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" Bare Ground"

CEC 
13K views 31 replies 13 participants last post by  Navyguy 
#1 ·
Wondering if someone can tell me if the ground wire for a residential service has to be insulated when entering the panel? Can't seem to find anything in the code book, but this dosen"t seem right to me!
 
#2 ·
Wondering if someone can tell me if the ground wire for a residential service has to be insulated when entering the panel? Can't seem to find anything in the code book, but this dosen"t seem right to me!


Around here it does not until you get over a 400 amp service.


WAIT! what are you calling a "ground wire"? The GEC does not have to be insulated either.
 
#15 ·
I believe CEC09 is talking about the neutral being bare from the meter to the service panel. In the NEC that is perfectly legit although seldom seen unless you use seu cable.

If I am wrong about what you are asking then I apologize.
 
#20 ·
You grounding conductor is the one coming from the ground rod/ground plate or the street side of the water meter and going directly to the panel. Its the one giving the system a reference to ground.

Everything else is a bonding conductor and that includes the (typically) #6 going to the gas/water pipes.

I get what you're asking about a loop, but there really isn't anything to worry about there. I can't find a good image, give me a day or two and I'll find one in one of my books, it'll make it much easier to understand ;)
 
#21 ·
You grounding conductor is the one coming from the ground rod/ground plate or the street side of the water meter and going directly to the panel. Its the one giving the system a reference to ground.

Everything else is a bonding conductor and that includes the (typically) #6 going to the gas/water pipes.

I get what you're asking about a loop, but there really isn't anything to worry about there. I can't find a good image, give me a day or two and I'll find one in one of my books, it'll make it much easier to understand ;)
That would be good Mike! Maybe I'll get your opinion on a few other Ground/Bonding issues that I have as well. Always good to get a second opinion or view on a subject like this one. I have to agree with you on these issues as well, where alot of people don't understand how it all works!
 
#22 ·
If you have metal pipe and an insulated neutral you still have a parallel path. Every commercial service is done that way and for the life of me I don't know why they allow it.

The insulation on the neutral makes no difference since insulated or not it is a parallel path when metal pipe is run between the meter and the service panel.
 
#23 ·
The code says that the ground has to bond first to the neutral terminal.Technically if you use a metallic connector the ground conductor is bonding on the can first which is a violation.Therefore I use a plastic 4040 or wrap a bit of tape around the bare conductor where it contacts the metal connector.
 
#25 ·
OOOOPPPS!Can't find any code rule stating this.I've been doing this for 30 years now and am absolutely sure it was a code rule at one time,just can't remember when.Although the code does specify that the neutral can only be bonded to the panel once and I personally see using a metallic connector on the bare grounding conductor technically violating this rule.
 
#27 ·
There's a big section called Grounding and Bonding in our codebooks.

As for running parallel, Dennis, is that a bad thing?

I'm still a pipetrician, not really an electrician.( I can't wait to go to school! )
Then you will be able to educate the teachers!:jester::jester:

W T F, pipetrician????? Did you invent that category???:laughing::laughing:
 
#29 ·
The easy way to remember is that you ground neutrals and bond every piece of non curent carrying metal. Ground neutrals at main service and x formers only. Whe you are running bare or insulated ground conductor into a main service switch or xformer enclosure the neutral assembly has a bonding brass screw into the cabinet,or when in a xformer there is a factory installed jumper from the Xo to the case. Do not worry about the, bare watermain or gas bonding conductor,etc touching the case via the box connector
 
#30 ·
It's all easy. The only reason that you "PHYSICALLY" connect the neutral of a system to the "GROUND" of a system is that in the event of a lightning strike or other such events, the hope is that the "strike" current will go to earth which is where is is trying to get to in the first place.
 
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