[TowerTalk] Grounding Rod Lenght

[Pete Smith]

At 10:30 AM 2/15/04 -0800, Jim Lux wrote:

>You won't find the NEC online; it's copyrighted, and the publisher, NFPA,
>which goes to some expense to create the code, would prefer to be paid for
>their labors.  If you're in a business subject to "the code", it's probably
>worthwhile to spend the $50 and get a copy, especially if questions like
>this come up very often, or if you operate in a litigious environment.

Jim makes a good point, which this manager should be sensitive to, 
concerning liability that might arise from the facilities you're 
installing.  By all means, the Book ought to be on hand.

In the meantime, I took a look at my copy of Wiring Simplified, 38th 
Edition, by H.P. Richter and W.C. Schwan, Published by Park Publishing 
company, ISBN 0-9603294-6-3, which states that it is based on the latest 
(1996) wiring code.  I presume that if there's a new edition of the NEC by 
now, there must also be a 39th edition of this book.  I got it at Lowe's.

Page 69 appears to lift directly from the NEC, and says that an adequate 
ground may be a variety of things (UFER, existing piping, etc.), but if it 
is a ground rod, it must be "an 8-ft. driven 1/2" copper or 5/8" steel rod 
or 3/4" galvanized steel pipe."  Seems pretty clear.


73, Pete N4ZR
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