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Continuous copper wire to earth ground Fpbear II 01-13-2007
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Posted by Fpbear II on January 13, 2007, 12:48 am


I am extending the ground for the service panel with two 8' rods because the
pipes were re-done in PVC. I plan to attach #4 wire to the end of the
existing #6 wire with two copper split-bolt connectors and make the
connection real tight. I have been reading that the copper ground wire
should be one continuous wire. However I pefer not to mess with high
voltage and take apart the service panel to make it one continuous ground
wire. Are the split bolt connectors sufficient or is there some "physics"
reason it must be one wire? Or is it to prevent someone from accidentally
un-screwing the bolt?



Posted by zxcvbob on January 13, 2007, 12:57 am


Fpbear II wrote:
> I am extending the ground for the service panel with two 8' rods because the
> pipes were re-done in PVC. I plan to attach #4 wire to the end of the
> existing #6 wire with two copper split-bolt connectors and make the
> connection real tight. I have been reading that the copper ground wire
> should be one continuous wire. However I pefer not to mess with high
> voltage and take apart the service panel to make it one continuous ground
> wire. Are the split bolt connectors sufficient or is there some "physics"
> reason it must be one wire? Or is it to prevent someone from accidentally
> un-screwing the bolt?
>
>


One continuous conductor, unless spliced with an irreversible connections
such as an exothermic weld (solder is not good enough). Do you have access
to a good torch? I would use a split bolt connector and then after
tightening it braze shut it with 40% silver solder. Solid #6 wire should
be enough; no need to use #4 unless the wire is subject to being damaged by
a lawn mower or something.

Bob

Posted by on January 13, 2007, 1:08 am


wrote:

>One continuous conductor, unless spliced with an irreversible connections
>such as an exothermic weld (solder is not good enough). Do you have access
>to a good torch? I would use a split bolt connector and then after
>tightening it braze shut it with 40% silver solder.

Exothermic welding is a chemical weld, not brazing.
They refer to a product like CadWeld which is a copper laden thermite
type powder. You put a mold around the joint, pour it full of this
powder and light it. When the fire goes out you have a solid mass of
copper around the joint.
If he can get to the first rod with the copper he has he can jumper to
the second rod.

Posted by Fpbear II on January 13, 2007, 1:13 am


Is this CadWeld some product I can pick up from Lowes or Home Depot? If so,
sounds even simpler than brazing.



> Exothermic welding is a chemical weld, not brazing.
> They refer to a product like CadWeld which is a copper laden thermite
> type powder. You put a mold around the joint, pour it full of this
> powder and light it. When the fire goes out you have a solid mass of
> copper around the joint.
> If he can get to the first rod with the copper he has he can jumper to
> the second rod.



Posted by on January 13, 2007, 2:00 am


wrote:

>Is this CadWeld some product I can pick up from Lowes or Home Depot? If so,
>sounds even simpler than brazing.
>
>
>
>> Exothermic welding is a chemical weld, not brazing.
>> They refer to a product like CadWeld which is a copper laden thermite
>> type powder. You put a mold around the joint, pour it full of this
>> powder and light it. When the fire goes out you have a solid mass of
>> copper around the joint.
>> If he can get to the first rod with the copper he has he can jumper to
>> the second rod.
>


No this will only be at an electrical supply house. The mold is the
expensive part.
It is a lot of work to go through to avoid simply replacing the wire.



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