Wiring main panel box for dedicated 20amp line.


I'm getting ready to install a dedicated 20 amp line and came across something I wasn't expecting. I have a single GE main panel box that's about ten years old. When I opened the box I was expecting to see neutral wires at one bus bar and the ground wires attached to the other, with the black wire - of course - attached to the circuit breaker.

Instead, I found the neutral and ground wires for each outgoing wire attached to the same bus bar on adjacent screws. I've since read that this is common practice and apparently up to code on a main panel.

To install a new 20 amp line, I could duplicate this setup with adjacent vacant spots on one of the bus bars and a new breaker, but I'm wondering if using a common bus bar for both the neutral and ground wires is suitable for a hi-fi application? The whole idea is, of course, to have a dedicated, properly grounded circuit for my gear. Also, if it's not ideal, would a small sub-panel be a desirable solution?

I'd be grateful for anyone's expertise. Thanks!
grimace

Showing 2 responses by yogiboy

Jadem6,You are lucky that that works for you. The only problem with that is that having all high current stuff on one side can trip the main breaker. The main panel is 240 volts,120 on each side! Like I said it's great that it works for you!
What you have now is correct,you will have a dedicated 20 amp circuit! I don't see what a sub- panel would accomplish. A ground and a neutral are a horse of another color! At the main coming into your panel they are still tied in together.