I am working on a project where a new outdoor electrical gate operator is being installed to control a fence cantilever gate. The detail provided says to install a separate ground rod for the gate operator per NEC. I don't recall seeing a separate ground rod on existing gate operator installations and I'm wondering if these existing gate operators are installed incorrectly. Should outdoor electrical gate operators have a separate ground rod? and if so what NEC code requires it?
Is a separate ground rod required per NEC for an outdoor electrical gate operator?
- Thread starter gust1j
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Engineer
Probably not required. Look at the exception to 250.32(A).
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
I've wired a few and the mfg instructions say to install a ground rod. But it's for lightning.
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
Do you think there's any real reason for that? Or is it just superstition?
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
I know some jurisdictions in NC would consider it a structure, and want a grounding electrode, Their definition of structure tends to be a little looney! LOL!
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
Their interpretation of the article 100 definition of structure wouldn't be loony. But if the only branch circuit to the structure is the one for the gate motor, then the structure still isn't required to have a grounding electrode. It's the exception to 250.32(A) which Charlie already mentioned.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I agree a ground rod or any electrode for that matter is not required. Sounds like the detail is from someone other than the gate manufacturer.
hbiss
EC, Westchester, New York NEC: 2014
- Location
- Hawthorne, New York NEC: 2014
- Occupation
- EC
Not the NEC. It very well may be that it's from the gate manufacturer just like other equipment that has "dirt worshiper" engineers who don't understand the function and proper use of ground rods.
One would think that the posts and supports for this gate as well as the attached fence more than equal what a ground rod provides anyway.
-Hal
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
Well this customer had lost 3 gate openers due to either lightning or surge. I didn't install any of those. The one that I installed said to drive a ground rod and I did. To my knowledge the motor I put in is still working. As to whether the ground rod made a difference, I can't tell you that.
- Status