Ground clamps

[Ken Amelin]

The attach picture shows multiple ground conductors spliced with ground clamps.

The copper ground conductor for the main service equiipment is spliced and has a clamp. The secondary copper conductor which is also clamped is for copper pipe bonding connection. The aluminum wire is the grounding conductor for the adjacent panel.

Questions:

1. Can you use a spliced connection for service equipment ground conductors?
2. Can an adjacent panel be grounded as shown (clamped aluminum conductor) outside of the main service equipment?

Thanks

[Jerry Peck]

The attach picture shows multiple ground conductors spliced with ground clamps.

The copper ground conductor for the main service equipment is spliced and has a clamp. The secondary copper conductor which is also clamped is for copper pipe bonding connection. The aluminum wire is the grounding conductor for the adjacent panel.

Questions:

1. Can you use a spliced connection for service equipment ground conductors?
2. Can an adjacent panel be grounded as shown (clamped aluminum conductor) outside of the main service equipment?

Thanks

The grounding electrode conductor (the main one from the service equipment to the grounding electrode) is not allowed to be spliced LIKE THAT. The splice is required to be an irreversible compression connector or exothermically welded together.

Others are allowed to be connected to the grounding electrode conductor, but only with proper clamps. The split bolt clamp may work if it is rated for both copper and aluminum, the others are not rated for that purpose - they are "pipe clamps" which are rated to go on "pipes".

The acorn type clamp at the grounding electrode is okay as long as it is installed correctly (looks like it might be in the photo but it is hard to see in the photo).