Service panel ground

[barlyhop]

Inspected a basement mounted main service panel today. There was no system ground attached to the bus anywhere. I checked the water meter which had a ground wire attached with jumper as usual. The ground wire followed the copper water pipes back towards the service panel, traveled over the service panel, not touching it whatsoever, then went outside through the band joist. The service drop was underground and the ground wire exited the basement at the point of the meter enclosure. Could there have been a ground attached behind the panel somehow? The panel was mounted on plywood over poured concrete foundation so I don't think that was the case.

Sheeesh.

[plummen]

the service panel should have its own ground wire from the buss to street side of water meter,meter socket should have been grounded through a groundrod outside.

other grounding/bonding would depend on when service was installed and also on local codes

[Garet]

I understand that in Florida (lightening capital of the country) the utilities require the GEC to originate from the meter box.

[Jim Katen]

Inspected a basement mounted main service panel today. There was no system ground attached to the bus anywhere. I checked the water meter which had a ground wire attached with jumper as usual. The ground wire followed the copper water pipes back towards the service panel, traveled over the service panel, not touching it whatsoever, then went outside through the band joist. The service drop was underground and the ground wire exited the basement at the point of the meter enclosure. Could there have been a ground attached behind the panel somehow? The panel was mounted on plywood over poured concrete foundation so I don't think that was the case.

Sheeesh.

Sounds like the grounding electrode conductor originated in the meter box. If so, there's nothing wrong with that. It just has to connect to the neutral at *or before* the service.

- Jim Katen

[Jerry Lozier]

Inspected a basement mounted main service panel today. There was no system ground attached to the bus anywhere. I checked the water meter which had a ground wire attached with jumper as usual. The ground wire followed the copper water pipes back towards the service panel, traveled over the service panel, not touching it whatsoever, then went outside through the band joist. The service drop was underground and the ground wire exited the basement at the point of the meter enclosure. Could there have been a ground attached behind the panel somehow? The panel was mounted on plywood over poured concrete foundation so I don't think that was the case.

Sheeesh.

Sounds like the grounding electrode conductor originated in the meter box. If so, there's nothing wrong with that. It just has to connect to the neutral at *or before* the service.

- Jim Katen

So, In that case and if you can't verify for sure (and need to assume) how do you write that up.....i.e. write what you see, put in report what you don't see? and do you recommend an electrical contractor open everything up to verify continuity ????

Jerry

[plummen]

your area doesnt require a seperate ground for each?

[Mr. Electric]

It sounds a little iffy to me. I would recommend that you write it up and say something like; Could not confirm the electrical service is grounded and bonded per code requirements. Recommend that a licensed and qualified electrical contractor be consulted to confirm.

Especially where the grounding takes place somewhere other than the main panel. Most meter bases (a few do) do not have a separate lug for these connections in my experience.

[barlyhop]

I wrote it up as "Recommend main service panel ground be verified by qualified person, Continuity of ground to main panel was not confirmed at time of inspection"

Thanks to Mr. Electric!