Grounding Electrode System - 400A Service

Magnettica

I recently finished-up a 400 amp service that someone else started. I connected all three grounding electrodes (Ufer, H20, and 1 Rod) all to the same grounding buss in 1 of 2 - 200 amp MB panels. From there, I jumped a small piece of #2 from panel to panel so that both panels were a part of the system.

From my understanding, 250.64 (C)(2) permits this.

But the inspector failed it and instead wanted all GEC's connected to one split-bolt connector and 1, #2 cu going to each panel busbar.

No, I am not kidding about the split-bolt connector.

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mdshunk

You inspector must be making stuff up as he goes along.

JohnJ0906

If you have water pipe and ufer, why a rod?
Just curious.

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John from Baltimore
"One Day at a Time"
All replies based on the 2008 NEC

Magnettica

I think the inspector IS making stuff up. I asked the builder to see the failed inspection sticker and no code reference was written up on the sticker. I told my boss about it and told me not to worry about and just do it like he wants with the split-bolt. Go figure.

John, apparently the "electrician" who wired the house was not all that familiar 250.50. Or he just wanted some extra protection to safegaurd his "work" from a lightning strike. This is the same "electrician" who also wired a 1200 amp service with (3) sets of 500 kcmil in parallel when of course they should have been 600's (over 800 amps we go up).

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macmikeman

The poco serving my area requires the rod in the installation manual that they provide to electrical contractors working with them. The field engineers that approve the services on behalf of the poco read the manual, and it says gr rod, so no matter what, they want to see a rod before approving the service.