Grounding Electrode Conductor Table 250.66

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FrancisDoody

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Durham, CT
Does this requirement exist in your area.

Meter socket can not be used as a grounding point. The grounding electrode conductor shall not be run through the meter socket and the grounding electrode conductor connection shall not be made within the meter provision.

That requirement came from the electrical service requirements for the United Illuminating Company of Connecticut. The on-line handbook.

It just seems that the meter socket should be the place to make that connection. Every socket has a lug attached to the grounded bus to make the connection.

If not let me drag the #6 wire through the socket and I will land it on the EGC bus. But it seems to me that is also prohibited to.

Thanks,
Fran
 
To tell you the truth I have always done it the other way. But last year at a Mike Holt Seminar one of the local contractors said, in his state, all grounding connections were made in the socket. It seems like the way it should be done. Why not I guess is my question?
 
In Connecticut the meter socket is paid for by the home owner and it is not a cheap purchase. This socket was $314.56 and if it had disconnects it would have been $850.00
 
1st, in my case, the meter socket isn't there. It is installed when the POCO hooks up, so for my inspection it has to go to the disconnect. 2nd, they don't want anyone in their equipment at some future time if the grounding electrode conductor needs to be accessed. To be honest, I never tought about it that much, its what we are used to here.
 
FrancisDoody said:
In Connecticut the meter socket is paid for by the home owner and it is not a cheap purchase. This socket was $314.56 and if it had disconnects it would have been $850.00
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Whoever bought it is unimportant.

The power company can refuse service if the work does not meet their rules.

Some AHJs also consider the connection not accessible in a meter socket.
 
FrancisDoody said:
In Connecticut the meter socket is paid for by the home owner and it is not a cheap purchase. This socket was $314.56 and if it had disconnects it would have been $850.00
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One way or the other, they are paying for it however you look at it!:D
 
Here, we can do it either way. It used to be that the electric company proibited this, but not anymore.

I will usually land in the meter base on brick homes, and in the panelboard on sided homes. It's strictly for looks. On brick homes, the wire is almost invisible because of the vertical mortar joints. On sided homes, it sticks out like a sore thumb, so I usually land in panelboard to have the minimal amount visible.


John
 
flick said:
On brick homes, the wire is almost invisible because of the vertical mortar joints.
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Are you saying that you run the conductor without any form of protection? Straight into the ground? I see it that way all the time, but I don't like it one bit. Seems like a 250.64(B) violation if anyone mows grass.
 
mdshunk said:
Are you saying that you run the conductor without any form of protection? Straight into the ground? I see it that way all the time, but I don't like it one bit. Seems like a 250.64(B) violation if anyone mows grass.
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That's the way it is done here with a #6 CU conductor. Attached to the building and into the ground to hit the rods.
 
FrancisDoody said:
In Connecticut the meter socket is paid for by the home owner and it is not a cheap purchase. This socket was $314.56 and if it had disconnects it would have been $850.00
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Who is selling the meter socket and collecting the money? Are you talking about the socket only, or about socket and installation of the socket?

A 200 Amp plain vanilla meter socket (for meter only), which is about as big as most homeowners need, costs less than $40 at Home Depot.
 
JohnJ0906 said:
The POCO in the Washington, DC area requires you to purchase the meter socket from them. Nice racket, huh?
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Are you referring to PEPCO? They used to give `em away "free" --- we had a service job in PG county a couple of years ago, and had to go to Forestville to pick up the meter box ahead of time. No charge to us then ...

How much do they want for it? And why can't you get the same or similar from Rexel, or Maurice?
 
Here in VA, the POCO supplies the meter base free, the electrician installs it and makes up the load-side, and it's the dividing point between the POCO's and the customer's responsibility, except for the point of attachment.

For example, if a tree branch pulls down a service drop, we have to reattach it to the structure and we also have to do any meter-base repairs, such as reattachment if it becomes loose or there are any terminal problems.

Unfortunately, we're also not allowed to land the GEC in the meter, although it seems to be the ideal place (it's already outside), because it's considered inaccessible. I believe it's the AHJ's restriction, not the POCO's.
 
I just did a service change and landed the grounding conductor at the panel inside the house and on inspection the AHJ made me move it to the meter socket. Two days later on another service change a differant AHJ in a another county wanted it at the panel in the house. Code says either one is ok. Whatever the AHJ wants.
 
FrancisDoody said:
It just seems that the meter socket should be the place to make that connection. Every socket has a lug attached to the grounded bus to make the connection.
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The lug inside the meterbase is intended for bonding [250.92] not for the grounding electrode conductor altho landing the electrode there is OK as long as both the electric utility and the AHJ say that the utility seal on the meter doesn't make it inaccessible [250.24(A)(1)].

David
 
Now come on. ;)

I have seen a lot of debates around here but I have never seen this one yet.

That lug is intended to connect a conductor...peroid.

If it is used at all and for what purpose is up to the installer.
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