Weird GEC found while trenching

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Coppersmith

Coppersmith

Senior Member
Location
Tampa, FL, USA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
I was trenching down the side of a house (5 feet from the wall) and hit a grounding electrode conductor. When I investigated I found it appeared to connect the main ground rods at the front of the house with a well pump in the backyard over 80 feet away. Is this GEC needed?
 
ptonsparky said:
If it goes to the metal well casing, yes. Nobody goes to that much effort up here, but you have an elevated risk
Click to expand...

A metal well casing is allowed to be used as a grounding electrode, but it is not required to be used as one.

250.50 Grounding Electrode System. All grounding electrodes
as described in 250.52(A)(1) through (A)(7) that are
present at each building or structure served shall be bonded
together to form the grounding electrode system.

Metal well casings are covered in 250.52(A)(8).
 
packersparky said:
A metal well casing is allowed to be used as a grounding electrode, but it is not required to be used as one.

250.50 Grounding Electrode System. All grounding electrodes
as described in 250.52(A)(1) through (A)(7) that are
present at each building or structure served shall be bonded
together to form the grounding electrode system.

Metal well casings are covered in 250.52(A)(8).
Click to expand...

LOL, I wasn't thinking about the well casing being a grounding electrode. I was thinking the well casing required grounding for some reason. I guess I don't have to worry about replacing the GEC that got sucked up into my Ditch Witch and wrapped around the axle.

Thanks for the info.
 
Coppersmith said:
LOL, I wasn't thinking about the well casing being a grounding electrode. I was thinking the well casing required grounding for some reason. I guess I don't have to worry about replacing the GEC that got sucked up into my Ditch Witch and wrapped around the axle.

Thanks for the info.
Click to expand...

A metal casing still requires bonding if it can be energized, ie submersible pump.
 
Coppersmith said:
LOL, I wasn't thinking about the well casing being a grounding electrode. I was thinking the well casing required grounding for some reason. I guess I don't have to worry about replacing the GEC that got sucked up into my Ditch Witch and wrapped around the axle.

Thanks for the info.
Click to expand...

What is a GEC normally connected too? :)
 
Coppersmith said:
LOL, I wasn't thinking about the well casing being a grounding electrode. I was thinking the well casing required grounding for some reason. I guess I don't have to worry about replacing the GEC that got sucked up into my Ditch Witch and wrapped around the axle.

Thanks for the info.
Click to expand...

the ditch witch is now bonded, but needs an exothermic
attachment to be code compliant. i'd cadweld one end to the
auger, and the other end to the gas tank.

this might be one of those times to invest in a electrically fired
remote cadweld. just a thought.
 
Fulthrotl said:
the ditch witch is now bonded, but needs an exothermic
attachment to be code compliant. i'd cadweld one end to the
auger, and the other end to the gas tank.

this might be one of those times to invest in a electrically fired
remote cadweld. just a thought.
Click to expand...

Note to self: Never let Randy run the ditch witch. Will not get deposit back.
 
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