I cannot find the code article that states that the grounded and grounding conductors may be joined only at the disconnecting means. Can someone help?

250.142 kinda says that, At least the concept is there.

Thanks George! I have a friens that is a home inspector who wanted the info.

How about 250.24(5) 'Load-Side Grounding Connections. A grounding connection shall not be made to any grounded circuit conductor on the load side of the service disconnecting means except as otherwise permitted in this article.' The FPN points out ranges and dryers, SDS and detached structures.

-Jon

250.24(1) says the connection shall be made at any accessible point from the load end of the service drop or lateral to the terminal or bus to which the grounded service conductor is connected at the service disconnecting means.

You do not have to make the connection at the disconnect, it could be made at the weatherhead, meter or any other point as long as it is accessible and is before the service disco.

Sorry Steve,
The BOND between the groundED and groundING must be done IN the service disconnect enclosure.
Before anyone gets mis lead 250.24(A)(1)...connection...made at any accessible point...etc. is refering to the connection of the grounding electrode conductor.
250.24(A)(5)prohibits the connection on the load side of the service disconnect.
250.24(B) & (C) list where the bond between the grounded and grounding is to be done.
It must be done IN the service disconnect enclosure.
Alan--

Alan,

250.24(A) says "A premises wiring system supplied by a grounded ac service shall have a grounding electrode conductor connected to the grounded service conductor, at each service, in accordance with 250.24(A)(1) through (A)(5)."

This section deals with the connection between the grounding electrode conductor and the grounded service conductor, not the connection between the grounding electrode conductor and the grounding electrode.

@50.24(A)(1) says "The connection shall be made at any accessible point from the load end of the service drop or service lateral to and including the terminal or bus to which the grounded service conductor is connected at the service disconnecting means."

This means you can connect the grounding electrode conductor the grounded service conductor at any point from where you make the connection to the utility to the service disconnecting means as long as it is accessible.

To put it in practical terms, are you saying it would not be allowed to connect the cold water ground to the neutral in the metersocket where there are multiple meters and multiple service enclosures? I believe the code would definitely allow this.

I have read the post again and realize why Alan answered the way he did. The initial question is not clear as to whether it is the grounding electrode conductor or the equipment grounding conductor.

But I think (maybe not hard enough) that you are referring to the equipment grounding conductor Alan, which is not applicable to the sections you quoted.

250.130 talks about equipment grounding conductor connections and all it says in 250.130(A) is that the connection shall be made by bonding the equipment grounding conductor to the grounded service conductor and the grounding electrode conductor.

It doesn't really specify where this must happen.

Also,

250.24(B) refers to the connection between the grounded conductor and the service enclosure(s)

250.24(C) says the grounding electrode conductor must connect the equipment grounding conductors, the service enclosures, and the grounded conductor to the grounding electrode.

Neither of these sections refer to where the grounding and grounded connections must be made.

Around here, we're not allowed to run anything into the meter base (I guess because it's POCO sealed) except the service cable. It would be great if we could connect the grounding electrode conductor here, because it's already outside.

Oh, well.

In Sw Fla the GEC is connected in the meter socket as often as it gets to the service disconnect. The grounded conductor is bonded to the meter can, beyond our control and if you also bond in the service disconnect the standard rule around here is there can be no parallel metal paths between the meter base and the service disconnect.

Section 250.28 requires a main bonding jumper to be installed. Article 100 defines the main bonding jumper as the connection between the grounded conductor and the equipment grounding conductor at the service.
This tells us that this connection must be made in service equipment only, and this is usually accomplished in the main service panel or main service disconnect enclosure.

So in the case where there is a metal raceway riser and a nonmetallic nipple between the metersocket and the panel to prevent objectionable current, it is an illegal installation because the equpiment grounding conductor(riser) is connected to the grounded conductor ahead of the service disconnect?