Grounding and bonding: Definitions and details

Part 2: Grounding and bonding: Definitions and details Two professional engineers (Dan Carnovale and Tom Domitrovich) with years of power systems experience will clarify this often misunderstood concept while making reference to NEC.
To learn more about grounding and bonding you can find the full video here: • Grounding and bonding
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Search terms: grounding, bonding, grounding and bonding, grounding vs bonding, generator grounding, transformer grounding, service entrance ground, service entrance grounding, service equipment ground, grounding electrode, grounding conductor, bonding strap, equipment ground, transfer switch ground, ground rod, grounding rod, switch the neutral, neutral switching in transfer switch, four pole transfer switch, 4 pole transfer switch, return current, safety, surge protection, power quality, circulating currents, ground loops, isolated grounds, single point grounding, electrical noise on a power system, utility source ground, building steel, incoming ground, outgoing ground, residential service grounding, grounded neutral conductor, ungrounded conductor, main bonding jumper, transformer grounding configurations, bird on a wire, ground fault current path, electrical shock hazard, touch potential, step potential, grounding grids, grounded to case | What is a ground? What is a bond? How to ground a generator? What is a grounded wire? What is a grounding wire? What is a separately derived system? How to ground a transformer? What is NEC grounding method? Is grounding required by NEC? Do I need a 4 pole transfer switch? What is a high resistance ground? What is an HRG? What does solidly grounded mean? What is the difference between grounding and bonding? #electric #electricity #powersystem #electrical #energy #solar #wind #power

[@Katiebelly123]

Wow, this is dense material, but clear. I'd like to take an entire semester of lectures from these engineers. Thanks!

[@chriswuzhere91]

I'm going to have to watch this about 50 more times to really understand it LOL

[@tedlahm5740]

Too much information covered in one video. Needs to be broken down to numerous videos.

[@petakyahbuckley6403]

Keep up newb

[@erilopez7974]

same here, too much talking less graphics from him.

[@G8tr1522]

it's crucial to understand why you only use ONE main bonding jumper in a system. If you don't understand the implications of why that is, this whole video will probably be confusing. you provide a second main boning jumper ONLY when you have a switched neutral (in your ATS). If it is not a switched neutral, you only have ONE main bonding jumper. If you erroneously add a second main bonding jumper, you would effectively make your equipment grounding conductor the same as your neutral. Meaning that touching an equipment's (conductive) surface could shock you. For example, touching the outside of a metal toaster is usually safe, but in this case, you would become part of the neutral path if you touched the outside. (cue "Dumb ways to die") The reason that happens is because the EGC and entire grounding system is in parallel with the neutral as soon as you add that second MBJ. Thus, the neutral can now 'share' the load's current with the grounding system. Hope this helps.

[@IWasNoah]

@@G8tr1522I thought you should never have a switched neutral though it’s too dangerous

[@nhicks8028]

Thank you for this video . It is the very first time that I have seen anyone explain about bonding a back up generator . I have searched many of times to no avail. I don’t see mention of it in the Generac installation manual either.

[@enriquerodriguez2451]

Very useful information thanks

[@Spectre.007]

Very well delivered material. Thanks.

[@Robert-3691]

This is outstanding material. I recently enjoyed a similar book, and it was truly impressive. "The Art of Meaningful Relationships in the 21st Century" by Leo Flint

[@MrMaxyield]

Great job Tom...!!! 👏

[@adelcamac8681]

This is Beautiful! Thanks 👍

[@tomrandall4871]

Excellent refresher for us old salts!

[@maxujess25]

This is an awesome video

[@MissionFitnessCTC]

Great video.

[@jonacholo8908]

Great Video. Maybe you can add next time an example at fault condition why the code probihit something it would be a perfect explanation😊

[@anthonypicozzi7360]

Really good video

[@TGUlricksen]

Excellent!

[@davem5392]

great video I think very to the point instructions! Wondering if you can help me with a separately derived system question, I'm struggling with. 480v pad mount transformer 3 wires and ground ran to plant disconnect Plant disconnect to busway 3 conductors and case grounding to MCC MCC breaker 2 wire plus gnd wire feeds transformer primary 480v secondary single phase 240/120 panel. Question? is the ground wire from the MCC the only wire needed to ground this separately derived system or do you need some other electrode at transformer?

[@erikolsen3611]

Great video, thank you so much. I think one point worth adding in regards to the EGC within a system. If my understanding is correct, it is connected to metal parts and enclosures that have potential to become energized in order to "trip" the over current protection device in the case of a fault.

[@G8tr1522]

he covered that when he discussed equipment bonding jumpers. And yes, exteriors of equipment must have equipment bonding jumpers if the equipment is powered by a grounded system. Question: do you remove equipment bonding jumpers if the equipment has no neutral (eg, a motor), and the equipment is powered by a non-grounded system??

[@jswallow4168]

@@G8tr1522not sure but I’d enjoy you elaborating on an answer

[@mohammad45h]

سلام سپاس تشکر درود و..هزاران 👍...جناب مهندس باشکوه ممنون همواره تندرست و شاد باشین

[@agliettoingenieria]

Excelent!!!!

[@ondadevapor]

i feel like Neo when he learns kung fu for a few seconds

[@Deathproof-Zero1]

Wait a second. At 6:23, what is the purpose of putting a transfer switch for the neutral between the service and the generator if they are also both directly connected to the grounding system?

[@gravecrawlerr]

3:03 I'm trying to qualify to be a home inspector. We typically only work with single phase electricity. Are you saying that you only see the ungrounded conductors in three phase? I'm confused

[@swriley444]

Question: do you have to run a neutral cable from the transformer to the first disconnecting component even if you don’t plan on using single phase loads? Could you just ground X0 (neutral) at the transformer and just run the 3 ungrounded cables to service?

[@G8tr1522]

that's a really good question

[@jonacholo8908]

I think you need the neutral or grounded conductor for protection purposes. Example is the equipment grounding. We know that current will find a way to back to its source. If you have faults like ungrounded conductor to your equipment enclosure, it will be back to source means it will circulate the your protection will trip

[@regorksr.6892]

Wouldn’t be ideal, i would run the neutral *conductor* if i had it even though i didnt need it. They make delta-delta transformers for this reason.

[@jonerasmus9399]

Awesome video. So let's say I have an inverter (solar system) connected on the opposite side of the transfer switch similar to your diagram (just without a generator) . Is it recommended that I rather choose a 4 pole transfer switch instead of a 3 pole transfer switch? Secondly if my main incoming supply originally has n and earth bonded as your example above do I need to bond earth and neutral in my generator/ or inverter ?

[@G8tr1522]

you provide the second main boning jumper ONLY when you have a switched neutral (in your ATS). If it is not a switched neutral, you only have ONE main bonding jumper. For example, if the TS/ATS had no switched neutral, and you erroneously added a second main bonding jumper, you would effectively make your equipment grounding conductor the same as your neutral. Meaning that touching an equipment's (conductive) surface could shock you. For example, touching the outside of a metal toaster is usually safe, but in this case, you would become part of the neutral path if you touched the outside. (cue "Dumb ways to die") To answer your first question, a switched neutral is sort of more advantageous, because your ground fault current path will be shorter when using the secondary power source. This is especially true for large facilities like hospitals and warehouses, but for small structures like a house or a medium sized commercial building (like a restaurant), there isn't much of an advantage. Put simply, if you're putting your solar system on a house, i wouldn't worry about spending the extra money on a TS that has a means to switch neutrals.

[@jonerasmus9399]

@i need more sleep I'm humbled by your superior knowledge . Thank you for the time to explain topics not covered in enough depth at college level .

[@G8tr1522]

@@jonerasmus9399 lol, damn, I'm just in an apprenticeship program. About to take my j-man's tho. Helps that i was an EE dropout too. glad i could help!

[@altuber99_athlete]

6:53 Is it valid to keep the ground rod (grounding electrode) at the generator connected to the other ground wires?

[@G8tr1522]

yes, you should always bond together the entire ground system. If you didnt, and if your generator had a ground fault, it could potentially find a current path through the rest of your grounding system thus creating a hazard.

[@Gallardo6669]

Not enough explained why, what happened. No example with functional consequences

[@mrnade333]

WOW! Thanks! Can we change grounding to earthing!?

[@altuber99_athlete]

The term “ground” is used in the US, the term “earth” is used in the UK.

[@eds6569]

I think (in the US) it would make things less confusing if "Earth" were used at least when referring to something which has direct contact with the earth.

[@G8tr1522]

At the very least, the NEC is FINALLY calling the "grounded conductor" a neutral.

[@D.Hozzie]

Hello Tom….. So if I am setting a panel right next to a 13,200-480V transformer, the XO is tied in with all the grounding conductors…..is the panel N and G “ bonded” there too?

[@G8tr1522]

NO. you should remove the bonding jumper in either the panel or the transformer, whichever you prefer. You should always have ONE main bonding jumper. the only instance you will EVER have two of them is if you have an ATS/TS with a switched neutral.

[@D.Hozzie]

@@G8tr1522 Thank you. Now go get some sleep😉

[@jahboy699]

nice

[@abdullahalahmadi695]

If ground and neutral are bonded at main panel, why aren't all grounded device chassis energized?

[@G8tr1522]

because you only did it in one place. If you failed to provide a MBJ, then there will be no possible way to clear a ground fault with a breaker. Because there is no path back to the source. What you are describing in your question will happen if you erroneously install TWO main bonding jumpers.

[@jonacholo8908]

Always remember that ECG should not carry a current at normal condition and should only at fault condition.

[@WindsurferHD]

The drawing at 7:43 is wrong. You bond both the GEC and neutral X/O at the transformer and you install the line side bonding jumper there. When you leave that transformer you keep the neutral and equipment grounds separate in the panel it feeds. You can bond the equipment frame to the equipment ground and your neutral is always placed on isolators at all points from that panel the transformer feeds all the way to the utilization equipment.

[@Nahum17good]

How can I get a shirt like that?

[@DoughboyGod]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@tazmania17171717]

At 3:23 wouldn't that be a supply-side bonding jumper and NOT an equipment grounding conductor?

[@regorksr.6892]

Yes, this video is kinda disappointing. Funny how eaton employees do not understand an electrical system basics.

[@JoJo-gy9sw]

I'm more confused now than before I saw this video.

[@mirandapowers5594]

😂😂😂

[@Mr.GuGuGaCucaSnooch]

Literally just a video of a guy reading from a dictionary. No context or clear examples aside from a schematic.

[@G8tr1522]

kinda upsetting to see how many amateurs in the comments don't understand grounding. I can understand why. It's not an intuitive concept when you are taught that electricity is analogous to water flowing through a pipe.

[@jonacholo8908]

Because water wipe has no protection. Main purpose is to supply water by on and off

[@tommymairo8964]

While, why you need to ground the secondary winding at the beginning? Most modern residential electrical transformer are wrapped in ground metal cases, and the wires associated with the secondary winding travels underground to the residential building. So the whole electric system linked to the secondary winding is in a huge faraday cage where the lightning is impossible to strike on. So if the system is ungrounded at all, it's almost impossible to electric shock someone unless he touches hot and neutral concurrently. Won't it be more safer comparing to getting shocked by simply touching the hot wire?

[@LesterBarrett]

This video is barely ok if one already understands pretty much everything about grounding.

[@regorksr.6892]

I wouldn’t even say its that ok. Could be very misleading to those learning.

[@user-wo7gx6nb5f]

trump usa

[@chathurangalakshitha7777]

Plz dont use a book to explain. We come here just bcz after done enough with the book definitions

[@wm79198]

Just here to see if you can help track my order, SAT1225245. I placed it last October, and it has been delayed 4 times. No one at your factory will give me or my Rexel rep a real answer as to the validity of the ship date. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[@G8tr1522]

lol, jesus, good luck.