The NEC rules often determine which electrical systems must be grounded, which are permitted to be grounded and which are not permitted to be grounded. The provisions are broken down for each system application. Part II of...

Section 250.53 of the National Electrical Code provides grounding electrode installation rules that apply to grounding electrodes that must be installed and are not typically inherent in construction. The grounding electrodes...

At a grounding class, someone asked how to determine if a standby generator is required to be grounded as a separately derived system. The key to determining this is to verify the type of transfer equipment installed...

Section 90.2(B)(5) states that the National Electrical Code does not apply to installations that are under the exclusive control of the electric utility company. Has anyone ever questioned the validity of this requirement...

Communications systems and equipment installed in buildings must comply with the specific rules given in Chapter 8 of the NEC . Even though these systems typically operate at lower energy levels, improper grounding and...

While researching grounding and power quality, the information was divided between how to design the grounding systems of an electrical infrastructure that was optimized to maximize the quality of the electrical power, and...

Grounding an electrical system means one system conductor is connected to ground (earth by definition) and a reference to ground from the system is established. Installing and operating an ungrounded system means no reference...

Generators are commonly installed for buildings or structures requiring emergency systems, legally required standby systems or optional standby power systems. In many designs, the generator is located outside the building or...

If you bought a house in the last 15 years or so, you may actually have a building element protruding from the side of your home. In this article, I discuss service grounding connections and what I call the rebar "sticking...

Multiple buildings or structures on the same property are supplied by a single, free-standing electric utility service, and the separate buildings on the property are supplied by feeders. The service could also directly...

Grounding methods and requirements for systems operating at more than 1,000 volts (V), such as 5- and 15-kilovolt (kV) systems, differ slightly from those for systems of 1,000V or less. Systems in these voltage ranges are...

Many of the articles that I write for this magazine originate as questions that I receive as I travel, by phone, or come to me as emails. I can answer some of these questions very easily without much controversy by a simple...

At a recent seminar, one of the attendees asked, “What is a ‘Ufer’ ground?” This is a common question. A “Ufer” ground is slang for what the National Electrical Code (NEC) addresses as a concrete-encased grounding electrode...

If you’re reading this, chances are you have enjoyed the sense of accomplishment that comes from driving an 8-foot long, mostly steel rod into the earth and connecting a ground wire to it. It’s tough work. At the end of the...