Ground size for Ground Rods
- Thread starter jaykool
- Start date
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Yes. Check out 250.66(A).
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
Yes, but it is easier to carry one size on the truck. And #4 will get more use to grding. electrodes. And you will acummalate small pieces to go to the grd. rods.
If you are not doing services in mass, that is.
If you are not doing services in mass, that is.
- Location
- Logan, Utah
Even using Table 250.66 you never need to go larger than 3/0 copper for a grounding electrode conductor.
Chris
Chris
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
I was thinking the op's "4/0" was a typo . And he meant #4, since he said "rod"
not sure though.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
I use 2 AWG BSC to my ground rods for radio antenna masts. The 2 is cadwelded to the mast and some of it is exposed. 6 AWG is small and could be easily damaged by a shovel. This applicaion is for public safety and is expected to have a long installed service life.
But otherwise I would use 6 AWG if protected, often will use 4 AWG if exposed.
But otherwise I would use 6 AWG if protected, often will use 4 AWG if exposed.
electricmanscott
Senior Member
- Location
- Boston, MA
- Occupation
- Massachusetts Master Electrician, one man show.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
IMO yes. But hey it's not my money. :grin:
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
For resi. , after going to the water line. We end up with short pieces of #4. Those we use to go to the rods.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I think your question has been answer but I want to state if these jobs are new construction then you should be using a concrete encase electrode (in the footing) instead of ground rods.
The concrete encased electrodes would only be present if there is reinforcing steel present in the footings or foundation. Our jurisdiction has approved quite a few structures with un-reinforced footings, foundation walls, and wire mesh (<0.5 in dia.) in concrete floor slabs. FYI.
- Location
- Logan, Utah
You are correct. Not all locations require reinforcing of concrete for footings and foundations. In areas that are high seismic zones footing reinforcing is typically required.
Chris
- Location
- Massachusetts
When we build pads for power company transformers their rules require 4/0 bare cad welded to 3/4" x 10' rods. I think the this is as much for durability as any electrical issue.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Not quite true. You can also install 20 feet of #4 copper in the footing and it is still a CEE even without the rebar.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Dennis I think that he's trying to say that without the rebar the CEE is not considered present and therefore not required.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
That may be , I don't know but in either case my original point was not that it is required but that it would be better to use than the ground rods.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
That may be , I don't know but in either case my original point was not that it is required but that it would be better to use than the ground rods.
I agree.
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