Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    Kophie's Avatar
    Kophie Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Feb 4, 2012, 09:03 AM
    Whole house grounding
    Is there any reason to run a ground wire from the main breaker box to the water line(right next to where it comes into the house) if the water supply line is plastic that enter the house?

    With lightning rods on the house would I need two grounds on the breaker box?

    Can I use the lightning rod that's in the ground to ground the electric box.
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
    Uber Member
     
    #2

    Feb 4, 2012, 12:00 PM
    If your box is currently grounded to plastic pipe, it serves no purpose and is ungrounded. Have you ever tried a circuit tester? What does it say?
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
     
    #3

    Feb 4, 2012, 01:35 PM
    Lightning rods are not grounding electrodes, although they serve similar purposes.

    You do not need to bond water lines near the entrance. Just anywhere accessible.

    Your electrical service should have at least one grounding electrode of some sort.

    Without knowing the reason for your questions there is not much more to add.
    Kophie's Avatar
    Kophie Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #4

    Feb 4, 2012, 10:41 PM
    I am changing out all the galvanized pipe and going to PEX, the line from the well is plastic and that what is just inside the exterior wall. I have tested outlets for ground and they are.
    Thanks for the advise.
    hfcarson's Avatar
    hfcarson Posts: 1,003, Reputation: 49
    Ultra Member
     
    #5

    Feb 5, 2012, 11:07 AM
    Kophie,
    As stanfortyman mentioned you do need to have properly installed grounding electrode(s) connected to your electrical service. You say that you do read a ground at your outlets... the may be only the neutral conductor connected to the transformer that supplies your service. For safety purposes and as required by the electriacal code you need grounding electrode(s) also.
    A grounding electrode makes a connection to "earth". The earth has it's own polarity which varies over time and conditions such as moisture and salt content. The connection to the electrode will tend to bring the earth to the same polarity (near zero volts) as the grounded conductor in your electrical service. This is something you want as anyone who has ever touched a ground wire in a not so well grounded basement can tell you. It also does give a lightning strike a good path to the earth and not just your house.

    This is worth your effort!
    Be Safe

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

House, grounding [ 3 Answers ]

Outside my house there are 2 what seem to be grounding rods. They are located on each end of my house. The wire that is attached is broken on both rods. Are these rods for grounding of the entire house? They are located on the opposite side of the house as the electrical service connection, this is...

House grounding [ 15 Answers ]

We are having trouble with our copper pipes getting pinholes in them and leaking. There is a ground rod by the meter and also a ground connected to the cold water at the tank. I just found out that some counties do not ground to the cold water anymore because of that might be the reason the pipes...

Grounding house wireing [ 1 Answers ]

Thank you for your answer. This is a rental house. I want to accomplish changing 2 prong (ungrounded) to 3 prong w/grnd to the exterior wall outlets without having to run new wireing on all outlets through attic. I would leave 2 prong outlets on interior walls as is. Bathrooms & kitchen outlets are...

Grounding house wireing [ 1 Answers ]

With house on slab, can exterior wall outlets be grounded to water pipes &/or ground wire attached to say a rebar pounded into grnd, after drilling through exterior wall, or is it required to ground through going into attic & then to meter box?

Grounding house wireing [ 3 Answers ]

Will it meet code to ground ungrounded outlets by individual grounds, such as a wire to a gas or water pipe, instead of through circuit box?


View more questions Search