4 wire feeder to main panel

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Stephen123

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I have a question about using a 4 wire SER feeder cable to the main panel. I did work as an electrical apprentice but didn't learn a lot about grounding and bonding the main panel or electrical meter. I have been watching Mike's videos on grounding and bonding the service entrance properly. From what I have read and watched , 3 wires (2 Hots, 1 Neutral) come from the utility into the meter and then onto the main panel. In my home, there are 4 wires coming from the meter to the panel. The extra wire is bare aluminum and is attached to my panel. I haven't seen where it is attached in the utility meter. So it seems like the wire is being used as a bond from the meter to my panel. Mike says that is a code violation because it creates a parallel return for the neutral. I know the 4 wire SER cable is supposed to be used if you wire a sub panel. Any comments or suggestions.
 
Is this a meter with main? If not then they are still service entrance conductors and there should just be three wires. There may be a 4th wire which would be a bonding jumper to a bonding bushing
 
Terminating grounding electrode conductors

Terminating grounding electrode conductors

I may have given the wrong Title. The NEC code is 250.24 (A) (1). Terminating grounding electrode conductors. The situation I described is just a meter to the main panel inside. In the video it says you do not run an equipment grounding conductor between the meter can and disconnect. That's why I asked why the extra bare wire is there ?
 
Stephen123 said:
I may have given the wrong Title. The NEC code is 250.24 (A) (1). Terminating grounding electrode conductors. The situation I described is just a meter to the main panel inside. In the video it says you do not run an equipment grounding conductor between the meter can and disconnect. That's why I asked why the extra bare wire is there ?
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At the service you bond with the grounded conductor (usually the neutral). However it isn't always practical to do that "directly" so you may also run a bonding jumper from the thing you need to bond, back to a more convenient place to hit the grounded conductor. A bonding bushing is an example where it is difficult to land the grounded conductor on it directly. That bonding jumper needs to go somewhere and maybe there wasn't a easy way to land it in the meter socket.
 
electrofelon said:
At the service you bond with the grounded conductor (usually the neutral). However it isn't always practical to do that "directly" so you may also run a bonding jumper from the thing you need to bond, back to a more convenient place to hit the grounded conductor. A bonding bushing is an example where it is difficult to land the grounded conductor on it directly. That bonding jumper needs to go somewhere and maybe there wasn't a easy way to land it in the meter socket.
Click to expand...

The wire is aluminum stranded cable (SER). The same size as the 2 hots and neutral.
 
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