Second Ground Source Recommendation

[DrtroitMuscle]

I had a subpanel professionally installed in my basement for the purposes of a future remodel some time ago. It is directly adjacent to the main. There is a ~ 1ft long second ground wire that connects the metal of the sub to the metal of the main. See upper right of pic.

I'm considering adding a sub in the ATTACHED garage for workshop tool circuits. The sub will be located about 60' from the main and will be a challenge to fish the wire alone (not planning to use conduit except for the very final stretch to surface mount the panel). Is there a typical method for getting the second ground? Should I run a separate ground wire from the main (not sure that is even really possible unless I use conduit)? Or would it be easier to use a ground rod since the sub won't be that far from an external wall?

Advice is much appreciated.

 

[Jim greengo]

If you're not doing it in pipe use 4 conductor wire.

 

[DrtroitMuscle]

I plan on using 4 conductor wire (6/3 romex to be specific). But the basement panel has a 5th wire that joins the conduit section that touches the sub to the conduit section that touches the main. Seems to me a I need to do the same for the garage sub or use a ground rod. No? Overkill?

 

[AntonLargiader]

What size (amps-wise) will the new sub be?

 

[DrtroitMuscle]

Thinking of 6/3 romex derated to 50A because it is about 65ft of run.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I had a subpanel professionally installed in my basement for the purposes of a future remodel some time ago. It is directly adjacent to the main. There is a ~ 1ft long second ground wire that connects the metal of the sub to the metal of the main. See upper right of pic.

I'm considering adding a sub in the ATTACHED garage for workshop tool circuits. The sub will be located about 60' from the main and will be a challenge to fish the wire alone (not planning to use conduit except for the very final stretch to surface mount the panel). Is there a typical method for getting the second ground? Should I run a separate ground wire from the main (not sure that is even really possible unless I use conduit)? Or would it be easier to use a ground rod since the sub won't be that far from an external wall?

Advice is much appreciated.

That ground wire is a conduit bond and is not necessary. the conduit is metal end to end and is bonded to the main and the sub.

you only need 4-wires for a subpanel- 2 ungrounded/hot conductors, 1 grounded/neutral conductor, and 1 ground/equipment grounding conductor.

Make sure the neutral bar(s) is unbonded in both subpanels.

A ground rod/grounding electrode is not the same thing as an EGC or bond wire.

 

[DrtroitMuscle]

Thank you so much wyliesdiesels. I did some more googling and I better understand the setup now. I really appreciate your comments!

 

[greg13]

I think code requires TWO ground rods no closer than 6', at least that is what I did in my garage.

 

[alfredeneuman]

The Code requires 0 ground rods since it is an ATTACHED garage.