Ground Rod termination methods

[stevecon]

Hi All,

Ive been a licensed journeyman since '86... but its been a long while since I've done a service. I have been working in heavy manufacturing and the TelCo for the last 16 yrs as a facilities electrician - lots of electronics & motor work - no service work.

I will be doing a 100 amp service upgrade to 200 amp at my home, but had a question on supplemental ground - specifically the ground rod termination. I plan to run a #4 copper from the meter socket to the ground rod - and from the copper pipe on the street side of the water meter, and around the meter to the neutral / ground bus of the panel.

I remember that a while back terminating a rod for a 200 amp service not only had a #4 wire connected at the rod, but also required physically connecting the metal pipe to it as well. Then, I learned a lot of guys were running PVC from the meter to the rod instead of metal pipe - thereby eliminating the requirement of physically connecting it to the rod, that made sense to me.

I'm curious as to which method(s) you guys are using today. Is the PVC pipe method the way to go - or is there some new handy-dandy device that makes this chore even easier now?

Thanks

Steve

 

[bphgravity]

I think you are referring to 250.92. (A)(3). Also see 250.64(E).

I prefer the RNC method.

 

[tshea]

You could just secure the #4 to the side of the house and run it to an acorn clamp. #6 is max required. Make sure the acorn is suitable for direct burial.

Contact the AHJ to determine if there are local requirements.

 

[paul]

Check with the AHJ, as many jurisdictions now require driving two ground rods, and of those jurisdictions requiring two rods I've seen different required distances apart ranging from 6' to 16'. Run a #6 from the panel and hit both rods with one continous wire.

 

[infinity]

Since you have a water pipe, we would run a #4 CU GEC from the neutral to the water pipe. You can run a #6 to the 1st ground rod and jumper to the second with another piece if you prefer, these are bonding jumpers and do not need to be continuous. We always run the conductors exposed fastened along the surface of the building, no conduit required.