TOPIC: Eletrical panel questions

I am looking at the first and wondering why the one cable is green.  Does the label say what it services?  All you have to do it write up the box, but I am curious.

Hi Guys,

If the breaker is rated for 2 wires it should say so somewhere.

2 neutrals under 1 terminal is wrong. 2 grounds is ok. A neutral and a ground is wrong.

One of the things I also noticed is the ground and the neutral on the same bar.  I have questioned this practice before.  I was taught to call this out as they should be on separate bars.  But I see it very often around here.  In trying to find out more about this technique, I have found its not against code, but it is considered poor practice.  I still call it out, and say its poor practice.  What are your thoughts to this?

Good morning John,

A neutral and a ground on the same bar is ok if it is at the first point of entry/shut off. So whether that is disconnect or a main breaker panel, it's ok. One of the things that should be checked is if the neutral bar and ground bar are bonded at the first point/panel. Beyond that first point, the n bar and g bar should be isolated and independant of each other.

Hey Steve how are things going? 

I'm not sure if I fully follow what you said.  I know on a sub panel its not allowed at all.  I also know on a main panel there should be a bonding bar to tie the ground and neutral bars together.  In reading around on the web, I find that it is okay to mix the ground and neutral wires within these two bars within the main panel, but in the electrical world its considered sloppy work.  I was also taught to call it out in my inspection class.

Are you saying its okay before the the bonding bar that connects the two bus bars?  Or are you saying its okay as long as its the main panel?

Here are a couple of pics of a main panel in a brand new house I did not too long ago.  I called out the neutral and ground wires on the same bar and explained that its not against code, but was considered sloppy electrical work. 

I post the following illustration in my clients report.

John the pics you posted look fine.

On the one I posted the neutral was attached with a ground.