James Sissel wrote: > Modern code requires an 8' ground rod driven below ground level AND an > connection to the water inlet within 6' of entrance (closer is better). The > ground must be attached to a pipe that comes directly into the house (no > valve between the ground and pipe). Each ground should be an independent > connection to the panel. Some power companies (KCPL) require all ground > connections in the panel. Others want it in the meter. Some want both. Which electric code? There are many places where a ground rod at the service entrance is prohibited. The utility companies want the ground rod at the base of the service providing telephone pole (they want the utility ground to be lower impedance than your home - otherwise strikes to a shield wire gets diverted to your home where the voltage drop can be enough to break things). In an ideal world you would have all services enter at the same side of the building and bonded together at one point. The biggest problem is that the water pipes are often a lower impedance ground than the electrical service cable. Most important is to be sure you have one and only one point where you ground the electric service to the plumbing. Accidental ground connections (like where electrical conduit and plumbing contact via mounting arrangements) can cause problems. A length of plastic pipe that isolates your plumbing (except for the current the water itself carries) can make a big difference. Ground your electrical service connection to the house side of the isolated plastic pipe. Kansas is not that bad for lightning problems except in spring. Also - save you money on those suppressing outlets - the suppressor belongs in the breaker box. Buy ONE good one that goes there - bond all your service grounds (telephone, cable, water, electric) at the service entrance and problems disappear. (You won't get credit unless it fails) Again, you might want to look at http://xtronics.com/reference/light.htm -- -------------------------------------------------- Karl Schmidt EMail Karl@xtronics.com Transtronics, Inc. WEB http://xtronics.com 3209 West 9th Street Ph(785) 841-3089 Lawrence, KS 66049 FAX(785) 841-0434 Definition of Windows XP: SPAM, thinly disguised as an operating system --------------------------------------------------