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Residential Grounding and Surge Suppression Jim Redelfs 04-20-2008
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Posted by Jim Redelfs on April 20, 2008, 10:57 am
When my home was built in 1991, I built a grounding array within 4-feet
of the service entrance meter and panel. It consists of three,
5/8-inch, copper-clad, 8-foot ground rods. They are placed in a "goal
post" configuration with the two verticals about 7-feet apart and one
crossing the top of them, perhaps 6-inches below the tops of the rods.
There is probably a 18-inches of earth cover. All components are bonded
together with two, #6 solid copper wires and two make the final run to
the meter box.

Given midwest weather, I am confident that we have had plenty of
transient spikes in the intervening years but I have experienced no
(apparent) damage.

During this time, my computer system has been ostensibly protected by a
strip-type surge suppressor:

<http://apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=NET7T>

I recently installed an Intermatic (whole-house) surge suppressor.

<http://www.intermatic.com/Default.asp?action=prod&pid=339>

I have been following the Intermatic thread with some interest.
Admittedly, it got a bit "deep" when the engineers began debating.
Still, I gathered much good information, not the least of which was that
MOV (metal oxide varistor) surge suppressors "wear out" over time - that
their efficacy diminishes with each surge.

Is it time to replace my strip-type suppressor? The LEDs indicate
nominal operation and protection, for whatever that's worth. TIA.
--
:)
JR

Posted by John Grabowski on April 20, 2008, 11:30 am

> When my home was built in 1991, I built a grounding array within 4-feet
> of the service entrance meter and panel. It consists of three,
> 5/8-inch, copper-clad, 8-foot ground rods. They are placed in a "goal
> post" configuration with the two verticals about 7-feet apart and one
> crossing the top of them, perhaps 6-inches below the tops of the rods.
> There is probably a 18-inches of earth cover. All components are bonded
> together with two, #6 solid copper wires and two make the final run to
> the meter box.
>
> Given midwest weather, I am confident that we have had plenty of
> transient spikes in the intervening years but I have experienced no
> (apparent) damage.
>
> During this time, my computer system has been ostensibly protected by a
> strip-type surge suppressor:
>
> <http://apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=NET7T>
>
> I recently installed an Intermatic (whole-house) surge suppressor.
>
> <http://www.intermatic.com/Default.asp?action=prod&pid=339>
>
> I have been following the Intermatic thread with some interest.
> Admittedly, it got a bit "deep" when the engineers began debating.
> Still, I gathered much good information, not the least of which was that
> MOV (metal oxide varistor) surge suppressors "wear out" over time - that
> their efficacy diminishes with each surge.
>
> Is it time to replace my strip-type suppressor? The LEDs indicate
> nominal operation and protection, for whatever that's worth. TIA.



That has got to be the oddest ground rod configuration that I have ever
heard of and quite possibly one of the least effective. For optimum
results, eight foot rods should be at least sixteen feet apart.


Posted by Jim Redelfs on April 20, 2008, 3:50 pm

> That has got to be the oddest ground rod configuration
> that I have ever heard of

Aw, I'm crushed! :/

Given I consulted NO guide in building my first grounding "array",
I hope that, at least, "more-is-better" is TRUE in this case.

> and quite possibly one of the least effective.

Do you believe that the "array" I installed is less effective than the
SINGLE rod and wire that WOULD have been installed by the same, hurried
electrician that neglected to bond the water system to the electric
service or install the water meter jumper in 1991?

> For optimum results, eight foot rods should be at
> least sixteen feet apart.

Oh, fer pete's sake. I'm not erecting a broadcast tower!

Everything is a gamble. I expended a little, extra time and built what
I thought was (and still think is) better than what WOULD have been
otherwise installed. Now, with my whole-house suppressor and a
presumably properly operating plug bar system, I'm going to sit back and
enjoy my computer system even more. I can further relax knowing that,
finally, my entire home is "protected" from transient, electrical spikes.
--
:)
JR

Posted by Ralph Mowery on April 20, 2008, 5:15 pm

>
>> That has got to be the oddest ground rod configuration
>> that I have ever heard of
>
> Aw, I'm crushed! :/
>
> Given I consulted NO guide in building my first grounding "array",
> I hope that, at least, "more-is-better" is TRUE in this case.
>
>> and quite possibly one of the least effective.
>
> Do you believe that the "array" I installed is less effective than the
> SINGLE rod and wire that WOULD have been installed by the same, hurried
> electrician that neglected to bond the water system to the electric
> service or install the water meter jumper in 1991?
>
>> For optimum results, eight foot rods should be at
>> least sixteen feet apart.
>
> Oh, fer pete's sake. I'm not erecting a broadcast tower!
>
> Everything is a gamble. I expended a little, extra time and built what
> I thought was (and still think is) better than what WOULD have been
> otherwise installed. Now, with my whole-house suppressor and a
> presumably properly operating plug bar system, I'm going to sit back and
> enjoy my computer system even more. I can further relax knowing that,
> finally, my entire home is "protected" from transient, electrical spikes.
> --
> :)
> JR

The NEC specifies that 8 foot gournd rods are to be spaced 6 feet apart.
Usually two rods are being used now.



Posted by RBM on April 20, 2008, 5:00 pm

>
>>
>>> That has got to be the oddest ground rod configuration
>>> that I have ever heard of
>>
>> Aw, I'm crushed! :/
>>
>> Given I consulted NO guide in building my first grounding "array",
>> I hope that, at least, "more-is-better" is TRUE in this case.
>>
>>> and quite possibly one of the least effective.
>>
>> Do you believe that the "array" I installed is less effective than the
>> SINGLE rod and wire that WOULD have been installed by the same, hurried
>> electrician that neglected to bond the water system to the electric
>> service or install the water meter jumper in 1991?
>>
>>> For optimum results, eight foot rods should be at
>>> least sixteen feet apart.
>>
>> Oh, fer pete's sake. I'm not erecting a broadcast tower!
>>
>> Everything is a gamble. I expended a little, extra time and built what
>> I thought was (and still think is) better than what WOULD have been
>> otherwise installed. Now, with my whole-house suppressor and a
>> presumably properly operating plug bar system, I'm going to sit back and
>> enjoy my computer system even more. I can further relax knowing that,
>> finally, my entire home is "protected" from transient, electrical spikes.
>> --
>> :)
>> JR
>
> The NEC specifies that 8 foot gournd rods are to be spaced 6 feet apart.
> Usually two rods are being used now.

"not less than 6 feet apart". There is a footnote that says if the rod is
longer than 8 feet, it would benefit from a greater distance, but doesn't
indicate any improvement with 8 foot rods
>
>



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