Grounding meter enclosures

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magoo66

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Situation: Single phase residential 120/240v, 200a underground service with the meter socket on a post in the yard. The poco and customers neutral conductors are bonded to the meter enclosure. 3 conductor underground service lateral to the main breaker in a residential panelboard. #4 bare GEC from panelboard to the concrete encased electrode in footer.

Question: Would any interpretation of the NEC require a rod to be driven at the meter socket?

Poco is not presently requiring this but the AHJ is and I can't find any local requirement covering this.
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

I think the installation is fine the way it is.

Don't forget that you need to bond any interior metal water piping system with a #4 CU as well.
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

Look @ Art.250.24(A)-(5) This tells you where the grounding of the grounded conductor is to be done. #1 of this Art. says accessible point from the load end of the service drop or lateral. If your poco is like in my area we are not allowed to access the mter after there seal is installed. which brings up the point of accessible. Some poco like in Colorado Springs DO NOT want the grounds landed in their equipment. Most power companies around here ground the neutral with their #6 GEC that runs up the pole.
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

Originally posted by don_resqcapt19:
250.32(A).
Structure. That which is built or constructed.
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Don I had thought of posting that, I ran into an issue with it.

250.32 Two or More Buildings or Structures Supplied from a Common Service.
(A) Grounding Electrode. Where two or more buildings or structures are supplied from a common ac service by a feeder(s) or branch circuit(s),.....
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In this case there are no branch circuits or feeders, only service conductors.

Looking at it this way do you still feel 250.32 applies here?

I would say it applies if a service disconnect is installed there.

Which brings me to this.

Wouldn't this 'structure' require a disconnect per 230.70(A)(1)?

Bob
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

Bob, is it a structure? It is up to the AHJ to make that call. Would you require a service disconnecting means on a utility pole if a meter fitting were to be installed? How about if it were just a customer owned service riser?

By the way, just because our cash register is there does not mean that it is service equipment, see 230.66. :D
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

I agree, it totally hinges on the call of the AHJ. This is one where the Code should address this type of service in relationship to the disconnecting means. :D
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

A pole is a structure. In Art.100 it states that a structure is "that which is built or constructed. In Art.225.1- Lists a pole as a structure.
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

Would you then call a utility pole a structure (we do) and require a service disconnecting means be install on it along with the underground riser if it is customer owned? If not, why not? :D
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

This is interesting.
If it is a Utility owned pole, I say they have the call of whether the disconnect is necessary.
If it is a private property pole....HMM!
I myself have never seen the disconnect required at a remote pole from the house.
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

Pierre, we have the call as to whether or no we will permit our customer's equipment on our structures (the NESC also calls a pole a structure) or not. The AHJ has the call as to the requirement of a disconnecting means.

If the AHJ were to require a disconnecting means on our pole, we would require the customer to provide his own pole. We do not permit other than a riser on our pole. :D
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

I have a hard time seeing how a meter enclosure mounted on a post is a structure. This is common around here when people don't want to have an "ugly meter socket" on their home. I have yet to see a ground rod driven for this situation. Not saying it's right but I don't see how the "structure rule" applies here. :confused:
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

The pole is indeed a structure. It does not need a disconnect because the service conductors do not supply or feed thru the pole. The meter itself is irrelevent. As far as the ground rod, unless the serving utility does not require it, IMO there no need for the rod at the pole. Only if the structure is being served.
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

Originally posted by peter d:
I have a hard time seeing how a meter enclosure mounted on a post is a structure.
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Pete did the post grow there from a seed?

Article 100
Structure. That which is built or constructed.
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Someone constructed the support for the meter.

It's a structure by NECs definition.

There is no question a lighting pole is a structure, what makes a meter on a support different then the lighting pole?
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

Originally posted by necbuff:
It does not need a disconnect because the service conductors do not supply or feed thru the pole.
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Sure would like to see the code article from 230 to back that up.

As a side note look at 225.31

225.31 Disconnecting Means.
Means shall be provided for disconnecting all ungrounded conductors that supply or pass through the building or structure.
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So if it is a feeder passing through a structure we need a disconnect but if its service conductors we don't. Sounds fishy to me. :D
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

Bob, I have yet to see the service conductors "supply or pass through" a pole. I have, however, seen a lot of service conductors on a pole. Maybe that is the real answer to this quandary. :D
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

Originally posted by charlie:
Bob, I have yet to see the service conductors "supply or pass through" a pole. I have, however, seen a lot of service conductors on a pole. Maybe that is the real answer to this quandary. :D
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I'll buy that. :cool:
 
Re: Grounding meter enclosures

I stand corrected. :eek:

Nevertheless, I am going to be stubborn and question the need for a grounding electrode system for a meter base mouted on some lumber. I am guessing this is for lighting protection. In that case, I now see the need. Can't see the forest for the trees. :roll:
 
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