Grounding meter housing and indoor panel

[zcanyonboltz]

A couple questions about GEC for a meter housing feeding a main breaker indoor panel with no outdoor disconnect. I know one proper way to ground would be to run ground from the indoor panel to the cold water and also to a ground rod.

Question, I have seen some meter housings connected to a ground rod, but then where is the second GEC and what do you do with the neutral bar and grounding bar at indoor panel? I found this info I'll include below but this is for a disconnect outside I'm wondering for when there is no disconnect outside. Thanks

A. Either location is fine with the NEC. The rule states that the grounding electrode conductor must connect the service neutral conductor to the grounding electrode at any accessible location, from the load end of the service drop or service lateral up to and including the service disconnecting means [250.24(A)(1)].

 

[kwired]

You can hit water pipe from inside panel and ground rod from meter if you wish. (or any other two combinations of electrode types can be run to either or both locations. Only one is your main electrode so to speak and must have a GEC supplying them. The other supplemental electrodes (even if required to be used) can be connected via bonding jumpers.

Some POCO's want a ground rod landed at the meter regardless of what other electrodes may be present.

 

[zcanyonboltz]

You can hit water pipe from inside panel and ground rod from meter if you wish. (or any other two combinations of electrode types can be run to either or both locations. Only one is your main electrode so to speak and must have a GEC supplying them. The other supplemental electrodes (even if required to be used) can be connected via bonding jumpers.

Some POCO's want a ground rod landed at the meter regardless of what other electrodes may be present.

Thanks, so if you hit the meter from a ground rod and inside panel from cold water or another ground rod then you DO NOT separate grounded and grounding conductors at panel correct? (I don't see why you would separate but just want to be sure) I'm not sure what you mean can be connected via bonding jumpers, would you just land second GEC (one not connected to meter) to the grounding bar? When you said combination can be run to either or both does this mean you could run both to meter housing? Thanks for explaining.

 

[kwired]

Thanks, so if you hit the meter from a ground rod and inside panel from cold water or another ground rod then you DO NOT separate grounded and grounding conductors at panel correct? (I don't see why you would separate but just want to be sure) I'm not sure what you mean can be connected via bonding jumpers, would you just land second GEC (one not connected to meter) to the grounding bar? When you said combination can be run to either or both does this mean you could run both to meter housing? Thanks for explaining.

Meter to first disconnect is still service conductors, you bond the grounded conductor to raceways and enclosures until you hit the service disconnecting means, at that point you have your main bonding jumper and must keep grounded and equipment grounding conductors separated beyond the service equipment (very few exceptions and most of those relate to existing installs that once were permitted)

 

[zcanyonboltz]

Meter to first disconnect is still service conductors, you bond the grounded conductor to raceways and enclosures until you hit the service disconnecting means, at that point you have your main bonding jumper and must keep grounded and equipment grounding conductors separated beyond the service equipment (very few exceptions and most of those relate to existing installs that once were permitted)

Thanks yes I understand that beyond service disconnect the grounded and grounding conductors are separated The thing that is a little different on this one is if you ground the grounded conductor at the meter the grounded and grounding conductor are the same wire on the run from the meter to the indoor panel this is what had me thinking some other rules may apply.

 

[kwired]

Thanks yes I understand that beyond service disconnect the grounded and grounding conductors are separated The thing that is a little different on this one is if you ground the grounded conductor at the meter the grounded and grounding conductor are the same wire on the run from the meter to the indoor panel this is what had me thinking some other rules may apply.

You are correct that they are the same thing, but at same time they are not separate. More simply there is no grounding conductor until after the service disconnecting means. Everything from the service disconnect and upstream is bonded to the grounded conductor, same as how POCO typically bonds everything to the grounded conductor, and they use multiple grounding electrodes all over the system on this same conductor.

Though it would be pretty rare you could have several junction points in the service conductors as they run from street/alley to your premises and connect a grounding electrode to the grounded conductor at every one of those points.