Service Upgrade

R

Rick 0920

Senior Member
Location
Jacksonville, FL
Occupation
Electrical Instructor
If the GEC (#4) has been covered by stucco from the original installation, and I'm using a meter/main combo on the new upgrade, is it permissible to cut the existing GEC and use a direct burial kearney near the first electrode and run new #4 SDBC up to the new meter/main?
 
250.64(C)(1)
Splicing of the wire-type grounding electrode conductor shall be permitted only by irreversible compression-type connectors listed as grounding and bonding equipment or by the exothermic welding process.
 
infinity said:
Can you just run a new GEC to the existing electrode and avoid splicing?
Click to expand...
I wish I could. The 2nd electrode is metal water pipe and the conductor runs under a partial slab. I guess I could do it by keeping it close to the building sleeved in PVC but I think a Cadweld One Shot is my quickest and easiest fix.
 
Am I understanding correctly that the GEC to the second electrode originated at the 1st electrode and the GEC in question runs from the meter to the 1st electrode ?? Is the 1st electrode accessible ??
 
augie47 said:
Am I understanding correctly that the GEC to the second electrode originated at the 1st electrode and the GEC in question runs from the meter to the 1st electrode ?? Is the 1st electrode accessible ??
Click to expand...
Yes. The first electrode is an 8' ground rod driven below the meter socket enclosure. It is one continuous run of #4 SDBC from the meter to the ground rod, then from the ground rod to the copper water pipe. The home has stucco on the outside and the stucco covers the GEC. I don't want to have to do a stucco patch and paint so I"m thinking a Cadweld One Shot is my best alternative.
 
The conductor from the 1srt rod to a second, or water pipe, is a "Bonding jumper" so you can connect it via an added clamp to the 1st rod or a split bolt to the GEC.
It is not a "splice" so it does not need to be irreversible.
(Note unless you can show 25 ohms or less you will need a 2nd rod)
 
augie47 said:
The conductor from the 1srt rod to a second, or water pipe, is a "Bonding jumper" so you can connect it via an added clamp to the 1st rod or a split bolt to the GEC.
It is not a "splice" so it does not need to be irreversible.
(Note unless you can show 25 ohms or less you will need a 2nd rod)
Click to expand...
I have a ground megger so I can do a megger test. But I might just use (2) acorn clamps on the first rod. Thanks Gus!
 
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