One GEC used for generator and service panel

[Danpc1979]

I'm on a job in Afghanistan an I came across something I never saw before and I have to question. When I run a GEC I always go directly to the grounding electrode. In this case a co-worker ran a GEC from the service panel to the generator and bonded the steel frame of generator and then went to the grounding electrode. I searched Art 250.30 and 250.64D2 trying to fined out if one GEC can be used for a permanent generator an service panel and am unable to fined in code book. Can someone help me in this to clear up the installation of a GEC.

 

[RUWired]

In this case a co-worker ran a GEC from the service panel to the generator and bonded the steel frame of generator

The GEC is supposed to go directly to an electrode as described in 250.50. The generator base is not a listed electrode.The GEC is also to be continuous.(250.64C)

and then went to the grounding electrode.

This would be ok for the gen set itself if properly installed.

I searched Art 250.30 and 250.64D2 trying to fined out if one GEC can be used for a permanent generator an service panel and am unable to fined in code book.

Some of the articles would be 250.50,52,58,64.

Rick

 

[ceb58]

You may want to look at 250.35 also

 

[bob]

In this case I am assuming the generator is acting like a utility providing service to the building.
The service conductors are brought to the main panel and the neutral is terminated at the neutral
bus which is bonded to the GEC. The neutral is bonded to the frame of the generator so there is no need
to do it again. Advise me if I am wrong on the neutral being bonded to the gen frame. It should be.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

In this case I am assuming the generator is acting like a utility providing service to the building.
The service conductors are brought to the main panel and the neutral is terminated at the neutral
bus which is bonded to the GEC. The neutral is bonded to the frame of the generator so there is no need
to do it again. Advise me if I am wrong on the neutral being bonded to the gen frame. It should be.

I do not agree with this. RUwired has the right idea imo. The generator needs a gec but IMO, it can share the same rod or electrode. I should state that I never do generators so ............

 

[bob]

I do not agree with this. RUwired has the right idea imo. The generator needs a gec but IMO, it can share the same rod or electrode. I should state that I never do generators so ............

I am not disagreeing with RU. I was suggesting that the GEC could be used for the main sw and generator if the neutral is bonded to the gen frame.
I did not see anything that prohibited it.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I am not disagreeing with RU. I was suggesting that the GEC could be used for the main sw and generator if the neutral is bonded to the gen frame.
I did not see anything that prohibited it.

I see what you are saying I thought you were saying you didn't need a gec at the generator if the neutral was bonded to the case.

 

[RUWired]

In this case I am assuming the generator is acting like a utility providing service to the building.
The service conductors are brought to the main panel and the neutral is terminated at the neutral
bus which is bonded to the GEC. The neutral is bonded to the frame of the generator so there is no need
to do it again. Advise me if I am wrong on the neutral being bonded to the gen frame. It should be.

I remember reading other posts that on bases overseas, the GEC is also used as the equipment ground throughout the facilities. The neutral is bonded everywhere it lands.This is a real problem that came about by not supplying the proper cable count.

This might be what the OP is up against.

Rick

 

[Danpc1979]

One gec for service panel & the same gec for generator

One gec for service panel & the same gec for generator

I remember reading other posts that on bases overseas, the GEC is also used as the equipment ground throughout the facilities. The neutral is bonded everywhere it lands.This is a real problem that came about by not supplying the proper cable count.

This might be what the OP is up against.

Rick

The neutral is isolated throughout the system except the bond of neutral an egc ,gec and metal enclosure at the first means of disconnect. Thank you for your replies and post to you later.
danpc1979.

 

[Danpc1979]

Bonding neutral to GEC only at generator.

Bonding neutral to GEC only at generator.

In this case I am assuming the generator is acting like a utility providing service to the building.
The service conductors are brought to the main panel and the neutral is terminated at the neutral
bus which is bonded to the GEC. The neutral is bonded to the frame of the generator so there is no need
to do it again. Advise me if I am wrong on the neutral being bonded to the gen frame. It should be.

The MDP has an isolated neutral from GEC. The only neutral to gec and frame bond is at the generator. And that is the reason I questioned the Gec bond,form the MDP is it should be at the generator and shouldn't be at main panel.I would of gave the MDP a seperate gec just like the SDP has a seperate gec from the MDP. Thank you for your response, and like to hear from you again.

 

[RUWired]

The neutral is isolated throughout the system except the bond of neutral an egc ,gec and metal enclosure at the first means of disconnect.

The MDP has an isolated neutral from GEC. The only neutral to gec and frame bond is at the generator.

Dan, I'm not real clear on where your bonding jumper is placed, but seeing the gen set is a SDS,If there is a main OCPD at the gen set, there should be a system bonding jumper installed from the neutral (XO) to the frame at the gen set. A grounding electrode conductor should be installed from that jumper connection point to an electrode system. From there, all neutral and equipment ground conductors should be seperated down stream. At the seperate structure or building where the MDP is located, there should be another grounding electrode system installed, but the grounding electrode conductor connects to the equipment gound bar. This grounding electrode conductor can connect to the gen set electrode if connected directly to the electrode.

If the gen set doesn't have an OCPD and the first OCPD is in the MDP let me know, there are a few different options.

Rick