Ground Rods Should Be Bonded?
#1
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Thread Starter
Ground Rods Should Be Bonded?
I noticed when the phone company installed a new box for a second phone line (few years ago) they drove a new ground rod.
The electrical ground rod is only about 8 feet away, shouldn't these two rods be bonded?
If so, how deep does the ground wire have to be? There is a sidewalk between the two, would 4" be deep enough?
Thanks
The electrical ground rod is only about 8 feet away, shouldn't these two rods be bonded?
If so, how deep does the ground wire have to be? There is a sidewalk between the two, would 4" be deep enough?
Thanks
#2
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Location: New Bern, NC
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Typically the phone company will run a wire from their box to the wire that goes to the ground rod for the electric panel.
Since there is a side walk in the way can we assume that there is a door and steps also in the way.
Check your local code. What he did may be fine.
Since there is a side walk in the way can we assume that there is a door and steps also in the way.
Check your local code. What he did may be fine.
#3
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Thread Starter
Should have mentioned this is a mobile home, 4 wire feed, ground wire on the electrical panel goes to the frame.
Wire to the ground rod comes directly from the meter pan.
Reading Rex Cauldwell he says the wire must be one continous piece (minimum 6" deep) so that takes care of that, no way am I messing with the meter!
Couldn't I abandon the phone ground rod and run the ground wire to the ground bar in my panel? Only be 6 feet of wire.
Maybe this is the way he would do it but I was working when he was here so he couldn't get inside so drove a ground rod instead? No idea.
Wire to the ground rod comes directly from the meter pan.
Reading Rex Cauldwell he says the wire must be one continous piece (minimum 6" deep) so that takes care of that, no way am I messing with the meter!
Couldn't I abandon the phone ground rod and run the ground wire to the ground bar in my panel? Only be 6 feet of wire.
Maybe this is the way he would do it but I was working when he was here so he couldn't get inside so drove a ground rod instead? No idea.
Last edited by Baldwin; 08-04-06 at 12:22 PM.
#6
Originally Posted by Baldwin
I noticed when the phone company installed a new box for a second phone line (few years ago) they drove a new ground rod.
The electrical ground rod is only about 8 feet away, shouldn't these two rods be bonded?
The electrical ground rod is only about 8 feet away, shouldn't these two rods be bonded?
Not doing so could result in a difference of potential between the systems. For example, in a storm, there could be a difference of potential inside your answering machine, resulting in arcing or potential shock hazard.
If so, how deep does the ground wire have to be? There is a sidewalk between the two, would 4" be deep enough?