Why do you sometimes see electrical grounds and neutrals terminated on the same bar? ?

Question

How come the voltage being carried on the neutrals doesn't energize the grounds connected to the system? I saw this on a panel the other day where the grounds were terminated on the neutral bar. I always thought you had to have 2 separate bars.

Answer 1

Be it a neutral or grond it goes to the same place the ground,power companies run a ground/neutral at every 5th pole,your neutral or white wire is in no way carried back to the power plant,unless you live in it.

Answer 2

Shhh.  This is a secret the electrical company doesn't want you to know!  HAHA! Seriously though, both ground and neutral go to the same place, eventually.

Answer 3

By local laws, you should have seperate bars.  Electrically, neutral and earth ground are returns for hot.  Earth ground is hypothetically more foolproof for safety.

Answer 4

Voltage shouldn't be carried in the neutral. Neutral is a ground. A neutral can be hot in a switch but in that loop only.

Answer 5

Ooops!  Wrong category dude!