Is my sub panel wired correctly?

pasando
pasando Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭
in General Solar Power Topics #1
I have been a customer of NAZ for a decade now, but I am new to this forum.
We have an off-grid system in our tiny home consisting of ~1200 watts of panels, MS4024PAE magnum inverter w/classic power center, and a ~10,440W battery bank.  This system has been working well for about 10 years now.   In 2025, I am hoping to upgrade to a 48V system with Lithium ion batteries along with a new inverter/charge controller, etc..  so I have been reviewing my entire system.  I took pics of my sub panel the other day and I noticed something just doesn't look right.  I am not an electrician so I wanted to make sure this sub panel/breaker box which is located inside the kitchen area of the tiny home is wired correctly.

It appears to me this panel has 2 - hots and the neutral and gnd are tied together.   Am I seeing this correctly?  Is this supposed to be wired this way?
I am attaching 2 - pics of this panel/box.  One pics shows the wires coming in from the inverter and the other pics shows incoming wiring from inverter and also outgoing wiring to the tiny home.



Please let me know if this is wired correctly/safely..

Thank you in advance for your help.











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Comments

  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,917 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Is there a main panel ?
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

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  • SumPower
    SumPower Registered Users Posts: 74 ✭✭
    edited November 2024 #3
    There are several items that need attention.

    1. Individual conductors must be in conduit and it appears that there is no conduit connector where the individual conductors enter the panel. This prevents the conductor insulation from being cut on the panel knock out opening. Shock hazard prevention/this could energize the metal panel if the insulation breaks down.
    2. Same for the romex leaving the panel, they require a romex connector. This prevents the sheath getting cut on the panel knock out opening.
    3. If this is a sub-panel and there is a main panel located somewhere else, then the ground conductors in this sub-panel need to be placed on a seperate ground bar that can by purchased seperately and installed.
    Never place neutral conductors and ground conductors on the same bar in a sub-panel.


    The question from Dave Angelini needs an answer also as there is another item that would need to be adressed if this is the main panel.
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  • pasando
    pasando Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭
    #4
    Hello, thank you for your responses.  Let me try to answer your question regarding the "main panel".

    I am calling my original post/pic the "sub panel", but I do not know if it technically is the sub panel or main panel.  The reason I say this is because the panel I am referring to is getting AC power directly from the MAGNA Sine inverter which is in the shed outside the house approximately 30ft away.  I am including a pic of the Inverter (below) that is feeding the "sub panel"  which is inside the tiny home.


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  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,917 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Main panel has neutral & ground bonded or tied together. 
    Sub panel keeps neutral and ground separate.

    Doing this wrong is a bit common and is a cause for surges and damage to loads.

    • Safety:
      If a neutral wire in a sub panel was bonded to the ground and a fault occurred, current could flow through the ground wire, potentially causing electrical shock hazards. 
    • Current Distribution:
      Separating neutral and ground in a sub panel ensures that the current always flows through the intended path back to the main panel. 
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

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  • pasando
    pasando Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭
    edited December 2024 #6
    Would my Magna Sine Inverter be considered the "main panel" in this case since I do Not have another panel with breakers anywhere else?

    From the responses it sounds like my "sub panel" inside the tiny home is wired incorrectly (gnd and neutral should Not be mounted to same bus bar).  In order to correct this issue, where should I mount the neutral (white) and where should I mount the gnd wire (green)?
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