use a ground wire for a neutral?

Question

I have an electrical box with only a hot and a ground. Can I use the gound for a neutral and utilize the box as an oulet? the nuetral and ground buses are bonded at the panel.

Answer 1

no you cannot
it is in violation of the NEC code
the nuetral is bonded at the service and at the pole where your service drop comes in
but you never use the ground as nuetral as the potential for backfeed or energizing anything downline between the box and the panel and has a ground and is grounded and can be energized, a potential dangerous ground path loop has been created

Answer 2

Maybe it's just me, but I had a hard time following what you were saying. If I understand you correctly, the neutral and the ground wires from your kitchen outlet (which should be GFCI protected if it's a counter-top outlet) are connected together in your breaker box, and then connected to the wire shielding of the incoming power cable. Is that right? Man..I hate to say this but your whole situation just sounds like an electrical fire (or worse!) just waiting to happen. The thing that led me in this direction was when I read, "I ASSUMED that should be the neutral." Nothing should be assumed when you're doing electrical work. Get a licensed electrician to check it out; or at least someone who is more familiar with this kind of work than you seem to be. I'm not trying to be mean here, really. It's just that you could be seriously hurt, or even killed, if this kind of job is not done correctly. At the very least, your kitchen outlets, although they could seem to be working, could be left without ground fault protection, which is a hazardous situation in itself. If you're worried about the cost, call your power company and tell them you suspect a "potentially dangerous situation" with your service. They should send someone out pretty quick. Show the electrician they send exactly what you're concerned about; the circumstances leading up to the present; exactly what you did with the outlet in the kitchen; the whole situation as you know it (and that I couldn't totally understand from your explanation); and the more thorough and complete you are in your details, the better he can assess the situation and make it safe for you. I know he is only responsible for the power lines up to a certain point, but he should tell you what to do, or at least give you advise on how to proceed. And he'll check your incoming service to make sure it's okay. This shouldn't cost you a penny. Hell, if you're close by I'll come and do the job for free! Just don't jeopardize your safety, and others', by messing with something you're not sure of and assuming that you did a good job. Leave it to the professionals. That's what they're there for. Again, I'm sorry if I sound like an a**hole here, but I felt it had to be said. I would much rather you be angry at me and whole, than regretful and in the hospital with severe electrical burns. Take care and good luck.

Answer 3

I think what you have is really a hot and a neutral. This is the way older homes were wired. If you want to provide a ground at the outlet, you must run from the building ground to the outlet. Of course, one can use an ungrounded outlet.

Answer 4

No!!!!! The neutral carries current back to the ground. There is voltage on the neutral when there is a light or appliance in the circuit. You would be putting current onto the outlet box and all the conduit. If someone would touch the box or conduit and touch a water pipe, they would get knocked on their a**!
You have to run a neutral wire.

Answer 5

let me guess, you have a light switch that you abandonded or you are trying convert to an outlet? No you cannot use the ground for the neutral.

Answer 6

This sounds dangerous

Answer 7

If you have to ask this question, DONT DO ANYTHING, call an electrician before you kill someone or yourself.