Electrical Service Upgrade

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Guys, I am presently working for a client who wants to install a new main service, switch, distribution panel and generator in an annexe building along with his well pumping equipment.
From this building we intend to run feeders to his main building to pick up the various panels that are served from the obsolete electrical service being removed.
I understand that NEC requires us to provide a ground electrode and bond our grounded/grounding conductor at the service point(annexe bldg). The only grounding availabilty at this point (besides driven rods) will be the well casing with PVC piping.
My concern is whether this arrangement is satisfactory or, should I consider running a ground electrode conductor to the main building to pick up the original ground electrode system? Any thoughts??
 
IF the well casing is metal with at least 10 feet (3 m) in contact with the earth, then you should run a GEC to it.

You are required to install an EGC to the other building, however you might be required to install a central power distribution panel there, instead of running multiple feeders from the annex building.
 
You can only run one feeder to a building. Each building will require its own grounding electrode system. You can use the well casing as part of your GES if you wish but it's not required.
 
infinity said:
... You can use the well casing as part of your GES if you wish but it's not required.
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How do you deal with 250.50 which requires all electrodes that are present to be bonded together as part of the GES? If the metal well casing is present, then its required to be part of the Grounding Electrode System.
 
kbsparky said:
How do you deal with 250.50 which requires all electrodes that are present to be bonded together as part of the GES? If the metal well casing is present, then its required to be part of the Grounding Electrode System.
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The underground well casing falls under 250.52(A)(8). The required to be used if present only requires the electrodes listed in 250.52(A)(1) through (7).
 
infinity said:
The underground well casing falls under 250.52(A)(8). The required to be used if present only requires the electrodes listed in 250.52(A)(1) through (7).
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Reading further, you will note that if none of those are present, then one or more of the electrodes specified in 250.52(A)(4) through (A)(8) shall be installed and used. That includes metal well casings.

I got dinged on that item once, and have never forgotten it. But I do agree with your stipulation in principle.

One-eyed Jack said:
The OP said the well casing was "PVC". At what point does pvc become an electrode?
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The OP did not specify what the well casing was. Only that the pipe coming from it was PVC.

You will note that my original stipulation noted the term metal well casing. If the OP meant that the casing is PVC, then all bets are off on this subject.
 
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kbsparky said:
Reading further, you will note that if none of those are present, then one or more of the electrodes specified in 250.52(A)(4) through (A)(8) shall be installed and used. That includes metal well casings.
Click to expand...

Exactly, so you can use the well casing if you so choose or one of the others on that list if those are easier to install.
 
kbsparky said:
Reading further, you will note that if none of those are present, then one or more of the electrodes specified in 250.52(A)(4) through (A)(8) shall be installed and used. That includes metal well casings.

I got dinged on that item once, and have never forgotten it. But I do agree with your stipulation in principle.

The OP did not specify what the well casing was. Only that the pipe coming from it was PVC.
Click to expand...


Re-read OP
 
I did, and it is not 100% clear. PVC piping was the term used. That could be interpreted either that the well is made of PVC, or the piping the feeds the water to the building is PVC. I doubt that the OP would have even asked about this if the casing was in fact PVC.

You seem to have missed my first sentence in my original reply. I will post it here again:

IF the well casing is metal...
Click to expand...

'nuff said.
 
Sorry guys I could have been clearer. At this time I believe the well casing to be metal with pvc water piping to the main building.
Having said that, thanks for all the great input
 
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