According to the terminology in the CEC and NEC, the
	"grounding" conductor is for the safety ground, i.e., the green
	or bare or green with a yellow stripe wire.  The word "neutral"
	is reserved for the white when you have a circuit with more than 
	one "hot" wire.  Since the white wire is connected to neutral and
	the grounding conductor inside the panel, the proper term is
	"grounded conductor".  However, the potential confusion between
	"grounded conductor" and "grounding conductor" can lead to
	potentially lethal mistakes - you should never use the bare wire
	as a "grounded conductor" or white wire as the "grounding conductor",
	even though they are connected together in the panel.

	[But not in subpanels - subpanels are fed neutral and ground
	separately from the main panel.  Usually.]

	Note: do not tape, colour or substitute other colour wires for the
	safety grounding conductor.

	In the trade, and in common usage, the word "neutral" is used
	for "grounded conductor".  This FAQ uses "neutral" simply to
	avoid potential confusion.  We recommend that you use "neutral"
	too.  Thus the white wire is always (except in some light
	switch applications) neutral.  Not ground.

Some parts © 2009 Advameg, Inc.