Ground rod sharing ?

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ritelec

ritelec

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Jersey
Hi. Upgrading a service with no ground rods.

Turns out the home owner had several ground rods installed for antennas

not sure of the particulars, I will see tomorrow.

The question is
Is a ground rod a ground rod?

Provided they meet the requirements ...

Can I use/share these ground rods to use as my required grounding electrode ground rods?

From what I understand, the antennas rods he has installed aren’t connected to the panel in anyway

if memory serves me, they would need to be connected to the neutral/ ground bonding point in the panel also ... correct ?

thank you
 
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Just a quick eye ball last week main lug panel, panel change only

The main breaker is outside at the meter location

I did not see any wire coming out of it and no rods around.

I’m assuming it’s just going to the water main

I see that often around here with older homes

Will look tomorrow.
 
A ground rod is a ground rod long as it’s 8’ x 5/8”. Some of the communication guys use 6’. Well some electricians do too.😳🤔😩
 
Ground rods for lightning are supposed to be 8’ but that doesn’t mean they are.
There are lots of 5’ rods driven. The 5’ rod requirements are in the NEC
 
Rods for antennas are required to be connected to the building GES. No reason why if they're 8' long that they cannot perform both functions.
 
This job is a 100 amp service.

Instead of bringing 2 conductors, the water pipe and rod gec's back to the neutral ground block,

Hypothetical, If I was dealing with a 200 amp service and there was a #4cu going to the water meter, I could jump from that point with #6cu and go to the two ground rods correct? I "wouldn't" have to land the #6 on the neutral block correct? Are these statements right?


Since this is a 100amp service with maybe a #8 going to the water meter, I'm guessing the #6cu to the rods would still be needed but I would not be able to go to the water meter. That rod gec would have to go back to the main neutral block, correct?

Thank you
 
ritelec said:
This job is a 100 amp service.

Instead of bringing 2 conductors, the water pipe and rod gec's back to the neutral ground block,

Hypothetical, If I was dealing with a 200 amp service and there was a #4cu going to the water meter, I could jump from that point with #6cu and go to the two ground rods correct? I "wouldn't" have to land the #6 on the neutral block correct? Are these statements right?


Since this is a 100amp service with maybe a #8 going to the water meter, I'm guessing the #6cu to the rods would still be needed but I would not be able to go to the water meter. That rod gec would have to go back to the main neutral block, correct?

Thank you
Click to expand...
Sounds rite to me. (y)
 
James L said:
You need an intersystem bonding bridge connected to the panel-to-rod ground, then move the antenna ground to the bridge
Click to expand...
So as in my Hypothetical connect the ground rod's gec to the water pipe and the water pipe gec goes back to the main panel, I can also connect what ever rods he has for the antennas to the water pipe (except if it's #8cu from the water to panel gec).

What is the minimum size gec for the shorter 4' or 5' rods if that is what's there for the antennas? Still #6 cu?
 
ritelec said:
What is the minimum size gec for the shorter 4' or 5' rods if that is what's there for the antennas? Still #6 cu?
Click to expand...
You can't connect the electrical grounding electrode to a 4 ft or 5 ft ground rod. You would need to drive an 8-foot ground rod. You can use #8

Then you still need to fasten a bonding bridge and move the antenna grounding to that bridge
 
James L said:
You can use #8

Then you still need to fasten a bonding bridge and move the antenna grounding to that bridge
Click to expand...

If the antennas rods are 4' or 5', #8 is required (not #6) and that wire can go to the water electrode if the gec to the water pipe is #8cu.


A number six from the two ground 8' rods would still need to be installed to the main neutral lug if that water pipe gec is smaller than #6cu.

Thank you
 
ritelec said:
A number six from the two ground 8' rods would still need to be installed to the main neutral lug if that water pipe gec is smaller than #6cu.
Click to expand...
A 100 amp service typically can use a #8 GEC it would just require some form of protection.
 
If I were the inspector and saw that you used existing ground rods I would want to know what proof you have that they are 8 ft long. Ground rods aren't that expensive. Better to install two new ones than have to come back later. New service usually includes new ground rods or a ufer connection.

-Hal
 
So... the ground rods the home owner installed are 4’ long and 2’ is sticking out of the ground !!!!

the existing service has unprotected #8 thhn stranded going to the water meter and also a # 8 thhn going to a ground rod.

Are there provisions for # 8 to a ground rod?

Also when I got in the truck I did a quick search to see about the 8’s to a rod and got this


it talks about 8 and solid. Is this just nonsense

I also found a link where a guy was required to use 500 mcm ?????
;- )
 
I'll have to look up the code references later, but number 8 will work to ground a 100-amp service to the ground rod. However, the code book also says you need an inter-system bonding block. And the minimum size for that is number 6

As far as proximity, or length of grounding conductor to the ground rod, I think some power companies will have something to say about that. Around here, supposed to be within one foot of the meter.
 
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