Mike Dolt Enterprises
Mike Dolt Enterprises
User: eddieg64, Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Asked on: Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 10:30 pm EDT
Answered on: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 3:35 am EDT
Question: Hi and thanx in advance. I own a property on twenty acres. Found that the service panel at the cabin has only the two feeder cables coming from the meter. The Meter is approx 1000' away and goes to a 200 amp panel. This panel has the three wires H,H,N from the meter. From there the two feeders run from a 100 amp breaker up to a sub panel. The ground bus bar is grounded to a rod about four feet from the sub panel, is this ok?
Grounding Setup Evaluation
The grounding setup described in your question appears to be inadequate and does not meet the requirements of the National Electrical Code (NEC).
NEC Requirements
The grounding electrode system must be bonded to both the neutral and grounding bus bars in the main service panel. Grounding rods must be at least 8 feet in length and driven into the earth.
Issues with Your Setup
The ground bus bar in the subpanel is not bonded to the neutral bus bar in the main service panel. The grounding rod is not located near the main service panel, which is the preferred location. The length of the grounding rod is not specified, so it may not be deep enough to provide adequate grounding.
Corrective Measures
To ensure proper grounding, the following corrective measures should be taken: Install a grounding electrode system consisting of multiple grounding rods driven 8 feet into the earth and connected together with a grounding wire. Bond the grounding electrode system to the neutral bus bar in the main service panel using a grounding electrode conductor (GEC). Extend the GEC to the subpanel and bond it to the grounding bus bar there. Use a ground wire to connect the equipment grounding conductors (EGCs) of all circuits in the subpanel to the grounding bus bar.
Benefits of Proper Grounding:
Proper grounding provides several benefits, including: Protection of personnel and equipment from electrical shocks Reduction of voltage surges and interference Improved circuit performance and reliabilityIt is crucial to have a qualified electrician perform these corrective measures to ensure safety and compliance with the NEC. Flag for review