grain bin & house has a ground rod and each panel is bonded )
I'm not sure if NJ will let you feed a non-attached garage out of a residential house panel with a breaker from in side your main panel and run 3 wires to the a non-attached garage and bond the panel and have a ground rod in the a non-attached garage or not.
personally as I see it, an attached garage or a non-attached garage feed from a breaker in side a main residential service panel would need to be considered a sub - panel and I would wire it as a sub-panel.
Really the #1 Question here is your garage attached ?
if you check into this through NJ codes or from a NJ Licensed Electrical Contractor let us know what you find out. as I'm curious.
I'm 100% sure about a ground rod/earth ground not being the sole means of a ground in any electrical system according to the NEC.
NEC = National Electrical Code
the NEC is the minimum requirements required, you can always do more than the NEC requires, but not less than required by the NEC.
hope I'm helping and not making it more confusing.
Mustangsaly