Of all the components in a home the electrical system has to be the most mysterious and to some degree menacing. Electricity should be respected because it can kill you.
One of the major parts of the system is the ground wire. This is usually a single wire found inside the main service panel on most systems. The other end of the ground wire can be connected to a number of different locations. The most common in my area is to the main water supply pipe. A ground rod is also usual either inside or outside the home.
The location of the ground wire inside the main service panel is dependant on a few variables. It's these variables that can throw a curve at the inexperienced amateur.
The panel at right has been incorrectly grounded. The main ground wire (large bare copper wire) is located on the neutral terminal (that's where the white wires connect). For those sharp eyed folks, yes there is a red wire in there also. If you follow it up it's spliced to a white wire.
The reason that the wire does not belong on that terminal in this instance is the location of the main breaker. The main disconnect is located outside near the meter which makes this a four wire main panel feed. The main grounding for the system should be located out near the meter not on the neutral terminal.
This panel as best as I can tell has been this way since the home was built. Even when newer circuits were added, and incorrectly wired, this defect was not corrected.
An ungrounded electric system is definitely not a good thing.
James Quarello
SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
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