connecting 2 ground rods

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matt123

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The main disconnect has 4 meters and runs to 4 subpanels. It has 1 ground rod in place but the lug is rusted and cannot be removed. Can I add another acorn the existing ground rod to attach the second??
 
Yes............
but, if the damge (rust/corrosion) is bad enough, replacement might be warranted or, if inspection is involved, required based on 110.12(B)
 
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the rust is not horrible but enough that the allen key to loosen it will just strip if attempted. It will be inspected so is it safe in adding the acorn or should i put a split lug inside the disconnect on the existing wire and run one contiinuous piece to both rods?
 
matt123 said:
The main disconnect has 4 meters and runs to 4 subpanels. It has 1 ground rod in place but the lug is rusted and cannot be removed. Can I add another acorn the existing ground rod to attach the second??
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Why would you have to remove the acorn? If you are adding a 2nd rod that bonding jumper can be seperate from the GEC.

Is that what you are asking?
 
I use my metal circular saw or sawzall to cut the clamp/acorn off.

I have to do this all the time when I replace metermains and they have an old rod sticking out of the ground with a rusty clamp. I don't want to see a nasty old clamp on an otherwise clean install, but that's just me...;)
 
it's not the acorn that is rusted it's the lug inside the disconnect. bottom line is can i put a second acorn on the first rod and then add the second rod? sorry about the confusion, i think i may have worded it funny
 
I assume you mean the lug in the meter/panel is what is rusted.

A proper ground rod clamp is bronze and should not rust

Can you replace the lug/buss in the meter/panel or use a different slot?

Is this the primary GEC or is it a supplemental electrode?

If you have a water pipe electrode it is the primary GEC, any ground rods are supplemental.
 
it is the lug inside the meter pan and it's the only lug. The rusted spot is only where i would put the allen key in to loosen it. it's the wire that goes to the existing ground rod now.
 
kwired said:
I assume you mean the lug in the meter/panel is what is rusted.

A proper ground rod clamp is bronze and should not rust

Can you replace the lug/buss in the meter/panel or use a different slot?

Is this the primary GEC or is it a supplemental electrode?

If you have a water pipe electrode it is the primary GEC, any ground rods are supplemental.
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Only the first rod is supplemental. Any others augement the first rod.
 
matt123 said:
bottom line is can i put a second acorn on the first rod and then add the second rod?
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Yes. The new wire becomes a jumper, which does not have to be the same piece of wire as the GEC, nor share the same clamp.

In fact, the clamp would have to be listed for two wires to be used that way; yours is the preferred method.
 
jxofaltrds said:
Only the first rod is supplemental. Any others augement the first rod.
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If you want to play with words then I would say the second rod supplements the first rod. So what do you call that? A supplemental supplemented rod or, as you say, a supplemental augmented rod. :grin:

Splitting hairs again. Good thing I like to argue also. :)
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I am not arguing that it is the augmented electrode but I would also consider it a supplemental rod just not the primary supplemental rod.
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My read on the matter is the second rod is always an augmenting electrode, but the first rod can be either a plain ol' electrode...



...or a metal-underground-water-pipe-electrode-supplementing electrode. :D
 
djd

djd

what does 110.12 (B) have to with a grond rod being deemed effective " come on man"
 
djd said:
what does 110.12 (B) have to with a grond rod being deemed effective " come on man"
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matt123 said:
it's not the acorn that is rusted it's the lug inside the disconnect. bottom line is can i put a second acorn on the first rod and then add the second rod? sorry about the confusion, i think i may have worded it funny
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Who deemed the ground rod ineffective?
 
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