Splitting ground wire

[patpappas]

A relative of mine had electrical work done, new 200A service, the contractor installed the service ground, #4 copper, ran it outside then split the conductor in half by unwinding the strands and attached each smaller wire to seperate ground rods, I asked my realitive why, he did not know why it was done, I have never heard of doing that, don't sound right, it apparently passed inspection. Any thoughts.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

It is an illegal install. A number 4 wire should fir under the lug provided unless it is an old panel.

 

[patpappas]

The wire at the panel was under one lug, it was outside the wire was split, I was surprised this passed, never seen that done before.

 

[jxofaltrds]

Agreed. How far apart are the two rods?

 

[patpappas]

Thought to be six to seven feet.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

That is absurd. I thought you meant at the panel. Easy fix. put the #4 under one acorn clamp then add a jumper between the rods. BTW, #6 is all you need.

 

[patpappas]

This is all covered, and the new deck is built over the wire and rods, I could not belive this passed an inspection, never heard of this being done.

 

[jxofaltrds]

This is all covered, and the new deck is built over the wire and rods, I could not belive this passed an inspection, never heard of this being done.

Truth be told it probably was NOT inspected. I mean a quicky inspection.

 

[mbeatty]

Truth be told it probably was NOT inspected. I mean a quicky inspection.

I agree. This definitely appears to be a quicky and shoddy inspection.

 

[Buck Parrish]

I agree. This definitely appears to be a quicky and shoddy inspection.

Yep, I've had plenty of inspectors never look at the grd. rods.

Then we have one juisdiction , if they look at nothing else, they always look at the electrode grounding system.