[Toddc28]

This is my front porch. The meter is just above the picture; it is a new electric service, and ground wire, however the wire is in the open, and this bothers me for aesthetic reasons as well as practical (dopeheads will snip any amount of copper wire around here, if it is easy).


Any ideas on what to use to cover this up - I assume it is not against a code to do so.

 

[joed]

I would disconnect it at the rod and slip some PVC conduit over it. The route is not important. You can go down and across instead down across down. Fasten the PVC to the wall with proper clamps and reattach the ground wire back to the rod.

The PVC can be painted if you wish.

 

[surferdude2]

Wow! I hope you didn't pay anybody to install that service. That's about as bad as it gets.

 

[Toddc28]

Kinda figured PVC was best bet, wasn't sure about undoing it but guess I have to do so. Thx.



Yes, this was done licensed, permit pulled, inspected. I'm disabled, so nothing I say really matters. I even had people question why "someone like me" would need a modern 100 amp service. The 80 y/o house had the original decrepit Square D 1939 2 circuit 35 amp service. I had gotten a nice QO 150 amp panel, but he used a Homeline one he supplied so "someone like me" could "save money". The house itself is very well built.



But the work overall seemed OK.

 

[surferdude2]

OK, I don't think it's appropriate to tailor some misguided interpretation of the electrical code to apply to "someone like you" status and allow anyone to install something that is so far out of reason that it screams for correction. I hope the rest of the install was better.

According to the National Electrical Code (NEC) , which was modeled from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), you must support and protect the service ground conductor if it is exposed. It must also be of proper size, which I can't accurately tell from the picture but it appears to be smaller than required.

There is an outside chance that this is not the service conductor ground but instead just the telephone or cable company's connection. I can't tell that from the picture. That would be a lesser offense but still needing attention.

Some inspectors will not accept PVC, even schedule 80 as adequate protection for exposed runs so it's best to get approval of any proposed method up front to avoid any disappointment on final inspection.

Since you already have obtained final inspection and signed off, I am left amazed at how those who inspected and approved this got their credentials and the job title they hold.

 

[Wiredindallas]

It is safe to disconnect the wire at the ground rod as it is only there in case of a lost neutral and normally carries no current. It IS important for it to be there, however.

 

[surferdude2]

It is safe to disconnect the wire at the ground rod as it is only there in case of a lost neutral and normally carries no current. It IS important for it to be there, however.

And it is very dangerous to disconnect it if there happens to be a high resistance or open neutral since it can present 120 volts between the ground and the wire by virtue of the ground/neutral bonding at the service.

It's hard to be too careful. :smile:

 

[Toddc28]

Yeah - when I turned on the power ground was hot. Lucky for me, the very first thing I checked - the ancient dimmer switch - was the issue.



And yes, this is the ground from the box, not a phone or whatever ground.



I got a "repair" since service could not be fully upgraded, and the old 2 breaker box could not be repaired itself. New meter socket, new box, conduit down the middle of the room (lol I'm OK with that), with kitchen / bathroom GFCI and smoke alarms running off it, and the old system tied into the new box. I have mostly new wiring, except for a few circuits with very low load. Hope to get all new by March. The wiring was state of the art, built for the builder's mother, back in 1939. House was partially remodeled once, in 1973ish.



I do have a background in electrical work. Most of the work done I was OK with - the smoke alarms were a crappy brand, and this ground wire should not be like this... few other small things, like the old 1939 metal house number was ruined...



Y'all just don't understand what it's like for me. People (yeah plural) argued with why "someone like me" would need any of this, just hookup the old burned out crap... my "friend" helping me even got upset that I didn't move into the house (it was an estate abandonment for taxes, I got a crazy deal on it, luck really, but it was vacant and unkept for 2 years. Weeds to the roof. Snakes moved in...) and just "camp" (in October) since I didn't have payments. Many electricians flat out lied to me about costs, etc. ("$20,000 but we'll finance if you sign over the house" was my favorite...)



In case you are wondering, I get zero disability, it's a somewhat rare neurological injury thing, so I work at home on a computer ("don't you just need an extension cord from a neighbor?"). On another note, I'm trying to collect some 38k owed me and their lawyer laughed, said I couldn't even stand up half the time, they'll take their chances getting sued by "someone like you who can't even stand up half the time" that is "if you can even afford a lawyer".... do it to a black person, gay person, whatever, people pitch a fit. Do it to me, no biggie.

 

[surferdude2]

Oh well, it looks like you are familiar with being between a rock and a hard place. I don't need to tell you how to handle things like that since you no doubt have some experience with that already.

I suspect the "upgrades" were done without formal permits or approval so if you complain to the authorities they may condemn the whole shootin' match. Those who did the work likely tried their best and that's the name of that game. If it works and isn't an immediate danger then it's probably OK until times get better.

All the best wishes,

SD2

 

[Old Thomas]

Put a set of car jumper cables on it so you can disconnect the wire without losing ground. To be safer, also turn off your main disconnect so no juice is flowing. Then unhook the wire and put it in conduit.

 

[Ultrarunner2017]

In regards to temporarily disconnecting the ground conductor:
Never put yourself into any energized electrical circuit, regardless of whether it is hot, neutral or ground conductor. As was said, if there just happens to be an open neutral, there will be current in the GC, and holding onto it while disconnecting from the ground rod could electrocute you!


Throw the main breaker in the panel before doing anything. While that will not completely guarantee that there won't be current in the GC, it will greatly lessen the chances.

 

[joed]

Current on the ground conductor is not going to be a large issue with a ground rod. The ground is not very good conductor.
It is bigger concern when the metal water line is used as the ground, as the power from a neighbouring house can flow through the metal water main from neighbouring houses metal water lines.

 

[Ultrarunner2017]

Current on the ground conductor is not going to be a large issue with a ground rod. The ground is not very good conductor.
It is bigger concern when the metal water line is used as the ground, as the power from a neighbouring house can flow through the metal water main from neighbouring houses metal water lines.

Right. Especially here in NJ where we have relatively dry soil.