Electrician Question: Should the Neutral Bar Be Grounded?

[CuzEddieClassC]

I am chasing an electrical glitch in a 2002 Tioga. The issue is three of the outlets in the Cabin don't work nor does the new AC system (new roof unit, thermostat, heater and control box). Everything else is good (Refrigerator, water pump, water heater, three other outlets ...). Tried to remedy the issue by installing a new converter and replaced all circuit breakers. The issue remains. Testing the bad outlets indicates an open circuit (30VAC Open Ground Neutral). Can't find any damaged wires. Examined the Power Center today. See attached images. Seems to me the Neutral Bar needs to be grounded, once, somewhere. It is not grounded by any wire. The six wires present all correspond to the six circuits in the cabin. If you look at the Ground Wire Bar, you see seven wires, the biggest of which runs back through the Power Center Box, through the floor of the RV and is grounded to the frame. By studying the image you can tell that there has never been a seventh wire leading to ground for the Neutral Bar, and presumably it all worked fine.

So here's the question: In this situation is the Neutral Bar grounded to the Power Center Box, which is then loosely grounded to the large wire from the Ground Bar as it passes through the Power Center Box wall? Other possible issues? I'm debating the purchase and installation of a new AC DC Power Center but would rather throw thought at the issue than money. Thanks in advance for your opinions.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Technically the neutral is a grounded conductor, the ground wire is a non-conducting ground.

The transfer switch may or may not connect the ground.

As an example, my rig is never grounded at the pedestal grounding rod, so my ground floats.

That is not your problem however. If you have an incomplete circuit, that is what you need to find. A circuit tracer will help you find your open! Just make sure you turn the main off before you use it!

 

[CuzEddieClassC]

Thank you. I removed the AC wiring to its circuit breaker today and replaced with an outlet on a 3' of 3 wire cable. Wanted to either confirm or eliminate that the open circuit was somewhere inside the cabin. Turns out he circuit is open at the circuit breaker. So ... Tomorrow evening I will attempt to figure out what that's all about.