I have a few questions that I need help with please! First, I have an existing house (in Oklahoma) that I am changing out an old federal panel to a 200 amp (with main, single phase) cutler hammer. There is no existing ground rod and I believe the existing panel just has a stranded ground ran to the cold water. My first question is do I need two (10 ft ) grounds rounds for the ouside ground or just one? If so what is the required spacing between the rods? (assuming 8 to 10 ft. apart ). Also, I have a concrete porch under the meter and was wondering what the distance limitations are from grounding to the panel. Another words can I run a #4 bare ground several feet away from the panel in order to find dirt that doesn't have concrete that I have to drill through? Also,does code require that I run a separate bare copper over to the cold side of the water heater lines? If so what are the required wire size that goes to the cold water? Thank you!

Grounding is a complicated issue based on many variables.

If the home has a metal water line that is in earth at least 10 feet, it must be the primary grounding electrode, and use #4 copper wire to ground a 200 amp service.

Then, there must be at least one ground rod electrode to supplement this water pipe electrode.

If there is a wter meter, the ground wire must connect on both sides of the water meter, not an NEC code, but usually required by local codes.

Do not just install ground rods and ignore the metal water pipe.

Lets start from here, is the water pipe metal and in earth 10 feet or more? If so, ground as I outlined above.

If not, then we can discuss the next method of grounding.

Tk, this house is a decent size, probably 2300 to 2500 sq ft... built in the 60s or 70s. But the water meter is in the city easment (in the ground) roughly 50 yards from the house.

I was an apprentice years ago.. the city used to make us run a 10 ft. ground rod to the panel, and one separate run from the panel to the cold water line (on the water heater if I remember right). I believe the pluming lines are metal though.. thxs!