Grounding and bonding requirements

[signcrafter]

We moved into our house two years ago and the electrical service had been upgraded to a 200 amp service at some point. The only grounding or bonding(I may not be using these terms correctly) is a solid copper, guessing 6 gauge, that goes from panel ground bar to water meter. No ground rods or anything else. I'd like to get things up to par so wondering what all I need to do?

I'm guessing I need the two ground rods. Only issue is my panel is in the middle of my house basement and the wires from the meter to the panel run in conduit. So if I need ground rods my choices are to drill a hole in the concrete floor and pound them down in the middle of the house and run the ground wire just above the concrete floor from rod to rod. Or, run the ground wire out of the panel and over to the outside of the house and put the ground rods out there. Either way is fine with me, only factor would be cost if I put the rods outside since they would be about 40' to 50' of wire from panel to outside by the time I go up and over and down. Bare copper adds up fast.

Is my wire going to water meter good? Or do I need to do anything with that? And then what about the gas line? Can I bond that to the water pipes or is there something else I need to do? Anything I'm missing? I'm in Iowa if that matters. Thanks

 

[7635tools]

Put the rods outside. 40-50’ of #6 doesn’t cost that much. If that’s going to break the bank then you’ve got more pressing things to worry about than missing ground rods.


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[signcrafter]

Put the rods outside. 40-50’ of #6 doesn’t cost that much. If that’s going to break the bank then you’ve got more pressing things to worry about than missing ground rods.


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Never said it would break the bank, just said it was the only deciding factor. Meaning it didn't really matter to me if they were inside or outside. I'm not rich and don't like throwing money away if not needed but it won't break the bank. Was more wondering if they should be as close to panel as possible or if they should be outside.

 

[PCustoms]

Is it grounded at the meter?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

We moved into our house two years ago and the electrical service had been upgraded to a 200 amp service at some point. The only grounding or bonding(I may not be using these terms correctly) is a solid copper, guessing 6 gauge, that goes from panel ground bar to water meter. No ground rods or anything else. I'd like to get things up to par so wondering what all I need to do?

I'm guessing I need the two ground rods. Only issue is my panel is in the middle of my house basement and the wires from the meter to the panel run in conduit. So if I need ground rods my choices are to drill a hole in the concrete floor and pound them down in the middle of the house and run the ground wire just above the concrete floor from rod to rod. Or, run the ground wire out of the panel and over to the outside of the house and put the ground rods out there. Either way is fine with me, only factor would be cost if I put the rods outside since they would be about 40' to 50' of wire from panel to outside by the time I go up and over and down. Bare copper adds up fast.

Is my wire going to water meter good? Or do I need to do anything with that? And then what about the gas line? Can I bond that to the water pipes or is there something else I need to do? Anything I'm missing? I'm in Iowa if that matters. Thanks

The water line cannot be the only electrode and yours may not even qualify as an electrode. Is it plastic for some portion? It must be metal in contact with earth for minimum of 20' to count as a supplemental.

I would not put rods on that long of wire as thats a long path for lightning surges to take. theres likely a shorter pathway the lightning will take and ruin whatever it finds.

Yes the gas line needs to be bonded. you could bond it to the water line. Also make sure your water heater is bonded from cold to hot to gas....just bonding the cold to the gas is not good enough.

 

[signcrafter]

Is it grounded at the meter?

No

The water line cannot be the only electrode and yours may not even qualify as an electrode. Is it plastic for some portion? It must be metal in contact with earth for minimum of 20' to count as a supplemental.

I would not put rods on that long of wire as thats a long path for lightning surges to take. theres likely a shorter pathway the lightning will take and ruin whatever it finds.

Yes the gas line needs to be bonded. you could bond it to the water line. Also make sure your water heater is bonded from cold to hot to gas....just bonding the cold to the gas is not good enough.

Water line is all copper to the meter, after meter is PEX in the house.

So you would put ground rods just below the panel? I can easily drill some holes in the concrete and pound ground rods in and then run a wire from panel to rods. The wire would be just above the concrete floor and will be fine with me as long as that's alright code wise.

The copper wire going to my water line runs right past my gas line. Is it alright to use that for both gas and water bonding? As in get a clamp and attach the wire to gas line and then wire continues over to water meter? Or should I run a new separate line for that?

Thanks

 

[wyliesdiesels]

you can run continuous to gas meter from water meter. its just for bonding to keep the metallic plumbing from becoming energized

i would do the rods below the panel

 

[danpik]

Do yourself a favor...if you don't know where the drain lines under your slab or underground outside, get a digsafe, etc done. My buddy did something similar a couple years back and managed to drive a ground rod right thru the sewer line coming from his house.

 

[nadogail]

Do yourself a favor...if you don't know where the drain lines under your slab or underground outside, get a digsafe, etc done. My buddy did something similar a couple years back and managed to drive a ground rod right thru the sewer line coming from his house.

I have seen a guy dig through a gas line while replacing a fence.

The only thing that saved him was the Boss on the repair crew was an "Old Time Buddy" from his days in the 'hood.

Be good to those under you as you rise up, they can cover you as you decline.

 

[dave*99]

Do yourself a favor...if you don't know where the drain lines under your slab or underground outside, get a digsafe, etc done. My buddy did something similar a couple years back and managed to drive a ground rod right thru the sewer line coming from his house.

That's generally good advice, but his panel in in the middle of house in his basement. So if he can see his sewer lines running along the basement walls, he is probably ok in the middle of the floor.