ground wire connections

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

12-01-13, 12:10 PM

ryan112ryan

Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: USa

Posts: 2

Upvotes: 0

Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts

ground wire connections

I've been researching how to wire up my meter to my main panel, then to a sub panel.

One thing I am unsure of is that with the larger wires for my grounding between the panels and ground rods etc, what is the recommended way to attach these wires together at junctions? Wire nut? Some other device?

Upvote

12-01-13, 12:14 PM

pcboss

Forum Topic Moderator

Join Date: Jul 2002

Location: Maryland

Posts: 13,923

Upvotes: 5

Received 177 Upvotes on 155 Posts

The GEC between the panel and the ground rods and water lines needs to be continuous. There should be connections on the bus bar that will accept up to a #4 without an adapter.

Upvote

12-01-13, 12:19 PM

chandler

Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation

Join Date: Dec 2005

Location: USA

Posts: 36,608

Upvotes: 0

Received 9 Upvotes on 8 Posts

Welcome to the forums! You will wire your meter base to the main panel and the subpanel from the main panel, not from the meter base. You will run at least a #6 bare wire from your grounding rod to the middle of the meter base and from there into your main panel. Be sure to check with your local authority having jurisdiction for any variations they may have.

Upvote

12-01-13, 12:25 PM

pcboss

Forum Topic Moderator

Join Date: Jul 2002

Location: Maryland

Posts: 13,923

Upvotes: 5

Received 177 Upvotes on 155 Posts

To expand on the reason you need to check is that some power companies do not allow grounding to take place in the meter socket. It must be done in the service panel.

Upvote

12-01-13, 12:44 PM

chandler

Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation

Join Date: Dec 2005

Location: USA

Posts: 36,608

Upvotes: 0

Received 9 Upvotes on 8 Posts

That's true, Jim. One municipality close to here requires the grounding electrode to run from the rod, through the meter base central lug and on up to the service entrance in one piece. Go figure.

Upvote

12-01-13, 01:40 PM

pcboss

Forum Topic Moderator

Join Date: Jul 2002

Location: Maryland

Posts: 13,923

Upvotes: 5

Received 177 Upvotes on 155 Posts

Much easier to check before finding out what you installed doesn't fly and the effort is wasted.

Upvote

12-01-13, 05:12 PM

Tolyn Ironhand

Group Moderator

Join Date: Nov 2007

Location: United States

Posts: 14,095

Upvotes: 61

Received 786 Upvotes on 666 Posts

The wire to a supplemental ground, such as a ground rod, is not required to be larger than #6 copper, regardless of the service size.

Upvote

12-01-13, 06:34 PM

chandler

Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation

Join Date: Dec 2005

Location: USA

Posts: 36,608

Upvotes: 0

Received 9 Upvotes on 8 Posts

Quote:

Much easier to check before finding out what you installed doesn't fly and the effort is wasted.

You were there????!!! One of my first meter base installs after finishing tech school course.

Upvote

12-06-13, 01:12 PM

ryan112ryan

Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: USa

Posts: 2

Upvotes: 0

Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts

Thank you all this was very helpful!

Upvote

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Show Printable Version

Email this Page

Electrical - AC & DC
Anyone who spends $130 on a smoke detector.....

P

pingable on Dec 03, 2013

Just figured I'd start the conversation.... We did Bosch smoke detectors in my previous home and I know those detectors were up there in pricepoint... Picked up 3 Nest Protect Smoke Detectors today to test funtionality. I would need 8 in total I liked the *alert management* portion of it. Sadly, they have decided to build the thing with no interconnect wire support. ALL the units will interconnect within themselves (all nest protects) but that's it. CODE aside, I don't know if code calls for HARD Wired Interconnect versus the *wireless* interconnect on the Nest Protect System I suppose anyone who spends $130 on a smoke detector is a different *market* that will spend the additional SPEND to replace all the smoke detectors in their home. I highly doubt Nest will release one with a interconnect wire. Interesting Market / Strategy they are going for. I can't recall the #s....but I recall reading they were shipping 40,000 NEST Thermostats to retailers every month. Not to bad...Read More
Electrical - AC & DC
Re-wiring a shed?

M

MRKing246 on Dec 05, 2013

I have a shed that I think has outgrown its current wiring. The wire running to the shed was tapped into a light in the crawlspace which is on the same 15amp breaker as our den. I'm assuming the wire is 14/2. The wire runs underground from the crawlspace to a GFCI receptacle on the outside of the shed. The shed has 4 outlets inside (14/2 wire) and an overhead light. My tool collection has grown since I initially added the interior outlets (the GFCI was already there when I bought the house) and after purchasing a 15 amp miter saw, the light now goes off when the saw is in use. I plan on adding a table saw as well, so I need to get the wiring fixed beforehand. The shed is roughly 50-75ft from the main panel. So if I add a 20 amp breaker to the main panel, run 12/2 UF wire straight from the panel to the GFCI outlet on the shed, and change the wiring inside to 12/2 as well, will that be sufficient? Any need for a sub panel at the shed? Any need to bump it up to 30 amp and 10/2? ThanksRead More