Parking lot pole lights

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benaround

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Does the NEC require grounding electrodes installed at parking lot pole lights per 250.32.
Aside from the exception,of course.
 
Re: Parking lot pole lights

Originally posted by benaround:
Does the NEC require grounding electrodes installed at parking lot pole lights per 250.32.
Aside from the exception,of course.
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IMO yes, if the pole is supplied by a feeder or more than one branch circuit.

That said I don't think they will do anything. ;)
 
Re: Parking lot pole lights

In this exact case, I would use my enforcement authority expressed in the second paragragh of 90.4 and grant special permission not requiring a separate electrode at each pole, especially where these poles are effectively grounded by attachement to a concrete base underground.
 
Re: Parking lot pole lights

Some people claim that a ground rod at each pole will provide some benefit in the event of lightning activity. True or no? Is it your (Bryan's) contention that the pole J-bolts and the concrete base are already pretty much a Ufer gound, making any ground rods redundant?
 
Re: Parking lot pole lights

Thanks for the replies Bob,Bryan,and Dr. Shunk.

I have noticed latley that the pole light details no longer include the electrode (rod) so it must be the 'new' way of thinking about it.
A few years ago we were cad welding what we no longer even need?
 
Re: Parking lot pole lights

Originally posted by mdshunk:
Some people claim that a ground rod at each pole will provide some benefit in the event of lightning activity. True or no?
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In my opinion NO.

Is it your (Bryan's) contention that the pole J-bolts and the concrete base are already pretty much a Ufer gound, making any ground rods redundant?
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In my opinion YES.
 
Re: Parking lot pole lights

From Bryan

"In this exact case, I would use my enforcement authority expressed in the second paragragh of 90.4 and grant special permission not requiring a separate electrode at each pole, especially where these poles are effectively grounded by attachement to a concrete base underground."

You do not need to use 90.4, you can reference 250.54
 
Re: Parking lot pole lights

Originally posted by georgestolz:
What about 250.32(A), exception?
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That certainly does seem to apply.

There are rare circumstances in which you'll have more than one circuit to a pole light. I did some pole lights near a helicopter landing pad that had a second circuit for flashing red lights on top. I did some that had a receptacle about 6 feet down from the shoeboxes for lighted holiday wreath thing-a-ma-jigs that were a seperate circuit.

Even if not expressly required, I will continue to put a ground rod at pole lights for the purpose of shunting some of a lightning strike to earth right at the pole. Even if it is just superstition, it makes me feel better to do so.
 
Re: Parking lot pole lights

George,

In my O.P. I set the exception aside. Consider more than one circuit, and not multi wire.

Frank
 
Re: Parking lot pole lights

The equipment bonding conductor provides the ground fault return path, that is all that is required. The ground rod serves no purpose.

romeo
 
Re: Parking lot pole lights

Originally posted by romeo:
The equipment bonding conductor provides the ground fault return path, that is all that is required. The ground rod serves no purpose.

romeo
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Romeo, I agree they would serve no purpose.

However if they are served by more than one branch circuit or a feeder then 250.32(A) requires grounding electrodes.
 
Re: Parking lot pole lights

A light pole does not require a disconnect. A code change several cycles ago clarifed this.
See 225.32 Exception 3
 
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