National Electrical Installation Standards

Standards as High as Your Own

 
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Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Question:

When adding an outside disconnect to an existing system and the grounded conductor and frame grounds are all bonded together is it permissible to connect #4 bare copper straight to the ground electrode along with a #4 bare copper to the same ground electrode?

Terry Nelson

A

Answer:

Hey Terry thanks for your question but it is a little difficult to understand exactly what you are asking. If you are installing a disconnecting means ahead of a paneboard that is presently used as service equipment the new disconnecting means becomes the service equipment. The panelboard is now supplied by a feeder (from the new disconnecting means) and any grounded conductors cannot be connected to equipment grounding conductors as stated in 250.24(A)(5). The grounding electrode conductor connections must be made as described in 250.24(A)(1) - in or ahead of the new service disconnecting means.

If this is not you question please send in a follow up one with more details.

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