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  1. #1
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    Default Unconventional ground clamp

    The grounds are tucked out through a cable clamp. Is it wrong? Yes. How wrong is it?

    The tie-bar for two breakers is a galvanized nail. The breakers don't match, one is 15A the other is 20A, feeding a baseboard heater. Is it a hazard?

    The third beef is I couldn't view the main fuses, unable to open the door on the main disconnect panel.

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  2. #2
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    Default Re: Unconventional ground clamp

    John,

    It seems to me that the cable clamp is just that... a cable clamp. Not a grounding terminal.

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  3. #3
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    Mar 2007
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    Default Re: Unconventional ground clamp

    Quote Originally Posted by John Kogel View Post
    The grounds are tucked out through a cable clamp. Is it wrong? Yes.
    Yes, it is wrong.

    How wrong is it?

    It is very wrong.

    The tie-bar for two breakers is a galvanized nail. The breakers don't match, one is 15A the other is 20A, feeding a baseboard heater. Is it a hazard?
    Wrong and wrong.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Unconventional ground clamp

    Quote Originally Posted by John Kogel View Post
    The third beef is I couldn't view the main fuses, unable to open the door on the main disconnect panel.
    Yes, the disconnect must be accessible.

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  5. #5
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    Mar 2007
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    Default Re: Unconventional ground clamp

    I've heard debate over this but - as far as I know, any splicing of the grounding conductor must be irreversible.

    Eric Barker, ACI
    Lake Barrington, IL

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Unconventional ground clamp

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Barker View Post
    I've heard debate over this but - as far as I know, any splicing of the grounding conductor must be irreversible.
    Only the one from the service equipment to the first grounding electrode of the grounding electrode system. After that, any approved splice connection is acceptable, such as split bolt connectors.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
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  7. #7
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    Default Re: Unconventional ground clamp

    Thanks JP, so a split bolt would be an approved clamp for terminating the branch grounds?
    Is this something DIY's should learn?

    Quote Originally Posted by John Kogel View Post
    The third beef is I couldn't view the main fuses, unable to open the door on the main disconnect panel.
    Should this be called a service disconnect panel, without the 'main' part?


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Maryland
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    Default Re: Unconventional ground clamp

    John,

    A split bolt is for 2 conductors, not a bunch of grounding conductors. The proper method would be to install an auxillary ground buss and terminate them there.


  9. #9
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    Default Re: Unconventional ground clamp

    Quote Originally Posted by John Kogel View Post
    Thanks JP, so a split bolt would be an approved clamp for terminating the branch grounds?
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Port View Post
    A split bolt is for 2 conductors, not a bunch of grounding conductors. The proper method would be to install an auxillary ground buss and terminate them there.
    What Jim said.

    Thank you Jim.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  10. #10

    Default Re: Unconventional ground clamp

    How about running your ground wire to the hot water pipe coming out of the water heater.

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  11. #11
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    Mar 2007
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    Default Re: Unconventional ground clamp

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Carson View Post
    How about running your ground wire to the hot water pipe coming out of the water heater.
    That would not be acceptable as you cannot be sure if the hot water pipe will contact ground. Are you sure that is not a bonding wire?

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