Mobile Home & Structure

[Dennis Alwon]

I know we did some talking on a similar subject but I believe this question is a bit different. I just read this pdf and I wasn't sure I agreed with the author on 2 points.

The term structure. I know it means that which is built except equipment but I always thought that pertained to generators etc. This guy is saying if you have a meter and a service disconnect on a pole then no grounding electrode is needed because it is a structure. Well doesn't a service require an electrode regardless of whether or not it is a structure.

He does state that the trailer (mobile home) would need an electrode. This is not asking whether I can share between the service and the trailer if I needed an electrode in both place.

Think the service being 30 feet away and whether that service needs to be connected to an electrode. IMO, he is incorrect. What say you

 

[hillbilly1]

North Carolina is kinda weird on that. They are the only ones I have run across that consider a generator a structure, yet I rebuilt a service for a prefab building that housed a rental office, and the NC inspector said I didn’t need to drive a ground rod at it. I already had it drove…..so apparently I did extra work for nothing in that jurisdiction.

 

[augie47]

I've alwayss looked at it as : By definition (Art 550) a mobile home is a structure and that structures service equipment can be located up to 30 ft away. As you stated, service needs a grounding electrode. In addition, the definition of structure excludes equipment ie: service equipment.
If the remote service was a pedestal, we would still call that equipment. The only difference is a pole and I can't see that changing the remote service to being it's own structure.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I've alwayss looked at it as : By definition (Art 550) a mobile home is a structure and that structures service equipment can be located up to 30 ft away. As you stated, service needs a grounding electrode. In addition, the definition of structure excludes equipment ie: service equipment.
If the remote service was a pedestal, we would still call that equipment. The only difference is a pole and I can't see that changing the remote service to being it's own structure.

So would you require an electrode at the service pole?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

North Carolina is kinda weird on that. They are the only ones I have run across that consider a generator a structure, yet I rebuilt a service for a prefab building that housed a rental office, and the NC inspector said I didn’t need to drive a ground rod at it. I already had it drove…..so apparently I did extra work for nothing in that jurisdiction.

Not sure where you were but that sounds like a local thing. I doubt with the new wording on structure that they could consider a generator a structure

 

[texie]

So would you require an electrode at the service pole?

Yes because the service disconnect is at that point and 250.24 says so.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Yes because the service disconnect is at that point and 250.24 says so.

Exactly my thoughts but this guy is saying it is not required. At least that was what I read.

 

[texie]

Exactly my thoughts but this guy is saying it is not required. At least that was what I read.

A grounding electrode for a system can't be downstream of the service disco. They can be added down stream by connection only to the EGC. So it seems to me this guy has it wrong. I'll read his paper.