Allister Sorrells
08-21-2013, 11:56 PM
I have in front of me the 2010 California Electrical Code Book. I am a certified Journeyman in California. I have been studying as much as I can on the topic of Bonding and Grounding. I would like some feed back regarding Grounding Electrodes and Grounding Conductors. I swear I have almost never gotten the same answer from any electrician regarding this subject.
250.66 A Connections to Rod, Pipe, or Plate Electrodes - end of paragraph says-
that portion of the conductor that is the sole connection to the grounding electrode SHALL NOT be required to be larger than 6 awg copper wire.
And! if you go to 250.53 E- Supplemental Bonding Electrode Size.
end of paragraph- SHALL NOT be required to be larger than 6 awg copper wire.
So what this says to me is, contrary to what I heard from numerous electricians with 10 to 15 years more experience than me, is, first off you can run more than one grounding electrode conductor back to a main panel. Why? Because if you have a 200 a service you have to ground it to the cold water pipe with #4. Right? And if you are required to add a supplemental ground then how could it be continuous or unbroken if it can be a 6?
250.64, F 2- Grounding Electrode Conductor Installation
Grounding electrode conductors SHALL be permitted to be run to one or more grounding electrodes INDIVIDUALLY.
250.64 C 2- CONTINUOUS- sections of busbars SHALL be permitted to be connected together to form a grounding electrode conductor.
250.66 A Connections to Rod, Pipe, or Plate Electrodes - end of paragraph says-
that portion of the conductor that is the sole connection to the grounding electrode SHALL NOT be required to be larger than 6 awg copper wire.
And! if you go to 250.53 E- Supplemental Bonding Electrode Size.
end of paragraph- SHALL NOT be required to be larger than 6 awg copper wire.
So what this says to me is, contrary to what I heard from numerous electricians with 10 to 15 years more experience than me, is, first off you can run more than one grounding electrode conductor back to a main panel. Why? Because if you have a 200 a service you have to ground it to the cold water pipe with #4. Right? And if you are required to add a supplemental ground then how could it be continuous or unbroken if it can be a 6?
250.64, F 2- Grounding Electrode Conductor Installation
Grounding electrode conductors SHALL be permitted to be run to one or more grounding electrodes INDIVIDUALLY.
250.64 C 2- CONTINUOUS- sections of busbars SHALL be permitted to be connected together to form a grounding electrode conductor.