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Continuous copper wire to earth ground

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Continuous copper wire to earth ground Fpbear II 01-13-2007
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Posted by Pete C. on January 13, 2007, 9:33 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?

You need to redo it with a continuous wire, unless you are equipped to
weld (not solder) the wires together. This is generally only done on big
commercial work and is done with exothermic welding gear which you in
all probability don't have.

Assuming this is a residential scenario, the service panel does not
contain high voltage, it contains 240V. Even if it's commercial it isn't
likely above 480V which is still not high voltage.

If you really don't feel safe working in the panel, install your ground
rods and the wire all the way back to the panel leaving plenty of extra
and then have an electrician stop by and make the connection in the
panel.

Pete C.

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Posted by hallerb@aol.com on January 13, 2007, 9:46 am




> If you really don't feel safe working in the panel, install your ground
> rods and the wire all the way back to the panel leaving plenty of extra
> and then have an electrician stop by and make the connection in the
> panel.
>
> Pete C.

I am in COMPLETE agreement with this, and will add overall how old is
your main service?

dont patch something thats designed to last 50 or a 100 years do it
right once!


Posted by Mike Ryan on January 14, 2007, 8:13 am


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?
>

You're not messing with high voltage just changing the ground wire.
Shut off the main breaker, open the box and replace it. It's no
biggie to do. Just do not put your hands or any metal objects near
the large black cables that enter the box (normally on the top). As
long as you stay away from them, and have the main shut off, you are
in no danger just changing a ground wire.

Page 8 of 8       << first < 1 2 3
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