Grounding electrode conductor

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FrancisDoody

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In a multi family setting where you have three individual panelboards with a main breaker in each panel. How do you land equipment grounding conductor. Can I place it on the closest neutral bus bar?


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This supplemental EGC is run through each panel board and connected to the case using a lug. Would the EGC also follow this route?


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I don't understand the question. Your title says Grounding Electrode Conductor, your questions ask about Equipment Grounding Conductors.

Are you asking about the conductor connected to the earth or the conductor used for clearing a fault?
 
You mixed terminology on me. If you are questioning the grounding electrode conductor, the NEC requires a GEC at each service disconnect unless you have attached it ahead of the service disconnects (at a wireway or service point).
You are allowed to run a GEC from each disconnect to the electrode(s) or a properly sized single conductor and the tap the individual GECs to it.


Does that address your question ?

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First thing that needs clarified is whether each dwelling is service (and if permitted to be service supplied) or feeder supplied .
 
Yes the grounding electro conductor not the equipment grounding conductor. The main electro will be the water pipe and the supplemental would be the ground rod. The answer is that the EGC can be tapped into each panel. Where as the supplemental must be continuous


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FrancisDoody said:
Yes the grounding electro conductor not the equipment grounding conductor. The main electro will be the water pipe and the supplemental would be the ground rod. The answer is that the EGC can be tapped into each panel. Where as the supplemental must be continuous


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Again is each unit service or feeder supplied?

If each one is a service then each service must have a grounding electrode conductor (GEC). EGC (equipment grounding conductor) is the green or bare that is run with branch circuits and feeder conductors past the service disconnect or first disconnect of separately derived systems.

Only one electrode needs to have the GEC run to it, other electrodes present still need connected but can be connected via bonding jumpers.
 
FrancisDoody said:
Yes the grounding electro conductor not the equipment grounding conductor. The main electro will be the water pipe and the supplemental would be the ground rod. The answer is that the EGC can be tapped into each panel. Where as the supplemental must be continuous


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I am not entirely sure what you are asking.

Presumably you are using the water pipe as a grounding electrode along with a ground rod. There would need to be a bonding conductor between the two grounding electrodes. The grounding electrode conductor (GEC) only has to run to one of the grounding electrodes. If you run the GECs to the rod, the bonding conductor has to be full size. If you run them to the water pipe, the bonding conductor only has to be #6.

You are more or less correct that the bonding conductor between the rod and the pipe has to be continuous (or it can also be an irreversible connection). The GEC also has to be more or less continuous (or at least using irreversible connections).

The code does not seem to care how many splices you put in the EGC.
 
Kwired thank you for your reply. It is a service fed panel board. It's a typical three gang meter set up with the panelboards occupying the space directly behind the meter bank.


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FrancisDoody said:
Kwired thank you for your reply. It is a service fed panel board. It's a typical three gang meter set up with the panelboards occupying the space directly behind the meter bank.


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I assume that means all three service disconnecting means are grouped in same area, probably an area common to all three dwellings.

You have a few options on how to connect a GEC. You could run a GEC from each disconnecting means to the electrode(s), you could run one common GEC and make taps to each service disconnect, you could run a conductor from each disconnect to a a common point on the supply side such as the meter cabinet or even to the point where service drop connects to service conductors (if you have that).

See 250.64(D).
 
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