A Correct Statement About Grounding?
- Thread starter ruko
- Start date
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ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
It is not uncommon for there to be a small current flow on the GEC. Earth will be in parallel with the neutral Conductor.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Also with multiple structures that have a common metal water pipe supply system some neutral current will flow on the GEC through the water pipe to the GEC attached to the structure next door and vice versa.
ron
Senior Member
- Location
- New York, 40.7514,-73.9925
Multigrounded neutral systems like we have in the US (and maybe elsewhere), will cause some portion of the imbalance current that the neutral typically carries, to be on the Grounding Electrode Conductor via the earth on its way back to the source utility.
This IEEE Paper has some good history and description of the issue, although they refer to some IEEE definitions rather than NEC definitions http://www.ecs.csun.edu/~bruno/MultiGroundedNeutralFinal_4-17-7.pdf
This IEEE Paper has some good history and description of the issue, although they refer to some IEEE definitions rather than NEC definitions http://www.ecs.csun.edu/~bruno/MultiGroundedNeutralFinal_4-17-7.pdf
StarCat
Industrial Engineering Tech
- Location
- Moab, UT USA
- Occupation
- Imdustrial Engineering Technician - HVACR Electrical and Mechanical Systems
This situation is a lot more of a problem than most seem to think.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
Not for most installations.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Ideally, the statement is false.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
How could it ever be false in the US? The earth is always a parallel path for the grounded conductor current in a code compliant service fed from a grounded system in the US.
electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
There is significant ungrounded distribution in some parts of the country. Granted Poco usually has a ground rod at the base of the serving pole/transformer to the center tap, but if this was missing/stolen (common) than the NEC grounding electrode would be the sole connection to earth.
Utility customer
Member
- Location
- Kingston ny
- Occupation
- Home owner
How come some non transformer poles have ground wire and some dont.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
Because some have been stolen or forgotten. While we usually see every pole with a rod, I don't believe it is required.
electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
If it's not an MGN system, what would you connect the ground wire to? If it is an MGN, as someone said in the other thread, the requirement is only like 2 grounds per mile.
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