Equipotential Plane Bonding

[MartyEkren]

Methods to establish equipotential planes are described in American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Is anyone out there aware of what these methods are? I have heard of one and that is the 1/2"x8' ground rod driven every foot in front of any door that and animal travels from concrete slab to natural dirt. I have also heard bits and piece of using a #8 bonded to the rebar and run out into the natural dirt but, I have not seen any engineered drawings on how this is laid out or accomplised. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[JacksonburgFarmer]

I usually bond the wire mesh in the concrete, and or rebar. The area's you are most worried about are those near livestock watering equipment. I usually bond to the steel from each livestock waterer, if I can get to it....in retro fit jobs that is not always possible.....In this case, I ground the case of the waterer (as you would anyhow) and try to make certain that there is no way a ground to nuetral short could ever happen. That is where most problems come from with stray voltage and livestock watering equipment.....

 

[fireryan]

I usually bond the wire mesh in the concrete, and or rebar. The area's you are most worried about are those near livestock watering equipment. I usually bond to the steel from each livestock waterer, if I can get to it....in retro fit jobs that is not always possible.....In this case, I ground the case of the waterer (as you would anyhow) and try to make certain that there is no way a ground to nuetral short could ever happen. That is where most problems come from with stray voltage and livestock watering equipment.....

so you are just bonding your egc to the rebar and to the steel of the waterer?

 

[JacksonburgFarmer]

Yeah...#8 copper is the minimum I belive....The steel in the concrete is used to help "bond" the concrete....It does help....but I have many times not been able to do this, as the concrete was already poured.....Ground rods driven at each waterer help to...as added insurance.....Nothing is better than a "clean ground" though.....

 

[codeunderstanding]

In this case, I ground the case of the waterer (as you would anyhow) and try to make certain that there is no way a ground to nuetral short could ever happen. That is where most problems come from with stray voltage and livestock watering equipment.....

So what you are saying that on retrofits where you cant get to the re bar in the concrete where lets say you have to install a tank heater in a metal water tank that you just use the equipment grounding conducter of the circuit and bond the metal tank. You dont run a #8 bond to the panel or any thing do you?

 

[JacksonburgFarmer]

Yes codeunderstanding, I just bond the tank and all steel stuff. I do not run a #8 parrallel to the panel. You just have to make sure (especially on retro fits) that if you are tying into existing circuit, that the ground is clean (no nuetral to equipment grounding conductor. That is where most stray voltage issues come from....not all....but alot....

While on the subject of livestock waterers.....
In my personal proffesional honest opinion, all exposed conduit shall be RIGID. Dont use any romex in a barn, whatsoever....ever. mice and critters like to chew, and the outer jacket gets brittle a lot quicker in these enviroments than in a house......The NEC is pretty vauge on Ag/Farm stuff, and most inspectors only want/have to look at the service......other than that, they dont care.....I wish this was different.....I could make more money....:grin: