Whats the point of this?

[Marc M]

There are no other conductors here, just what you see. Just wondering what the point is.

[Garry Sorrells]

They felt that the copper water pipe did not have sufficient ground contact so added ground rod.

[Garry Sorrells]

They felt that the copper water pipe did not have sufficient ground contact so added ground rod.

The world of no harm no foul.

[Markus Keller]

The one on the left looks like copper water pipe to me. The one on the right a ground rod. Maybe CA has a requirement for water pipe on the exterior to be grounded verifiably. Is that cement collar for a catch basin?

[Eric Barker]

If the incoming water line (the part you can't see) is plastic then the ground rod makes sense.

[Marc M]

Good answers...thanks.
FYI, The supply from the street is copper and the supply throughout the house is also copper. I though they started something and didnt finish.

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

Marc,

My SWAG is that is a copper pipe to the hose spigot and other, which are downstream from the meter, upstream from the entrance to the slab/building, and downstream from a check/backflow to prevent contamination, and upstream from the underground water sprinkler system on a timer, or a pool, hot tub, and/or fountain.

How old is the building? How close is what we see to the pool, hot tub and/or fountain?

[Marc M]

Marc,

My SWAG is that is a copper pipe to the hose spigot and other, which are downstream from the meter, upstream from the entrance to the slab/building, and downstream from a check/backflow to prevent contamination, and upstream from the underground water sprinkler system on a timer, or a pool, hot tub, and/or fountain.

How old is the building? How close is what we see to the pool, hot tub and/or fountain?

Its a 1957 builiding. No spa-pool-fountain or sprinklers.

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

Its a 1957 builiding. No spa-pool-fountain or sprinklers.

Now there's a clue for some "possible point".

1957 pre-dates requirements for grounded-type 3-wire convienence receptacles, etc. post-dates polarized receptacles. Also pre-dates type CTL panels and GFCIs and alternative methods, options, and requirements that followed suit.

Multi-generations of possible modifications (including later incomplete investigation and correction) by those with questionable qualifications or thoroughness.

"Boot-leg grounds" through mid-80s cycles. Undersized grounds in mid-range cable systems. Obviously the pipe clamp on the rod is less-than-qualified as well.

I'll SWAG an outlet somewhere and/or former antenae cable entered home from above.

The copper pipe on the left is supplying a spigot yes?

[Marc M]

Now there's a clue for some "possible point".

1957 pre-dates requirements for grounded-type 3-wire convienence receptacles, etc. post-dates polarized receptacles. Also pre-dates type CTL panels and GFCIs and alternative methods, options, and requirements that followed suit.

Multi-generations of possible modifications (including later incomplete investigation and correction) by those with questionable qualifications or thoroughness.

"Boot-leg grounds" through mid-80s cycles. Undersized grounds in mid-range cable systems. Obviously the pipe clamp on the rod is less-than-qualified as well.

I'll SWAG an outlet somewhere and/or former antenae cable entered home from above.

The copper pipe on the left is supplying a spigot yes?

Yes sir H.G., it is.

[John Kogel]

Just a handy way to ground the water pipes? That water supply would be coming out of the basement or crawlspace, so grounding it there grounds the pipes inside, no?

[Marc M]

Just a handy way to ground the water pipes? That water supply would be coming out of the basement or crawlspace, so grounding it there grounds the pipes inside, no?

I suppose..but isnt the pipe considered grounded because it is over 10' & buried?

[Ted Menelly]

Using the water lines for a ground was always a sorry method. I have written up so many homes where I either found no ground or just a ground hooked to the water lines used as a ground. In any case I could not tell you how many times I have seen a ground rod driven and the water lines bonded to it. The receptacles boxes thru the home are more than likely hooked to the water lines thru a grounding loop and to semi correct this they drove a rod. Now if anyone ever changes out the main water line the water lines being used as a ground will still be a ground. I am kind of surprised that there is not another rod somewhere and the panel grounded to it and this is where they bonded the pipes.

Shouldn't there be some protection for that water line for a few reasons?

[Eric Barker]

Marc, Are you assuming that the pipe out to the street is all copper? Things do get changed, replaced and upgraded - especially for an older home. It sounds like all you can do is speculate.

[Marc M]

Using the water lines for a ground was always a sorry method. I have written up so many homes where I either found no ground or just a ground hooked to the water lines used as a ground. In any case I could not tell you how many times I have seen a ground rod driven and the water lines bonded to it. The receptacles boxes thru the home are more than likely hooked to the water lines thru a grounding loop and to semi correct this they drove a rod. Now if anyone ever changes out the main water line the water lines being used as a ground will still be a ground. I am kind of surprised that there is not another rod somewhere and the panel grounded to it and this is where they bonded the pipes.

Shouldn't there be some protection for that water line for a few reasons?

I agree on all points. There wasnt another rod anywhere. There will be when he upgrades the panel, however.

[Marc M]

Marc, Are you assuming that the pipe out to the street is all copper? Things do get changed, replaced and upgraded - especially for an older home. It sounds like all you can do is speculate.

I guess it would be speculation, except that the plumber was there who installed it.

[Jim Port]

Using the water lines for a ground was always a sorry method. I have written up so many homes where I either found no ground or just a ground hooked to the water lines used as a ground.

The NEC considers a metallic water line that is 10' or more in direct contact with the earth to be the primary electrode. It gets supplemented with rods. I doubt the code would require its use as an electrode if it was so sorry.


In any case I could not tell you how many times I have seen a ground rod driven and the water lines bonded to it.

The water lines should be bonded to the ground rod. Typically this connection will take place in the service panel on the neutral buss.


The receptacles boxes thru the home are more than likely hooked to the water lines thru a grounding loop and to semi correct this they drove a rod. Now if anyone ever changes out the main water line the water lines being used as a ground will still be a ground.

Ground rods have nothing to due with properly grounding a 3 prong receptacle. You can have a properly wired and grounded receptacle without a ground rod.

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

Marc,

Is this a detached structure from where the service equipment is located and possibly otherwise supplying or tapped? Such as a guest house or garage/office, or is the service equipment on a pedestal for example, elsewhere such as an exterior light post, etc., nearer the right-of-way, alley, street, or easement?

[Marc M]

Marc,

Is this a detached structure from where the service equipment is located and possibly otherwise supplying or tapped? Such as a guest house or garage/office, or is the service equipment on a pedestal for example, elsewhere such as an exterior light post, etc., nearer the right-of-way, alley, street, or easement?

Hey H.G,
no Sir, its not a detached structure.

[Jerry Peck]

Ground rods have nothing to due with properly grounding a 3 prong receptacle. You can have a properly wired and grounded receptacle without a ground rod.

Without even a "ground" as the 3 prong receptacle is "grounded" back at the service equipment, even though the service equipment itself may not be "grounded" to earth.

[Jim Port]

Without even a "ground" as the 3 prong receptacle is "grounded" back at the service equipment, even though the service equipment itself may not be "grounded" to earth.

I think that that was what I was trying to say. I think we agree?

[Jerry Peck]

I think that that was what I was trying to say. I think we agree?

Jim,

Correct, I just re-worded what you said for clarity. Hope that was okay. :)

[Jim Port]

No problem, I thought we were saying the same thing, just different wording.

[John Kogel]

Ground rods have nothing to due with properly grounding a 3 prong receptacle. You can have a properly wired and grounded receptacle without a ground rod.


Without even a "ground" as the 3 prong receptacle is "grounded" back at the service equipment, even though the service equipment itself may not be "grounded" to earth.Right. That is what I had in that home with the plastic water line. There is no ground rod, no grounding to the service panel. The 3-wire receptacles appear to be grounded. I believe in that case it is because the neutral service conductor is bonded to the meter can.

[Jerry Peck]

I believe in that case it is because the neutral service conductor is bonded to the meter can, ...

At the meter can or at the service equipment? Where is the neutral bonded to ground 'up there'?


... and grounded up at the transformer.

This part does not even matter.

When you are testing receptacles (and anything else for that matter) for ground on a grounded neutral service (neutral is bonded to ground), all you are really doing throughout the house is checking that the 'ground' is continuous back to the service where it is bonded to the neutral.

This may help visualize it better: a car with an inverter in it - the car is definitely not grounded, yet the receptacles will check as 'grounded' in relation to the circuitry of the receptacles and the power which feeds them.

The inverter is fed from a 'ground' (chassis ground, but not earth ground) and a 'hot' conductor, the inverter creates its own 120 volt circuit with a 'ground' terminal, a 'neutral' terminal', and a 'hot' terminal, and ... all works well, whatever is plugged in does not know the difference between that and a receptacle in a house which is actually grounded to earth.

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

Your "testers" have no way to differentiate between a legit "ground", bonded where it should be at the service equipment, and a bootleg bond path direct to earth or other equipment outside of the EGC system.

All should be at the same "potential" but rarely are.

[Marc M]

Without even a "ground" as the 3 prong receptacle is "grounded" back at the service equipment, even though the service equipment itself may not be "grounded" to earth.

Are you guys talking about grounding the receptacle to the (metal) box then back to the panel via Flexible metallic conduit?

[Lou Romano]

Are you sure the wire attached to the ground rod doesn't continue underground to another rod or to the meter? This could be the end of the line and just a bond to the water. In the picture it looks like the wire goes through the clamp and into the dirt, clear away the mulch and see!

[Marc M]

Are you sure the wire attached to the ground rod doesn't continue underground to another rod or to the meter? This could be the end of the line and just a bond to the water. In the picture it looks like the wire goes through the clamp and into the dirt, clear away the mulch and see!

No, it doesnt.