Options on how to connect the intersystem bonding block

[Strummed]

I have 2 options for grounding on a service I am doing. The panel is in the basement, the GEC going to the water pipe is separate and easy. My question is about the GEC for the ground rods:

A) Come out of the house with the GEC right near the service entrance/meter base, run through the intersystem grounding block and then down into the dirt. Run it buried in the dirt along the side of the house for about 13 feet to where it's safe to drive 2 ground rods.

or

B) Run the GEC inside of the basement along the top of the wall, then exit the basement right where the ground rods will be. But I would then have to run another conductor out near the service entrance to connect to the bonding block.

Any issues with either? Which would you prefer?

 

[infinity]

Since you need to install the intersystem bonding termination near the meter enclosure I would opt for method #1. I usually dig out some dirt with the back of a claw hammer and run the #6 next to the foundation.

 

[kwired]

I don't see that it is required to have the IBJ at/near the meter socket. It can be at the meter or at the service equipment, can be directly connected to metal service enclosure or meter socket or be connected to grounding electrode conductor via a minimum of 6 AWG conductor.

250.94 Bonding for Other Systems.


An intersystem bonding termination for connecting intersystem bonding conductors required for other systems shall be provided external to enclosures at the service equipment or metering equipment enclosure and at the disconnecting means for any additional buildings or structures. The intersystem bonding termination shall comply with the following:
(1) Be accessible for connection and inspection.
(2) Consist of a set of terminals with the capacity for connection of not less than three intersystem bonding conductors.
(3) Not interfere with opening the enclosure for a service, building or structure disconnecting means, or metering equipment.
(4) At the service equipment, be securely mounted and electrically connected to an enclosure for the service equipment, to the meter enclosure, or to an exposed nonflexible metallic service raceway, or be mounted at one of these enclosures and be connected to the enclosure or to the grounding electrode conductor with a minimum 6 AWG copper conductor
(5) At the disconnecting means for a building or structure, be securely mounted and electrically connected to the metallic enclosure for the building or structure disconnecting means, or be mounted at the disconnecting means and be connected to the metallic enclosure or to the grounding electrode conductor with a minimum 6 AWG copper conductor.
(6) The terminals shall be listed as grounding and bonding equipment.

 

[Strummed]

Oh, so I would be able to install it inside near the main panel and pickup one of the GEC's right there, huh? I never thought of it that way.

I'm thinking that an inspector might not like that even if it's allowed. The cable and phone demarcs are outside by the meter and the IST is supposed to make their job of grounding easier so that they do it the right way. If faced with drilling through the block wall to ground their system, Cablevision is going to just push their 3' ground rod into the ground instead :roll: :lol:

 

[kwired]

Oh, so I would be able to install it inside near the main panel and pickup one of the GEC's right there, huh? I never thought of it that way.

I'm thinking that an inspector might not like that even if it's allowed. The cable and phone demarcs are outside by the meter and the IST is supposed to make their job of grounding easier so that they do it the right way. If faced with drilling through the block wall to ground their system, Cablevision is going to just push their 3' ground rod into the ground instead :roll: :lol:

Not every installation will have a meter on the building either and if it is a CT meter there may not be a GEC in the vicinity of the meter even if it is on the building.

And yes you can even install it directly to the service panel with no additional conductor supplying it. You will probably need to scrape paint to ensure a low impedance connection to the panel. It can even be installed on a metallic service raceway. Read part subpart 4 of 250.94 carefully, it describes a few possibilities of how this can be done.