Upgrading home grounding system

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dbjeffries

New member
Location
Yucca Valley, Ca.
I run across homes that don't have a ground rod, but are simply grounded to the water pipe. I was wondering if, since new homes have a ufer ground, as well as a gas and/or cold water bond, should these older homes without ground rods have them installed. If so, why, and if not, then why? I figure that the additional grounding is needed for extra safety...perhaps any of you have some safety information or a location to read on that.
Thank you.
 
B

boboelectric

Senior Member
Location
Eighty Four,Pa.15330
Good sales angle. I am a firm believer that ground rods are only for lightning hits.water lines,if all copper,tied to a community,are better grounds (bigger network of grounds).Anyway,the more the better.(bonding is important.)
 
infinity

infinity

Moderator
Staff member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Journeyman Electrician
If there is a water pipe electrode and a CEE then no ground rods are required or likely needed. Won't hurt anything if you install them in addition to the other electrodes.
 
K

Karl H

Senior Member
Location
San Diego,CA
Read Mike Holt's Grounding VS Bonding or the Soares Grounding book.
Then you will see the "Big Picture." The real reason why we "Ground"
an electrical system.
 
K8MHZ

K8MHZ

Senior Member
Location
Michigan. It's a beautiful peninsula, I've looked
Occupation
Electrician
Scenario A:

You do work on a residential service and leave the single or no ground rod installation as it is. House gets struck by lightning, burns to the ground.

Scenario B:

You do work on a residential service and spend a few dollars and a few minutes making sure there are two ground rods properly installed and connected. House gets struck by lighting, burns to the ground.

Which of the two would you rather be in, even though the final outcome was the same?
 
W

wawireguy

Senior Member
Guess I really don't know what the ground rods are for. Are they for lightning protection? Figure lightning would melt that little number 6 pretty fast.
 
iwire

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
My home has only the water line as the GES. Maybe someday I will get around to putting in the couple of rods I already bought and are still sitting in the garage. :D
 
Cavie

Cavie

Senior Member
Location
SW Florida
In many parts of Florida, ground rods rot in half just below ground level after a few years of install. Especially near the coast.
 
chris kennedy

chris kennedy

Senior Member
Location
Miami Fla.
Occupation
60 yr old tool twisting electrician
I PM'ed Bob this morning and told him I thought it was very professional looking. Isn't that the driving force behind all the Mod's and members efforts here?

I have no pictures of myself in a work environment. I should get one. I like the self portrait avatars, lets you know who you are talking to.
 
infinity

infinity

Moderator
Staff member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Journeyman Electrician
chris kennedy said:
I PM'ed Bob this morning and told him I thought it was very professional looking. Isn't that the driving force behind all the Mod's and members efforts here?

I have no pictures of myself in a work environment. I should get one. I like the self portrait avatars, lets you know who you are talking to.
Click to expand...


I'm usually taking photo's on the job so I'm never in them. Someone did manage to snap this one at my friends house:

Rob%20Ditch.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top