2nd main panel ground

[grootspeed]

I'm almost ready for a rough-in inspection. I added a 2nd main panel to feed a attached garage sub panel for 6 new circuits in the garage (lights, fans, lift, air compressor, 2 receptacle circuits).The first 200A main panel is full physically and fully loaded. So, to get enough current to run the garage I needed to install a 2nd main panel.

I've read that I can just add a saddle clamp onto the first panel's ground rod for the 2nd main panel, but I dug down 18" and still haven't found the rod or water pipe.. and I've hit the concrete that's holding the meter base.

My question is this: Can I attach the 2nd main panel's ground to the ground wire of the 1st main panel? Or does it have to attach to the ground rod?



Lots of info from this site helped me do this, thanks!!

 

[Aceman]

My question is this: Can I attach the 2nd main panel's ground to the ground wire of the 1st main panel? Or does it have to attach to the ground rod?

Is the second panel fed from the first panel or from the meterbase?

 

[grootspeed]

Meter base, first panel is full, load and slots.

 

[Aceman]

We use a c-tap. It does require a special crimper though, that's not to say I've haven't seen someone use a big *** pair of channellocks to do the same thing. Simply clamp another #4 or #6 bare copper onto the existing wire running to your first panel and run that into your second panel.

http://www.specialized.net/Specialized/54720-Thomas--Betts-CU-CTap-4AWG-BROWN-33-2322.aspx

If you could find the rod, you could simply add another acorn clamp. No special tools required.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...biUYzjKKKRiQLgwYHwDw&ved=0CEYQ9QEwAw&dur=1106

 

[grootspeed]

Great, Thanks!

 

[Speedy Petey]

Meter base, first panel is full, load and slots.

How did you swing this?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Im guessing he either has a dual lug meter socket, put 2 wires under 1 lug(not right) or did a tap(probably not right either!)!

 

[IONH]

Subscribing as my main panel is also full.

 

[grootspeed]

My meter is s 320/400A meter and has dual lugs..... luckily.

And..... I was digging around for the ground rod following the first main panel's ground wire and it has an unused acorn clamp on it..... I'm guessing that would be for a 2nd main panel's ground wire. NICE!!!

Many of the houses in this neighborhood have dual 200A panels.

 

[Highbeam]

That's a lot of power. Are each of the panels just small or do you folks have that many circuits?

 

[grootspeed]

They are 42 space, 200A panels. Lots of power using stuff in the house. House was built in 2003, we moved here last year. They finished the basement after the initial build and filled up the first panel with the added circuits for the basement.

 

[Speedy Petey]

I don't get why the second panel was not installed in the first place??

 

[grootspeed]

Agree! There were a number of things the first owner cut corners on....