tryinghard
Senior Member
- Location
- California
iwire said:
The NEC spends the most wording of a CEE about the steel, if what you say is true the NEC would not address the rebar type electrode, rather it may say 'just connect to the steel dummy' :grin:.
iwire said:Here an electrical inspector has to sign off on that connection and at the same time they may well be looking to see that the rebar totals at least 20' just as I would have. :smile:
There is no need to go looking beyond that 20'.
This was often true with me as well in the past, but I have chosen to evolve to the #4 to end any further concern.
Around here the CEE is the most common use electrode (primary/only electrode). The water pipe is not used because it?s always plastic. Driven rods don?t look as nice but metal frames are always used as well, ground rings may be used with free standing SWB?s but often these are CEE?s as well.
I?d venture to guess that 70% of California does not use the water pipe because it?s not installed as an electrode; it is inconsistently used in metropolitan areas at best, but I never seen it rurally.
With all this said I prefer the CEE because I believe it enables the lowest resistance, it has the benefit of the whole rebar grid to contribute.