kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
IDK, isn't stranded usually a little higher cost?
Ground Wire From Ground Rod
- Thread starter mstrlucky74
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Probably, but working with #4 solid versus stranded (labor) trumps any additional wire cost.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
I would think difference is fairly negligible on a light pole application.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Probably, I won't use solid if larger than #12 unless it's a pool application or in a cable.
mstrlucky74
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
I was told it was for lightning protection?
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
It offers a a very Very limited, basically useless, amount of lightning protection against a strike.
Any direct or close strike will likely blow the durn pole right off the base.
The costs outweigh the chance that the rod would actually be any measurable benefit.
In short, it's a myth, old wives tale, and pure baloney IMO.
mstrlucky74
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Assuming you meant pole there, the pole is typically taking on a lot of current in a direct strike whether there is a ground rod or not. The poor, maybe a homeless person sleeping at the base of the pole, also probably isn't very well protected either way.
Some of us have labeled those that specify ground rods where they won't really do much as "dirt worshipers"
mstrlucky74
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
Sorry I did. So wouldn't the ground rod be helpful be helpful in the event of a lightning strike and someone standing near the pole.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
If it has lower resistance then the pole base, then it will carry more current then the pole base. You are still in great danger if you are standing near the pole when it gets hit by lightning.
The high voltage and high frequency involved in lightning strikes makes rather high impedance paths for the under 1000 volt wiring systems look like nothing to the lightning strike.
sparkcontrol
Member
- Location
- Queens, NY. USA
I have personally done these jobs for NYCHA, the drawing reads to install a ground rod with a #6 copper conductor connected to it by means of cad weld. Also to connect the grounding electrode conductor in parallel with the grounding equipment conductor. I have argued this many times.....if there was a lightning strike this will destroy everything back to the panel and all the electronic equipment we have installed. The electrical engineer for NYCHAhas agreed with me, but insists to complete the job according to the spec.
We all have agreed that the ground rod serves absolutely no purpose in the installation. Like someone else here had mentioned....it’s a waste of money!
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
If you're not using a ground rod a lightning strike on the metal grounded pole would still have a direct connection to the EGC run with the branch circuit. I don't see how adding a rod changes that for the worse.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
Where does the NEC say you get a free pass on that?Not if the GEC isnt NEC required
An EGC installed in a metallic raceway that already meets the provisions for an EG, still needs to be installed per code
- Status