ground rod location ?

[belcastroelectric]

is it legal to install ground rods inside the basement when you have a 200 amp meter/main breaker on one side of the house. and on the other side the loadcenter ? or do they need to be outside next to the meter/ main breaker ?

 

[petersonra]

is it legal to install ground rods inside the basement when you have a 200 amp meter/main breaker on one side of the house. and on the other side the loadcenter ? or do they need to be outside next to the meter/ main breaker ?

I couldn't find anything that said where ground rods can be located in the code. Doesn't mean there isn't something somewhere.

 

[mdshunk]

I drive them in basements from time to time. Particularly when the building has a sidewalk or paving most of the way around it, or is up against buildings on one or more sides. The floor starts to become a more attractive option sometimes. Functionally, it might not work as well as it would if it were in damp soil. Driving a rod in bone dry basement dirt is a real treat.

 

[stickboy1375]

is it legal to install ground rods inside the basement when you have a 200 amp meter/main breaker on one side of the house. and on the other side the loadcenter ? or do they need to be outside next to the meter/ main breaker ?

Why would you, when you have to land the GECs in the service disconnect anyway.

 

[stickboy1375]

is it legal to install ground rods inside the basement when you have a 200 amp meter/main breaker on one side of the house. and on the other side the loadcenter ? or do they need to be outside next to the meter/ main breaker ?

Are your asking if its okay to land the GEC to the loadcenter? the answer is NO...




And welcome to the forum...

 

[ultramegabob]

I cant give you a code reference, but I think they are "supposed" to be located beyond the overhang of the building so they are in soil that will be more likely to become damp.

 

[iwire]

I cant give you a code reference, but I think they are supposed to be located beyond the overhang of the building so they are in soil that will be more likely to become damp.

I was just going to say something about that.

Maybe it was code, or maybe it is a power company thing or maybe just good design I have seen many people bring that exact point. :smile:

However I can not find it in the current NEC.

 

[mdshunk]

I cant give you a code reference, but I think they are "supposed" to be located beyond the overhang of the building so they are in soil that will be more likely to become damp.

I can't either, but I seem to recall something about being below the permanent moisture level being in the NEC.

 

[stickboy1375]

I was just going to say something about that.

Maybe it was code, or maybe it is a power company thing or maybe just good design I have seen many people bring that exact point. :smile:

However I can not find it in the current NEC.

So now a ground rod has to be wet or it wont work? Did it even work before? :grin:

 

[ultramegabob]

I dont know if it is, or ever was code, but It was driven into my head by my first employer who I have great respect of his knowledge, like Iwire said, it may just be good design....

 

[peter d]

So now a ground rod has to be wet or it wont work? Did it even work before? :grin:

The ground rod is the most critical part of a premises wiring system.

 

[480sparky]

I can't either, but I seem to recall something about being below the permanent moisture level being in the NEC.

Try 250.53(A).

 

[iwire]

The permanent water level is only about 12" to 24" below my basement floor so I guess I am all set.

 

[stickboy1375]

The ground rod is the most critical part of a premises wiring system.

I hate service calls to broken GEC's... what a mess those are...

 

[petersonra]

I can't either, but I seem to recall something about being below the permanent moisture level being in the NEC.

I seem to recall it is a suggestion rather than a requirement.

 

[iwire]

I seem to recall it is a suggestion rather than a requirement.

Ken's right, 250.53(A) it is more then a suggestion.

shall be below the permanent moisture level when 'practicable' (My words)

That means when possible you will do it.

 

[480sparky]

Ken's right, 250.53(A) it is more then a suggestion.

shall be below the permanent moisture level when 'practicable' (My words)

That means when possible you will do it.

Makes me wonder what good a ground rod does when the ground is bone dry for entire length of the rod.

 

[petersonra]

Ken's right, 250.53(A) it is more then a suggestion.

shall be below the permanent moisture level when 'practicable' (My words)

That means when possible you will do it.

And since it also specifies the maximum required length of the ground rod, it would appear to be unenforcable.

 

[iwire]

And since it also specifies the maximum required length of the ground rod, it would appear to be unenforcable.

I don't see that at all, I see the minimum length rod required, a longer one may be needed to meet all the NEC requirements.


I did a movie theater on Cape Cod which is pretty much a sand bar in the Atlantic. The prints required a 20' sectional rod be installed. I assume that was to get below sea level.

 

[belcastroelectric]

i did screw that up . im trying to see if i have to move the ground rods or just run the gec to the meter/breaker