Panel and GEC

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brother

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Was in a discussion with a buddy, tell me if my interpertation is correct.

theres this duplex building (a 2 family dwelling unit) and here the panels are installed 'outside' right beside each other. 200 amp panels each.

2 sets of service entrace conductors, 2 service weather heads comming up and of course 2 meters and then the 2 panels. There is only one service drop and the service entrance conductors tapp into the service drop.

The question is about the GEC (grounding electrode system). He claims that you can take a # 6 from the 2 ground rods, and land it on one panel on the buss, and then take another #6 from that panel and land it on the other panel(service). Basically its just spliced on the buss of the other panel. My understanding is that you can NOT do it this way, because of 2005 NEC 210.64(D). theres more than one enclosure.

So the question is , am i right, or is he??
Also it was understood that you did not want any disruption of the gec if you ever have to service just one of the panels, the gec installed this way would lose continuity.
 
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There's a few options in your case, but splicing on the ground bar in the panel is not one of them. I think you were right.

In a multiple metering situation, with many panels, I generally H-tap off the "main" GEC and run a little piece to each panel.
 
mdshunk said:
In a multiple metering situation, with many panels, I generally H-tap off the "main" GEC and run a little piece to each panel.
Click to expand...

That is a great way but I want to point out split bolts would also be adaptable in place of the H taps.
 
mdshunk said:
There's a few options in your case, but splicing on the ground bar in the panel is not one of them. I think you were right.

In a multiple metering situation, with many panels, I generally H-tap off the "main" GEC and run a little piece to each panel.
Click to expand...

What is an "H" tap.
 
iwire said:
That is a great way but I want to point out split bolts would also be adaptable in place of the H taps.
Click to expand...
If I'm not mistaken, there was a point in time where you couldn't use split bolts? Maybe I'm mixed up? In any event, I choose H-taps because they're 85 cents, and a split bolt is a few dollars.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
What is an "H" tap.
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d_8025.jpg


Typically installed with the MD6.
 
Thanks I have seen them but don't have the tool. I would just run one wire from one panel down thru both rods and them up to the next panel. No splice no problems. I hope.:smile:
 
iwire said:
And you have the tool and stock them, it's a great choice. :cool:
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Matter of fact, I use them a great deal, since I do a lot of farm work. I havn't used a split bolt on years, but I still occasionally use a Polaris/NSI type bug. For the cost, the HTap is the way to fly if you're pretty sure you don't need to take it apart again. If it's something that might reasonably need to come apart from time to time, I pick the Polaris/NSI bugs. For everything else, the H-tap is a no-brainer.
 
splices do, taps don't, ........I believe.

Here a #6 from the rod to panel #1 with a split bolt (or H-Tap) from the conductor (before it reaches the panel) to panel #2
or
a #6 from the rod (serperate clamp) to each panel

(actually in this jurisdiction, POCO, rather you terminate in each meter socket.)
 
brother said:
I thought thoses split bolts would be illegal, dont the splices have to be 'irreversable' and perminant for the gec tap??
Click to expand...

No, as augie47 pointed out the GEC must be continuous or irreversible, taps do not,

See 250.64(D)(1) 2008 or 250.64(D) 2005, in both cases the wording is toward the end of the paragraph.
 
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