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Posted by Tom Horne, Electrician on January 14, 2007, 2:59 pm
volts500 wrote:
> zxcvbob wrote:
>
>>> Will it meet code?
>
> No, it will not meet code.
>
>> It should, but that's up to the inspector (if there is one.)
>
> If you can find an electrical inspector who will pass a hack job like
> that, I'd like to know his/her supervisor's name. Now that you bring
> it up, making major changes to an electric system ground _is_ something
> that should be inspected by a local electrical inspector, if there is
> one.
>
>> A split bolt connector is a compression joint. When you solder the threads
>> (especially using hard solder), you've made it irreversible.
>
> The NEC is very clear that the grounding electrode conductor must be
> continuous, without splice. The NEC also realizes that buildings get
> remodeled and that situations, such as the OP's, do occur. For those
> reasons the NEC, specifically (2002) Section 250.64(C), does permit
> splices to be made and _only_ made by an "exothermic welding process",
> i.e. CadWeld, or by "irreversible compression-type connectors LISTED
> for the purpose."
>
> A silver-soldered split bolt is _not_ a listed irreversible compression
> type connector. Both a CadWeld and the tool required to crimp the
> irreversible connectors are beyond the capabilities of most residential
> electrical contractors, mostly due to cost, let alone a home owner.
> Cadweld does make a disposable One Shot, but that is for connection of
> wire to ground rods. AFAIK, CadWeld doesn't make a wire to wire One
> Shot. The OP could call around and find a commercial electrical
> contractor who may rent him a crimping tool for irreversible
> connectors, but that would probably be cost prohibitive too.
>
>> Just make sure it looks neat. Don't try to solder or braze the wires, the
>> silver solder is just to make the split bolt connection permanent.
>
> As long as it's neat a hack job is OK? I once saw a house wired with
> lamp cord. Sure was neatly installed, though. Just one of those
> things that one just doesn't believe until one sees it. I once found a
> 120 volt duplex receptacle wired with telephone wire, but it wasn't
> neat, the wire wasn't stapled.
>
> All this, just because the OP doesn't feel comfortable getting inside
> the main panel, and now you've got him out in the dirt with a torch?
> I've been doing electrical work for 30 years and I've yet to see an
> electrician with a torch, with the exception of maybe using a propane
> torch to dry out a damp CadWeld mold before using it, or to fire off
> the starter powder because his ignitor took a dump.
>
I've used a torch on the shrink tubing that is used to cover UF splicers
all the time. It seems to work fine and I haven't had any call backs
because of it.
--
Tom Horne
"This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous
for general use." Thomas Alva Edison
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