split bolts for GEC taps?

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detroitelectrician

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Can I use split bolts to tap off my Gec? Reason being I can't find any compression tees with 3/0 as main and #4 as tap. Also can I land my GEC to the frame of the panels (which is bonded to the neutral bar) if it is to big to fit in the the neutral bar. My service consist of (2) 200 amp 3 phase panels each having its own set of 3/0 copper service conductors both to a common point of attachment. I used 3/0 copper for my GEC I think I could have used 1/0. Any way I am stuck with this 3/0 copper GEC and I got a red tag for landing it on the panel frame with a twin lug. My AHJ says I could have used #4 and just jumpered it. The way I did it may be wrong but I am sure he is wrong also, #4 as a main GEC ? I don't think so. What say you?
 
NOPE! Irreversible compression tap or CadWeld.

An H-tap is what I use to do a running tap on a GEC.

HPIM0640.jpg
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
Marc
He asked if he could use the split bolts to "tap" off of the Common Grounding Electrode.
The tap is a tap and is not the GEC. I say he can use the split bolt for the tap connection to the GEC.
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I honestly didn't understand the details of his question, so I responded the most conservative way possible.
 
Split bolts and landing on the frame?

Split bolts and landing on the frame?

As Pierre said I want to use the spilt bolt as the tap connection. Is landing to the side of the panel with the GEC legal.
 
Is landing to the side of the panel with the GEC legal.
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No, it must be connected to the grouned conductor service conductor or grounded terminal bar in the service equipment. In cases where the main bonding jumper is a wire or busbar, the GEC is permitted to be connected to the equipment grounding terminal bar. See 250.24(A).
Don
 
You stated that you installed a double barrel lug to panel enclosure and landed the GEC to it. You could then install # 4 CU from lug to neutral bar based on service conductors of that enclosure NEC 250.28 and 250.66.
 
Split bolts for GEC taps or not

Split bolts for GEC taps or not

Bea said:
You stated that you installed a double barrel lug to panel enclosure and landed the GEC to it. You could then install # 4 CU from lug to neutral bar based on service conductors of that enclosure NEC 250.28 and 250.66.
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That is what I thought but I am being told I can't land on the panel enclosure I have to go to the neutral bar.:mad:
 
You stated that you installed a double barrel lug to panel enclosure and landed the GEC to it. You could then install # 4 CU from lug to neutral bar based on service conductors of that enclosure NEC 250.28 and 250.66.
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That would be a splice unless the double barrel lug is a crimp type lug. Splices are not permitted in the GEC.
Don
 
Psychojohn said:
Read 250.64C(3), This may solve your problem.
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Thanks for your reply, However If you read 250.64(D), which is the paragraph on taps, you will see it says taps must be added without splicing the common GEC. This can be accomplsihed with split bolts. It cleary spelled out and distinguihed between the common GEC and the tap conductors. The restriction given (no splicing) is only given to the common GEC.

It says you can not splice a GEC, however I want to add taps to a continous unspliced GEC.
What is so strange is when I did residential the same AHJ told me to use a split bolt on two family flats with seperate panels. If they tell me it is okay to make (1) tap with a split bolt off #6 bare GEC, then (2) taps with split bolts off 3/0 should be allowed. Don't you guys agree?
 
Yes it is a bus bar. But the way I read it, the GEC can be taken to it, and then the pannels and anything else that needs bonding can also be atached to it. It would be a way to atttach the 3/0 GEC with aproved connectors and then run #2 or #4 to the seperate mains.
 
Psychojohn said:
Yes it is a bus bar. But the way I read it, the GEC can be taken to it, and then the pannels and anything else that needs bonding can also be atached to it. It would be a way to atttach the 3/0 GEC with aproved connectors and then run #2 or #4 to the seperate mains.
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I agree with you.

Yesterday I got a call from my Chief Electrical inspector, he has changed his mind. He now says I can use split bolts to connect the taps to the common
GEC.

Thanks guys for your support and comments.

Detroitelectrician
 
detroitelectrician said:
I agree with you.

Yesterday I got a call from my Chief Electrical inspector, he has changed his mind. He now says I can use split bolts to connect the taps to the common
GEC.

Thanks guys for your support and comments.

Detroitelectrician
Click to expand...


I'm glad to hear that he corrected his error. It's very frustrating when you have to deal with a guy who has a "do it my way mentality". :roll:
 
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