Grounding Electrode Connection

[Parkview1956]

I need some help with Art. 250.68(A). Is the Acorn clamp( mechanical connection) used to attach the EGC to the rod electrode required to be accessible when the rod is driven into the earth?

 

[david luchini]

I need some help with Art. 250.68(A). Is the Acorn clamp( mechanical connection) used to attach the EGC to the rod electrode required to be accessible when the rod is driven into the earth?

No, 250.68 refers to the connection of the GEC at the service (or sds, etc.) side, not at the electrode side.

You want to refer to 250.70 for connection of the GEC to the electrode. It says ground clamps used on pipes, rods, or other buried electrodes shall be listed for direct soil burial.

 

[cripple]

Grounding Electrode Connection

Section 250.53(G) ?2008? in the last sentence states the following;
?The upper end of the electrode shall be flush with or below ground level unless the aboveground end and the grounding electrode conductor attachment are protected against physical damage as specified in 250.10.?
Section 250.68(A) does require the connection to be accessible not readily accessible.
You may want to look up the definition accessible vs. readily accessible.

 

[bphgravity]

Just keep in mind that while the code does not require this connection point to remain accessible, it may need to remain accessble temporaily, for inspection. Most inspectors do not carry shovels...

 

[eprice]

No, 250.68 refers to the connection of the GEC at the service (or sds, etc.) side, not at the electrode side.

You want to refer to 250.70 for connection of the GEC to the electrode. It says ground clamps used on pipes, rods, or other buried electrodes shall be listed for direct soil burial.

This is not correct. 250.68 is about connection of the GEC to the electrode, it says so in the title of the section. Further, the text of 250.68 (A) makes it clear that it is talking about the connection to the electrode. It is exception 1 that relaxes this requirement in the case of a rod.

I think the text in 250.68 that talks about services, separately derived systems, etc. is to clarify what GEC's and electrodes this section applies to. It does not apply to auxiliary grounding electrodes and conductors as covered by 250.54 for example, IMO.

 

[infinity]

The connection is not required to be accessible when the GEC is connected to the rod. Since an 8' rod is required to be installed to a depth of at least 8' the connection is required to be buried.

250.68 Grounding Electrode Conductor and Bonding Jumper Connection to Grounding Electrodes.
The connection of a grounding electrode conductor at the service, at each building or structure where supplied by a feeder(s) or branch circuit(s), or at a separately derived system and associated bonding jumper(s) shall be made as specified 250.68(A) and (B).
(A) Accessibility. All mechanical elements used to terminate a grounding electrode conductor or bonding jumper to a grounding electrode shall be accessible.
Exception No. 1: An encased or buried connection to a concrete-encased, driven, or buried grounding electrode shall not be required to be accessible.

 

[david luchini]

This is not correct. 250.68 is about connection of the GEC to the electrode, it says so in the title of the section. Further, the text of 250.68 (A) makes it clear that it is talking about the connection to the electrode. It is exception 1 that relaxes this requirement in the case of a rod.

You are correct. I misread the section.