Grounding elctrical pannel

[darcyh]

Hello:

I just noticed there is a thick wire 8 gauge or so that 'grounds' the breaker panel that is connected to the copper water line entering the house. The water line meets the water meter and the water meter is connected to a PLASTIC water line provided by the municipality.

What purpose is achieved by grounding to the copper water pipe if the feed line is plastic? Should I be concerned about this? Should I drive a copper rod into the ground outside and connect the wire to it?

Thanks for your suggestions.

Dave

 

[aandpdan]

It's not grounding the panel. It's called "bonding." It's so if there ever was a fault in the wiring, the plumbing would be at the same potential. You couldn't for example touch the sink and a grounded refrigerator and get a shock, because they are both "bonded."

There should already be ground rods, at least two 8 foot rods. It's required by Code.

 

[Falcon67]

Note that if none of the copper before the meter is in the ground, you really don't have a ground. If it is in the ground it may be sufficient depending on length and local code(s). Note OP location in Canada, so NEC may not apply. The plastic is good for the municpal system because if you have a fault, any fault current stays local to your system and doesn't go down the pipe to somewhere else.

 

[toyotadriver]

It's not grounding the panel. It's called "bonding." It's so if there ever was a fault in the wiring, the plumbing would be at the same potential. You couldn't for example touch the sink and a grounded refrigerator and get a shock, because they are both "bonded."

There should already be ground rods, at least two 8 foot rods. It's required by Code.

What about if your house is plumbed with PEX? Should there be a metal component in the water supply such as a section of copper that is connected to the home's ground?

 

[sberry]

You are not grounding "to" you are grounding the metal piping to the electric system or as was said, bonding. If you have all pex there is no need. You want any metal in this house that may have the potential to become energized bonded to the electric system, any stray currents or faults to it will be returned to the panel, faults will trip a breaker. Metal plumbing, heating ducts, electrical boxes, energized equipment needs to be grounded to electrical system.

 

[toyotadriver]

You are not grounding "to" you are grounding the metal piping to the electric system or as was said, bonding. If you have all pex there is no need. You want any metal in this house that may have the potential to become energized bonded to the electric system, any stray currents or faults to it will be returned to the panel, faults will trip a breaker. Metal plumbing, heating ducts, electrical boxes, energized equipment needs to be grounded to electrical system.

Ahhh....ok. Guess I was thinking that it was the water that could carry a current.

I don't think that I have ever seen heating ducts and such grounded in construction in my area. Of course, we don't have aggressive enforcement of codes where I live....where they even have codes.

 

[Gooch]

Ahhh....ok. Guess I was thinking that it was the water that could carry a current.

I don't think that I have ever seen heating ducts and such grounded in construction in my area. Of course, we don't have aggressive enforcement of codes where I live....where they even have codes.

We had this convo with our local inspector, his reasoning and from what he's learned from conferences, is that they are considered bonded through the appliance using them(i.e. the furnace), Plumbing requires it due to the nature that most plumbing doesn't have a power requirement. and if it does, is usually isolated somehow.

 

[darcyh]

Thanks for the information, much appreciated.

Does this explain why there is a heavy ground wire on my gas fired / vented water heater? The wire is connected to the incoming and outgoing copper lines. Always wondered why this was done as I have never encountered this with electric water heaters.

Regards,

Dave

 

[sberry]

Electric water heater is grounded.

 

[acer66]

You are not grounding "to" you are grounding the metal piping to the electric system or as was said, bonding. If you have all pex there is no need. You want any metal in this house that may have the potential to become energized bonded to the electric system, any stray currents or faults to it will be returned to the panel, faults will trip a breaker. Metal plumbing, heating ducts, electrical boxes, energized equipment needs to be grounded to electrical system.

Never thought about grounding heating ducts, we just had our heating system replaced,
so I think the ducting is grounded through the furnace.
But there are the old intakes which got reused and they are connected to the new furnace
via a flexible insulated flex duct and I`ll doubt that does anything for grounding.
If I have to ground the intakes how should I do that?

Thank you and sorry for jacking the thread a little.