Grounding electrode conductor termination

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goldstar

goldstar

Senior Member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
For residential installations one POCO in my area will allow the head end of the # 6 wire from the grounding electrode conductor to be terminated inside the meter pan "IF THE AHJ SAYS IT'S OK" (there is a bonding screw available for this purpose). An AHJ had me remove the ground wire from the meter pan insisting that if the wire had to be serviced I would not be able to access it because the meter pan is locked.

Has anyone EVER had to service a grounding electrode conductor wire ???. Is there something in the NEC that prevents me from terminating here or is it just this AHJ's preference?

[ August 13, 2004, 05:27 AM: Message edited by: goldstar ]
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

it's something new---some places want it terminated in the service disconnect so that it is by code "accessible"----since the meter socket is normally locked! thats great--but doesn't make sense because we have other conductors inside the meter socket that are not "accessible"--what do we do there? ahj?
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

In my opinion, the connection is accessible, in fact it is readily accessible, we as electricians have the key to that tag, linesmans work well as does diagonal cutters. We only have to get to the connections, does that mean me have to lock it back up with a numbered tag? Just call first because the utility does not like it when you cut one of their tags w/out letting them know about it.
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

In my area, 99% are terminated in the meter can. It is customer owned although the meter is POCO property.
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

I would like to add some thought to this thread.
What is the purpose of the main grounding electrode? And the answer is, "the purpose of the Main Grounding Electrode is for Lightning and High Voltage Surges Protection". Now I am asking you, "would you want this termination in your meter can, where lightning and high voltages surges are going to be routed. My answer to that is, "I would not want that in my house".
I do not understand why the AHJ would insist that it be connected in this manner. If a AHJ reads this thread, I would like to hear his answer of why he would want the Main Ground Connection terminated in the Meter Can.
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

I've always grounded at the meter,,,,,,250.24(1) the connection shall be made at any accessible point from the load end of the service drop or service lateral to and including the terminal or bus to which the grounded service conductor is connected at the service disconnecting means.It does not imply readily accessible,,,,,,,,,,,,,the (to and including the terminal or bus which the grounded service conductor is connected)to me the way this is worded sounds like this point would be the 2nd option not the 1st.I think your installation is fine.Also around here cutting the seal is a no no and you will get fined for it.
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

A good location for bonding the GEC is in the meter enclosure. But in washington state the bond can not be made there as it is not considered accessible (meter is sealed).
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

Why would the AHJ think the meter is any less accessible than a locked electrical room might be?

As Frieble points out, the only purpose this serves is for disipating lightning and surges and with this being the case, after a lightning strike or a surge the whole wiring system back to the meter should be examined which would involve the meter being opened anyways.


Roger
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

I'm not a residential electrician but I have to ask,,,for instance if a meter is installed on the outside wall of a house and is nippled through the wall into a main breaker panel.If the ground wire is not permitted to terminated in the meterbase is it run out seperately to a ground rod from the neutral bar in the panel? Not all service disconnects are on the outside of the building.or is a cold water ground used and the ground rod eliminated?
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

I take back what I said on my previous thread. I was not thinking. Of course it is better for it to be in the Meter can. If it does not go there, then it will go into your main panel which is generally inside of your house.
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

By the NEC, it can be installed in the meter can. However, some utilities don't want it there, as ground shift/settleing may pull the conductor out of it's termination, and could possibly cause arcing to the hot terminals.

Rick Miell
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

What about "accessible to qualified persons"?

I agree it might not be accessible to the homeowner, but so what...they shouldn't be mucking around with it anyway.
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

The meter is sealed and under the control of the POCO.
Click to expand...
Tom, let me re-clarify the situation. This particular POCO allows the termination of the GEC in the meter pan "IF THE AHJ SAYS IT'S OK".

I guess my question is "Is it an NEC issue or a gray area that the AHJ is allowed to make a call on "?

By the NEC, it can be installed in the meter can. However, some utilities don't want it there, as ground shift/settleing may pull the conductor out of it's termination, and could possibly cause arcing to the hot terminals.
Click to expand...
In my opinion, if the ground settles and the conduit pulls the GEC downward, it can only pull the wire downward and not up into the jaws of the meter socket.

Is this something we can send to the CMP so that it can be incorporated into the code thereby making it common ground for all electricians (whether it's allowed or not) instead of a "crap shoot" hoping that your particular AHJ might allow you to do this ?
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

As a residential supervisor who`s company does over 2,500 homes a year all of our gec`s terminate in the meter base.Gas bond when required might be from there or from the panel.But as far as the EGC goes #4 from the meter hit ufer where required and copper if used and some areas require these and ground rod/s where required.Some areas 1 and some 2 ground rods depends on jurisdiction.Welome to FLA. :p
 
Re: Grounding electrode conductor termination

In my area (detroit) I cut those cheesy little locks off the meter cans almost daily and the POCO could care less. :D I always bond at the panel though.
 
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