How do you connect the neutrals and grounds in a panel (both main and sub)? Do you strive for some kind of intuitive or pretty layout?

a) neutral immediatly behind the hot, skipping several screws
b) in order, starting at the top of the neutral bar - neutral for 1st breaker goes on first screw, etc.
c) random

Many panels don't have a neutral bar long enough to do option a.

One neutral/screw (until you run out of screws)?

Any proximity relationship of the ground with the matching neutral?

- les

As I normally use Square D I can only answer some of this.
I always use a ground bar kit. These are cut down first. Next the neutrals, but not in any particular order. Finally the hots.

I try for nice uniform bends and a finished look.

Over here it's generally recommended that the neutrals and grounds are connected in the same order as the hots, so the neutral bar usually has the same number of screws as there are positions in the panel.

The idea is to make it easier for anyone who follows, but in practice you have to check anyway, and where circuits are added it often becomes a free-for-all.

Some of the newer-style panels even put strips with numbers on the neutral and ground bars. The only crazy thing is that I've seen some with the neutral numbered left to right and the ground right to left!
So much for making things easy!

Over here it's generally recommended that the neutrals and grounds are connected in the same order as the hots, so the neutral bar usually has the same number of screws as there are positions in the panel.

Not a lot of help with our ring mains when you get musclebound leccies twisting (and work hardening) the single cores together only for one or both to break off later - as they do in the back of socket outlets also.

Chris

I've always thought to achieve the neat look the trade mags portray.....

............neat and workmanlike.....

[This message has been edited by Joe Tedesco (edited 09-04-2002).]

Joe,

Sorry, I wouldn't want to confuse anyone, but as this thread was talking about connecting neutrals in a general sort of way it seemed appropriate.

For anyone who is confused, I'm in the U.K.

Chris (also in U.K.) -- I know exactly what you mean!

Make it look neat. But make money!!!