Residential Electrical Panel Grounding Requirements

A residential grounding electrode is an 8 foot length of copper rod driven into the ground outside the home and connected to the neutral side of the main panel with a copper cable.

Residential electrical panel grounding requirements.

Electrical codes are in place to protect you the homeowner. These general guidelines will give you the basics of what electrical inspectors are looking for when they review both remodeling projects and new installations. The various types of grounding electrodes the systems that have to be bonded and a thorough discussion on why bonding is performed. 1 a grounding electrode system shall bond to one of the following items if they are available 2003 irc e3508 1.

The grounding wire that runs from your electrical panel to grounding electrode helps even out voltage increases that often occur because of lightning and. Most local codes are based on the national electrical code nec a document that lays out required practices for all aspects of residential and commercial electrical. A premise s electrical service shall be connected to a grounding electrode system consisting of a metal underground water pipe in direct contact with earth for 10 feet or more if available on the premises and a supplemental electrode a rod pipe or plate electrode an additional electrode shall supplement the buried water pipe electrode. Residential electrical code examples for grounding.

Here s a good rule of thumb. Grounding of the electr ical service at the main water line must be within the first 5 of water piping into the building. Its job is to. For this discussion we will be referring to a residential home where a 120 240 volt single phase 200 amp electrical supply from a cooperative transformer is delivered.

Although the piping system is bonded to the ground through your main electrical service panel the panel grounding and the piping bonding are unrelated when it comes to function. Second the main electrical panel must be grounded to a grounding electrode such as a ground rod or rods driven into the earth near the foundation of your house. These clearances are designed to protect the person working on the panel. Grounding shall consist of a continuous grounding electrode conductor run from the panel to a grounding electrode.

According to the national electrical code or nec a ground system should have a grounding resistance of 25 ohms or less. If you can t park a refrigerator in front of the panel you don t have enough working space. Concrete encased electrode footing rebar c. A service panel requires a working clearance that s 30 in.