No equipment ground on water heater

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TimWA

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Rewiring a rental dwelling on low customer budget, do I have to pull a new circuit on an existing two-wire-only 220V water heater, or is it grandfathered in? Can I bond the WH case to adjacent copper plumbing bonded at the service? Fault current on plumbing would be momentary would it not?
 
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TimWA said:
Rewiring a rental dwelling on low customer budget, do I have to pull a new circuit on an existing two-wire-only 220V water heater, or is it grandfathered in? Can I bond the WH case to adjacent copper plumbing bonded at the service? Fault current on plumbing would be momentary would it not?
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Momentary yes, compliant no.
 
I don't see a way this can be compliant without an EGC.

It may have been compliant at one time, but it does not comply with current rules.

IMO, if you mess with this circuit in any significant way you have to make it compliant.
 
ptonsparky said:
See 300.3(B) ('05 is what I have here)

Momentary fault current is a "maybe". An element could fail in such a manner as to allow current to flow on the EG for an extended time.
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Which is actually the case in any grounding or bonding scenario.
 
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