goldbrick
Well-known member
It may seem odd, but to me calling neutral a 'grounded conductor' makes perfect sense.
As you mentioned, 'ground' and 'neutral' are tied together in the service entrance (but no where else....). I once failed an inspection for tying them together in a sub-panel in a detached garage so that fact is burned into my psyche now.
In the years since, I've done a fair amount of electrical wiring (solar, sub-panels, etc) and I've come to appreciate the rigor of the NEC. It might sound pedantic but unless you understand exactly what is going on it is easy to make a mistake. And to me at least, the best way to keep it all straight is to be very precise in my thinking and my terms.
I'm sure you know what a neutral wire does but I don't think it's wise to over-simplify the concepts involved. It's amazing how many people have absolutely no idea how electricity works but think that they can wire their own stuff as long as they just connect the right number and/or colors of wire together.
As you mentioned, 'ground' and 'neutral' are tied together in the service entrance (but no where else....). I once failed an inspection for tying them together in a sub-panel in a detached garage so that fact is burned into my psyche now.
In the years since, I've done a fair amount of electrical wiring (solar, sub-panels, etc) and I've come to appreciate the rigor of the NEC. It might sound pedantic but unless you understand exactly what is going on it is easy to make a mistake. And to me at least, the best way to keep it all straight is to be very precise in my thinking and my terms.
I'm sure you know what a neutral wire does but I don't think it's wise to over-simplify the concepts involved. It's amazing how many people have absolutely no idea how electricity works but think that they can wire their own stuff as long as they just connect the right number and/or colors of wire together.