Cold water ground

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Re: Cold water ground

The theory on ground rods, the last time I went to a seminar, is that they cover a hemisphere of ground from where the rod emerges. So if you have an 8' rod, you now have a hemisphere with an 8' radius being covered. If you drive your rods closer than 16', their coverage area crosses one another. Therefore, those jurisdictions that have a rule for no closer than 16' are theoretically correct.

Washington state went around some years back and tested several services and not one of them complied with the 25 ohms or less section, so they mandated that you drive two ground rods.

As for the 16' ground rod, by theory you would have more coverage area. Since the volume of a sphere is (4/3)*pi*r^3 you would have a total volume of earth coverage at 8578.64 cu.ft. On two 8 footers you would have 2144.66 cu.ft. of earth coverage. But goodluck convincing your inspector that you just drove it 16 ft down and that it's actually better. You're better off driving the second ground rod at 6' away.
 
Re: Cold water ground

the TE76 WILL NOT drive even a 4 foot rod in parts of northern Arkansas..

you just about have to build a hill to get a ground rod underground.


UFER GROUND RULES!!!!
 
Re: Cold water ground

I may be wrong but I thought that the uether ground was in addition to the ground rod. can someone steer me towards the code that would answear this question thanks
 
Re: Cold water ground

250.50 Grounding Electrode System.
All grounding electrodes as described in 250.52(A)(1) through (A)(6) that are present at each building or structure served shall be bonded together to form the grounding electrode system. Where none of these grounding electrodes exist, one or more of the grounding electrodes specified in 250.52(A)(4) through (A)(7) shall be installed and used.
 
Re: Cold water ground

from what i know, the ground rod is about the MOST USELESS grounding electrode there is, as far as earth grounding is concerned
 
Re: Cold water ground

This is vital for the newer electronic and older semielectronic meters.
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All we use are the electronic meters now for new installations and we also use meters with radios for most of the reads. We do not require anyone to install ground rods or the service close to our meters and do not have any problems with them. :D
 
Re: Cold water ground

Southernboys
Any electrode can be used to supplement a water pipe electrode 250.53 D 2.
Most often a ground rod is used
If the water pipe is not a grounding electrode per 250.52 A 1, then the grounding electrode is most often a ground rod, or two.

The ufer ground does not require a supplemental electrode per 250.53 D 2, only a water pipe

If you have ground rods and a ufer they are all bonded together. A ufer is all that is required. We are in the habit of driving two and going home when the "ufer rules".

if the water pipe is not a grounding electrode then it is bonded per 250.104 but this connection does not have to be mande within 5 ft of the pipe entrance to the building.
 
Re: Cold water ground

Virginia beach here have done 15 upgrades in va beach one ground rod and one cold water ground that is within 6 feet of entrace to structure has gotten us by so far. Is any one enforcing the receptacle within 25 feet of the heat pump yet?
 
Re: Cold water ground

Originally posted by vasparky27:
Virginia beach here have done 15 upgrades in va beach one ground rod and one cold water ground that is within 6 feet of entrace to structure has gotten us by so far. Is any one enforcing the receptacle within 25 feet of the heat pump yet?
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Either your jurisdiction does not enforce the NEC or someone is testing to make sure those single ground rods are <25 ohms. If not you are all negligent. If no one is enforcing someting that should be enforced does that mean you don't do it?
 
Re: Cold water ground

so when upgrading a panel it is required that we add two ground rods 6 feet apart and a cold water ground bonded to the water entrance within 6 feet of entrace to dwelling?
 
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