Plastic Water Main

[hillbilly]

It sounds as if the 200amp panels are actually sub panels that require an EGC sized per T250.122...#6cu/#4al.

That's the way it sounds to me too.
Also, the equipment grounding conductors for the feeders... from the meter base to the 200A (sub) panels ....should be run with the feeder conductors (250.118) and [250.134(B)]

Basically...if I understand correctly..you bonded to the Grounding Electrode to supply a equipment grounding connection for each 200A (sub) panel...correct?
If so...IMO...thats not allowed.

I take it that the 600A disconnect is part of the Meter bank that also includes the (6) 200A breakers.

If so, the Meter Bank with it's (6) 200A breakers is your service disconnect.
From there, you should have installed 4 wire feeders to the (6) 200A panels.

The 2/0 Cu GEC from the building steel (Grounding Electrode) to the Meter Bank sounds right to me.

Just my opinion
steve

 

[B4T]

does this make sense?

does this make sense?

my logic was that the building steel is the GES and tapping into any point of that is same as running #4 back to 600 amp, disconnect switch. I am treating 200 amp panels as (sub) panels.

 

[George Stolz]

Steve, from the description, it sounds like the meters were after the service disconnect, cold sequence.

IMO, the 600A switch ahead of the meters is the service disconnect, and the grounding electrode system should be terminated there.

Did you run a equipment grounding conductor with the 3 ? 3/0 feeders?

no.. I did not run one with 3/0 conductors

It really looks to me like this went from expensive and inconvenient to worse.

The EGC needs to run with the feeder conductors (300.3(B)). The #4's running from the subpanels to the building steel aren't technically doing that for you by code.

You have three scenarios to right this:
1. Somehow the 600A switch belongs to the utility and isn't governed by the NEC.
2. Somehow we can see the six units as being separate structures, and the installation is covered under an NEC prior to 2008, falling back on 250.32.
3. Remove the #4 GECs from the subpanels, and pull SE-R from the service equipment to the panels, and either dig up and recycle or abandon the existing non-grounding feeders.

IMO.

Also - what is grounding your building steel (actually connecting it to earth) per 250.52(A)(2)?

 

[George Stolz]

my logic was that the building steel is the GES and tapping into any point of that is same as running #4 back to 600 amp, disconnect switch.

Who said the NEC was logical?

You can't use the EGS as your effective fault current return path, except in few exceptions. The EGC has to be run with the circuit conductors that are supplying the ground fault we're protecting against.

Using a path physically different than the ungrounded conductors supplying the fault reduces the effectiveness of the fault path, and also creates EMF. 300.3(B).

I am treating 200 amp panels as (sub) panels.

Actually, your setup would only be legal if each of the panels contained a service disconnect. The presence of the service disconnect upstream from the panels means you need an EGC, and can't use the neutral of the feeder to bond the panels.

 

[George Stolz]

I didn't look back to be sure, but you might have run a raceway, which would mean you could pull an EGC in with the feeder conductors (obviously) avoiding the whole recycling bit.

 

[RUWired]

I didn't look back to be sure, but you might have run a raceway, which would mean you could pull an EGC in with the feeder conductors (obviously) avoiding the whole recycling bit.

OK... I have direct burial from meter bank to 200 amp panels.. (3) 3/0 conductors.

Start digging!!!!!

 

[B4T]

I'm not digging yet ....

I'm not digging yet ....

Each panel has a main breaker does this help me out?? One more thing.. I didn't run any wires yet, so I will leave the shovel in the truck. I never ask questions AFTER I do a job. Thank-you to all who have saved me thousands.. lunch is on me.


Actually, your setup would only be legal if each of the panels contained a service disconnect. The presence of the service disconnect upstream from the panels means you need an EGC, and can't use the neutral of the feeder to bond the panels.[/QUOTE]

 

[R Bob]

Start digging!!!!!

While your digging, you may want to consider voltage drop on the feeders to the sub panels. If I remenber correctly, I think you commented that the bldg. is 300LF long.

 

[RUWired]

I will have a 1/0 cu.GEC from RPG pipe to building steel and 2/0 cu.GEC from building steel to 600 amp. disc switch.

The water pipe should have a 2/0 as well.