[j-koepke]

Im upgrading my service to 200 amp and need to run a copper wire from main panel to the nearest water pipe into the house which is about 50 ft away on the exterior wall of the house. This is in a singe dwelling home. What size of copper wire do i need to use to make code? I do have a natural gas pipe going in to the house about 20 feet away from panel that goes into the utility room where hot water tank is could i ground to that and in the utility room run a jumper from the gas line at the furnace to the hot and cold water lines instead of going the 50 feet to the water line. Thanks

 

[Arrow3030]

You most likely need #4 copper. The grounding electrode conductor is based on the size of the service conductors, not the amperage of the service disconnect.
You should go to where the water main is not the gas.

 

[brric]

That grounding electrode conductor must be terminated within 5' of where your metallic water line enters the building, not the nearest water line.

 

[j-koepke]

I have 2 grounding rods put in at main panel 6 feet apart but inspector told me all metallic pipes in house must be grounded to main panel as well. He said to hook on to nearest water line in house also to any metallic gas lines. Thanks

 

[electures]

#6 cu to the rods. #4 cu or #2 al to within five feet of where the water pipe enters the building.

 

[brric]

I have 2 grounding rods put in at main panel 6 feet apart but inspector told me all metallic pipes in house must be grounded to main panel as well. He said to hook on to nearest water line in house also to any metallic gas lines. Thanks

The grounding electrode conductor is different from a bonding conductor. Do whatever you want.

 

[AllanJ]

The (here, #4) wire from panel neutral bus to cold water pipe is a grounding electrode conductor. The same size wire, as a bonding jumper, would be used to clamp onto a gas pipe and connect to the panel (or to the GEC if that comes closer). If you have a gas appliance that uses electricity and has an up to date (and grounded) hard wired electrical connection and rigid metal pip gas connection, then no direct bonding jumper is needed.

If no metal water pipe exits the house underground, the same wire, as a bonding jumper, is run to any metal cold water pipe. A gas pipe does not qualify as a grounding electrode even if there is no metal water pipe exiting underground.

Sections of metal plumbing joined by a length of plastic plumbing should have bonding jumpers between them. For sections going up into the house, the bonding jumper may be sized for the highest amperage branch circuit passing near any portion or sub branch (e.g. 12 gauge for 20 amp circuits) as opposed to being #4.