My NEW local authority member Electrical inspector has required US to drive grounding electrodes for SAW POLES. AKA construction temporary power. In my location we have used a butt ground for over 20 years due to someone driving a rod through a primary cable. Are most jurisdictions requiring ground rods on temporary saw poles?
Saw POLES ( construction temporary power poles for underground)
- Thread starter Sjogdren1
- Start date
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
While a common practice in many areas, I don't think that the NEC has ever permitted a butt ground as a grounding electrode.
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
Who said anything about the NEC permitting this?
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Are butt grounds considered to be the same as Article 250 plate electrodes?
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
811! LOL! Should have been called anyway when digging any post hole.
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
I wouldn’t think they would have enough contact area.
mtnelect
HVAC & Electrical Contractor
- Location
- Southern California
- Occupation
- Contractor, C10 & C20 - Semi Retired
In California we have "Underground Allert" requirement before you can drive a ground rod. Isn't required in all states ?
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
Here in Georgia, you were required to have a certification to move a shovel full of dirt. Blue card I think it was called. Never got carded by an inspector. I assume it’s still required.
qcroanoke
Sometimes I don't know if I'm the boxer or the bag
- Location
- Roanoke, VA.
- Occupation
- Sorta retired........
We have a call before you dig but I don't think driving a ground rod is part of it
jmellc
Senior Member
- Location
- Durham, NC
- Occupation
- Facility Maintenance Tech. Licensed Electrician
Never heard of butt grounding. We drove 1 gound rod in the 70's for a sawpole & have been doing 2 ever since it became a requirement for buildings. Someone describe butt grounding to me?
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
Apparently it does, because they should have set a pole, and if the did, they would have known the utility was was there if they done a locate, unless they were driving ground rods randomly for no reason.
It's when a 6' coil of wire is stapled to the butt of the pole. (Or post)
Now we use something like this:
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
The NEC {250.52(A)(6)} allows other listed electrodes would this butt plate qualify as one?
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
I haven’t looked it up, but I think wouldn’t think it would have enough surface area to meet NEC. But utility doesn’t use the NEC.
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
Looked it up, 60 cm x 60 cm, it will not meet NEC.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Where in the NEC did you look I'm guessing plates electrodes? Other listed electrodes are permitted {250.52(A)(6)} so the question is does this meet the other listed electrode requirement? It probably doesn't but I'm wonder what does meet 250.52(A)(6)?
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
Yeah, plate electrode size.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
My understanding of a butt grounding electrode is just the GEC spiral wrapped around the butt of the pole.
This is from a utility pole on a 34.5kV line.
I have never seen a plate installed on the bottom of the pole. If you installed a plate with 2 square feet in contact with the earth at the bottom of the pole, it would be compliant.