Does any one splice or tap to the GEC?
What do you use? I'm upgrading a duplex with 100 amp panels side by side in the basement.
Rather than run two #6 solid cu from each panel to the ground rods outside, I'd like to run from one panel to the rods. Then run #6 from the 2'nd panel and tap onto the 1'st panel's GEC using irreversible compression-type connectors. I believe this is permitted by NEC 250.64 (C) and (D).

I've checked with 2 supply houses and they evidently do not carry a compression tool or the connectors. Anyone have experience with this?

Donles,
Burndy, Thomas & Betts, and Anderson are the ones that make the tools and materials off the top of my head. All of these can be found by a simple web search.

If you quit that solid habit, you can use a Cadweld, made by erico www.erico.com
These are reusable for a long time, and do not degrade like crimps or split bolts.

What is the ballpark cost for Cadweld?

I've found the cost of the T&B tools to be prohibitive for my infrequent use. Although I did see a Penn-Union tool on ebay for what is probably alot less than retail. Minimum bid $99 for a TDM-250 and the auction was winding down.

I normally use a split bolt for this.

Split bolts are not irreversible. Perhaps you're thinking of an equipment grounding conductor and not a grounding electrode conductor?

If you do a search on this site for cad welds you will find a thread that talks about one shot disposable cad welds for $5.00 I have not used them but it sounds like a great deal.

I looked at Erico's site for the one-shot, inexpensive cadweld splices. Their site isn't the most user friendly. I did come across mold # PG11L for #4 solid to #4 solid taps but no details. I'll have to call suppliers tomorrow.
Thanks.

Ryan,

Couldn't 250.64(D) be used here, and wouldn't that allow the use of something like a split bolt to make a tap to a second enclosure as long as the GEC to the first enclosure meets 250.64(C) and is not spliced where the tap joins?

EPRICE: Thanks! I got so caught up the topic starter's question of how to do it irreversibly that I didn't look at the code. Good catch.

Scott: Sorry!

Care to expand on that a little?
Meanwhile, I'll consult the code.

Split bolts do the trick. I use them as described for multi family services.

[This message has been edited by Electricmanscott (edited 10-27-2003).]

I believe that the inexpensive exothermic welds being discussed are the One-Shot by Erico or the Uni-Shots by Harger. I use these quite often, anytime I must connect to a ground rod outside. But if memory serves me correctly, both these inexpensive tipes are used for rod to conductor connections. I think that for conductor to conductor or other configurations, you must use the standard graphite mold and charge version. I couls be wrong, but that's all I could find.

I think I see what you mean. I initially thought that the tap connection had to be irreversible. That rule, 250.64(C) applies to a splice in the GEC.

250.64(D) allows taps to be made to the GEC by conductors from a second enclosure without saying how, just that the GEC must be installed without a splice or joint.

I was so focused on (C) that I neglected to carefully read (D).

Thanks

Donles
You can use 250.64(D) for the two panels, but the common GEC has to be spliced with an irreversible type of connection.
Look back at (C).

Pierre