ECN Forum Forums Photo Discussion Forums Violation Photo Forum Cable Company Grounding Methods

I sat in parking lot having lunch one day next to a CATV contractor getting his butt reamed about grounding by his supervisor. As I'm chomping on my sandwich, I over-heard how the guy was doing it, and how the boss wanted it. The guy was split-bolting to the GEC, or lugging to the main panel, so I'm thinking "Mmmm - Ok". His boss, gets irrate, saying that its too much work, just go to the nearest water, or conduit, I'm thinking "Oh man..." They start debating it, so I pick up my code book and sort of hold in view of the window open to that section, as I chomp on my sandwich. "Fastest - Cheapest, end of story" he finished with as he wrapped up chewing this guy out. Anyway, I feel for poeple in situations like that, when they know better than the boss.

This one in the pic, is at least better than some of the alteratives

Bob,
The electrical contractor, not the cable company, is at fault here. The electrical contractor did not comply with 250.94.

Bill,
Look at FPN #1 to the above section.

Don

Don I do not know if the install was done by the cable company or a sub. Either can happens here.

Capt Al may know.

Bob

Bob,
It doesn't matter who did the cable installation. The electrical contractor did not provide the "accessible means external to enclosures for connecting intersystem bonding and grounding conductors" as required by 250.94.
Don

I have Never Liked those ground straps. they make them in copper and galvanized steel. I usually use a meter pan clamp as in this pic. http://www.tselectronic.com/thomandbetts/sc51_1.html?tse_Session=b5765e6ac0fc8d723bddf5608b15a05b
They Can be installed as so the meter cover can be removed.

Don right out of frame below the meter is an exposed EGC.

205.94(2)Exposed grounding electrode conductor.

But beyond that how would an EC know where the cable company will need this connection considering the electric service was installed years before cable TV was brought to the house?

Bob

My eyes aren't what they used to be...but is that ground strap wrapped around a plastig hub?

Don,

That was what I had in mind, but apparently it was a totally foreign concept to the Utility representative.

Bill

Bob,
I don't see any exposed GEC. It appears to be in PVC condiut to me. Around here when the GEC is in PVC, there is no exposed GEC as the PVC is terminated below grade.

This service look fairly new and the code rule requiring an accessbile intersystem grounding connection point has be in the code for 3 or 4 code cycles. The code section only requires that this connection point be provided at the service equipment and at the service disconnect. Maybe, it really isn't required at this location, because I don't think that the meter is service equipment.
Don

Don

Don, I'm the EC here. This service was installed last year. I did comply with 250.94 (2). There is a bare #6 AWG exposed at the ground rod. It does not terminate underground. I also got the blessing of the local AHJ.
The meter is not service equipment. At the disconnecting means for the service, there is also an exposed #6 AWG that the cable guy could have terminated his grounding conductor to.
Also this strap was installed by a sub for the cable company. My house was done by a cable company employee. There is no strap ground. He connected to the exposed GEC at the ground rod below the meter. There is quite a difference between cable employee and subcontractor grounding methods.

Al