mstrlucky74
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
Light Pole Grounding Conductor
- Thread starter mstrlucky74
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jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
Diagram too small to see which wire you are referring to.
Assuming a copper conductor the EGC or GEC may be insulated or bare. Both are allowed.
Assuming a copper conductor the EGC or GEC may be insulated or bare. Both are allowed.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
why do you need a ground rod for a light pole anyway?
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
Warm and fuzzy feeling.
J/K. Apparently many designers/EE/architects are putting them in specs nowadays. Why, who knows?
Last edited:
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
Warm and fuzzy feeling.
J?K. Apparently many designers/EE/architects are putting them in specs nowadays. Why, who knows?
Dirt worshipers are a zealous bunch.
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
I asked about this awhile back, members said it is a common boilplate spec. Did not used to be, I never installed any rods at pole lights in yesteryears.
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
I think it's a combination of things. Utility company light poles traditionally required a ground rod so I think a lot of folks carried that tradition on for everything, then there are those who are not dirt worshipers but don't want to be called anti dirt so they spec a ground rod anyway.
I asked about this awhile back, members said it is a common boilplate spec. Did not used to be, I never installed any rods at pole lights in yesteryears.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
I asked about this awhile back, members said it is a common boilplate spec. Did not used to be, I never installed any rods at pole lights in yesteryears.
neither have I. But I don't install light poles either.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
I have seen this requirement in the occasional government spec. I think it is to prevent a travesty. Note, I did not say prevent a tragedy, as it cannot do that. But if a person is shocked while touching a light pole, and the investigation reveals that the electrician "failed" to install a "proper" ground rod, the resulting legal ramifications would amount to a travesty.
I once received a comment on a government project to the effect that I needed to add a ground rod at a light pole. I asked the commenter why, stating that it would serve no purpose and absolutely could not prevent a person from receiving a shock. His response: "I know. But I want one anyway."
I once received a comment on a government project to the effect that I needed to add a ground rod at a light pole. I asked the commenter why, stating that it would serve no purpose and absolutely could not prevent a person from receiving a shock. His response: "I know. But I want one anyway."
electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
- Occupation
- Electrician
Dirt worshipping troglodytes!
I asked about this awhile back, members said it is a common boilplate spec. Did not used to be, I never installed any rods at pole lights in yesteryears.
I've installed thousands of poles in my career....I've never seen a spec that doesn't require one
midamericairon
Member
I've been told it's mainly for lightning protection.
jeremysterling
Senior Member
- Location
- Austin, TX
A GC asked my employer to tidy up a multi-family site lighting after the EC left town. My PM told me to install ground rods for fifty non-metallic direct burial poles as required by a municipal ordinance for light poles. Luckily, the original EC returned and I departed.
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