Golf Irrigation system

[KP2]

Hi all, it's been a while since I've posted, I've been tied up with school.

I'm getting inolved is a project with an irrigfation copy for a golf course, and my question is regarding the grounding/bonding of the system.

The plans call for a #6 bare copper to be run with all of the wiring. the #6 will be buried on top of all of the other water and electrical lines and is used to help disipate lightning strikes. The system is made by rain bird.

My issue is;
1) is this a ground or a bond.
2) the specs call for this #6 to be connected to the grounding electrode of the service of the pump house feeding the system. I'm not sure that this can be tied into the grounding electrode of the service. I'm thinking of a pool and the #8 bond never goes back to the service.

Thakns in advance
Kevin

 

[wirenut1980]

Hi all, it's been a while since I've posted, I've been tied up with school.

I'm getting inolved is a project with an irrigfation copy for a golf course, and my question is regarding the grounding/bonding of the system.

The plans call for a #6 bare copper to be run with all of the wiring. the #6 will be buried on top of all of the other water and electrical lines and is used to help disipate lightning strikes. The system is made by rain bird.

My issue is;
1) is this a ground or a bond.
2) the specs call for this #6 to be connected to the grounding electrode of the service of the pump house feeding the system. I'm not sure that this can be tied into the grounding electrode of the service. I'm thinking of a pool and the #8 bond never goes back to the service.

Thakns in advance
Kevin

The purpose of the #6 is to bond the GES of the pump house service to the GES at the pump itself. The purpose of doing this is to protect against ground potential difference (GPD). However, this bond is already done by the EGC run out there, but I guess the thinking is that maybe #6 is larger (less impedance between the two GES's.) Not sure if this extra #6 would help at all in this case. How big is the EGC run out to the motor?

FYI, the #8 pool bond is connected to the EGC run from the main panel at the service (possibly through a subpanel too).

 

[KP2]

Thanks for the reply,

The # 6 has nothing to do with the pump. The pump is already wired. The # 6 follows all of the irrigation piping leaving the pump house. Then it goes ot to be split into sevral branches of smaller lines. eventually it will be branched into zones. this course has 35 zones. each zone is controled by, what they call a satalite, that controls the heads of the zone. The satalite location will have a ground rod and a ground plate that the # 6 will be cad welded to with a tail connected to the base of the satalite.

I just have a hard time with tying this into the GEC.

And as for the pool, I agree the equipment grounding conductor does join with the # 8 bond at pumps and other equipment; however we do not run the # 8 back to the house and tie it into the GEC. At least not since the 80's

These satilite controlers have a equipment ground as well, and the design of the system indicates the # 6 is to protect the equipment from lightning. They run it with the low voltage out to the heads as well.

Any thoughts?

 

[KP2]

Nevermind, I see my answer in 250.106.

Thanks

 

[kwired]

Nevermind, I see my answer in 250.106.

Thanks

I think 250.106 is addressing lightning protection systems that incorporate lighting rods on the rooftops of buildings.

Is water piping system non metallic piping?

What voltage is the controls? does the control wiring include an equipment grounding conductor, even if it is low voltage?

By installing ground rods or plates all over the place and then tying them to the GES at a building all you have done is make a great big web of a GES for the building.

Just my opinion but I think a lot of money is being spent for all the 6 bare and ground rods for what little advantages there may be to doing so.

 

[KP2]

I think 250.106 is addressing lightning protection systems that incorporate lighting rods on the rooftops of buildings.

Is water piping system non metallic piping?

Yes it is HDPE.

What voltage is the controls? does the control wiring include an equipment grounding conductor, even if it is low voltage?

Wiring to the controler is 240V with a EGC. The sprinkler heads are 24V and no EGC.

By installing ground rods or plates all over the place and then tying them to the GES at a building all you have done is make a great big web of a GES for the building.

Just my opinion but I think a lot of money is being spent for all the 6 bare and ground rods for what little advantages there may be to doing so.

The purpose for the #6 is because when lightning strikes it can take out an entire zone, or if several controlers are grouped together, like in many cases, can be very costly to repair. This is supposed to help disipate the strike.

 

[Steviechia2]

Yes it is HDPE.


Wiring to the controler is 240V with a EGC. The sprinkler heads are 24V and no EGC.



The purpose for the #6 is because when lightning strikes it can take out an entire zone, or if several controlers are grouped together, like in many cases, can be very costly to repair. This is supposed to help disipate the strike.

I see no place where the code says you have to bring it back to the service. I agree with you it's like bonding a pool and connected together by the pump motor.