eqpt. ground

[rearea1]

ground on water line 30 amp potential size wire to branch circuit or service???????????????????

 

[tom baker]

Re: eqpt. ground

Your question is not clear.
Are you referring to a grounding electrode conductor or equipment grounding conductor?
"Ground" means nothing.

 

[electricmanscott]

Re: eqpt. ground

Try that in english. :roll:

 

[electricmanscott]

Re: eqpt. ground

Wow that was harsh. Seriously more detail is needed for an accurate answer.

 

[aelectricalman]

Re: eqpt. ground

Act like this is Jepordy and phrase that in the form of a question!

 

[hurk27]

Re: eqpt. ground

Act like this is Jepordy and phrase that in the form of a question!

Ok how about this:
is it legal to use the water line as a equipment ground for a 30 amp circuit? No! Or: Do you have to run it all the way to the service? Yes!

 

[rearea1]

Re: eqpt. ground

200amp service is gounded by a #4 bare to a 8 foot ground rod. cold water bond is also a #4 if it is not the grounding electrode why is it not sized to the maximum over current protection which is 30 amp to the water heater

 

[George Stolz]

Re: eqpt. ground

cold water bond is also a #4 if it is not the grounding electrode why is it not sized to the maximum over current protection

#4 is the correct size grounding electrode conductor for a 200 amp service, which should run to within 5' of the entrance of the metallic water pipe.

200amp service is grounded by a #4 bare to a 8 foot ground rod.

Too bad, you could have used #6.

which is 30 amp to the water heater

You mention a 200 amp service, and now you want to size your water bond to a 30 amp branch circuit? This doesn't make any sense. Can you please clarify, and use full sentences?

 

[al hildenbrand]

Re: eqpt. ground

rearea1,

I'm going to make a quess, here, that the largest breaker that is in the 200 Amp 120 / 240 Volt service center you are thinking of is a 30 Amp 2-pole breaker.

Right?

And since the largest branch circuit is protected only at 30 Amps, why is the GEC (grounding electrode conductor) so much bigger?

 

[petersonra]

Re: eqpt. ground

Originally posted by rearea1:
200amp service is gounded by a #4 bare to a 8 foot ground rod. cold water bond is also a #4 if it is not the grounding electrode why is it not sized to the maximum over current protection which is 30 amp to the water heater

The bond to the grounding electrodes is not supposed to be part of the fault clearing path, so the size of the CB is not an issue.

The size of the bonds to the grounding electrodes seems very arbitrary to me. I think someone just pulled them out of the air years ago.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: eqpt. ground

rearea1,

cold water bond is also a #4 if it is not the grounding electrode why is it not sized to the maximum over current protection which is 30 amp to the water heater

Look at 250.104(A)(1).
Don

 

[physis]

Re: eqpt. ground

I think Don has the right code reference. And I don't know if it makes much sense either. I think Wayne mentioned once that it's for lightning. I suppose I could buy that.

 

[jwelectric]

Re: eqpt. ground

If I may let me try this one.

If I am reading this right I think that the question should read like this.
Can a metal water line that has no metal in contact with the earth be bonded by 250.104 (B), ?The bonding jumper(s) shall be sized in accordance with 250.122, using the rating of the circuit that is likely to energize the piping system(s)? instead of 250.104 (A)?

Don has done a fine job giving the answer.