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Air Medal or two
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: cross roads
Posts: 14,328
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House garage electrical question (ground rods)
To use ground rods or not?
I have seen the answer both ways . In my old home the inspector made me install the rods in the shop. Here it's a question mark. The house panel is grounded. I ran 240 from it to the garage and installed a subpanel. So the hype is- if it is grounded, it is correct. Also, it's bad, as it sidesteps the house panel. Is there a real answer? thank you.
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162 Assault Helicopter Co,(Vultures ) D troop 3/5 Air Cav. ( Bastard CAV) South of Saigon, U Minh Forest, Delta, and most parts in between. |
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06-11-2026, 08:13 AM
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Kantry Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: N.S. Can
Posts: 7,405
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I would (and did) install grounds for the shop and the barn. However I noticed when we upgraded out entrance and panel 6 years ago, the electrician installed a ground plate.
Electricity is something I have come to feel "should be ok" might not be the best approach.
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Best Les My train of thought has been replaced by a bumper car. |
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06-11-2026, 08:35 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
Posts: 38,939
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Ground rods 6' apart or more are required if the sub is in a detached structure. The exception is if there is a UFER ground present. Actually the requirement is in total Ohms rather than count. Length is likewise but most agree that 2 rods at no more than 45º to plumb, 8' in length will accomplish the task.
Same building no rods needed. Only separate ground and neutral (isolated neutral) busses in the sub.
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06-11-2026, 09:44 AM
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Air Medal or two
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: cross roads
Posts: 14,328
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OK!
Thanks!! I will slam a couple of them into the dirt... What is weird is, - electricity is the same anywhere and everywhere, but the requirements are sometimes different.
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162 Assault Helicopter Co,(Vultures ) D troop 3/5 Air Cav. ( Bastard CAV) South of Saigon, U Minh Forest, Delta, and most parts in between. |
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06-11-2026, 10:01 AM
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
Posts: 21,853
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Quote:
NEC 250.32(A) (Buildings or Structures Supplied by a Feeder[s] or Branch Circuit[s]). 
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"Life is full of temporary situations, ultimately ending in a permanent solution" - Rodney Dangerfield |
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06-11-2026, 10:54 AM
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Air Medal or two
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: cross roads
Posts: 14,328
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Thanx!!
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162 Assault Helicopter Co,(Vultures ) D troop 3/5 Air Cav. ( Bastard CAV) South of Saigon, U Minh Forest, Delta, and most parts in between. |
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06-11-2026, 10:57 AM
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Registered
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I would. I didn't run a separate ground when I put a sub panel in my kitchen island feeding off an existing 3-wire 220V oven supply wire and that was a mistake. I removed the oven and went with gas, so I figured great, I can run the existing 220 power to the sub panel and add a bunch of lighting. We'll the lighting has a slight flicker my electrician buddy diagnosed as not having a proper ground.
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2014 Cayman S (track rat w/GT4 suspension) 1979 930 (475 rwhp at 0.95 bar) |
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06-11-2026, 01:46 PM
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Air Medal or two
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: cross roads
Posts: 14,328
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Going to do it.
It do not matter that I don't understand it . It all works fine.. I just need to get a tool to encourage these into the depths of the ground.
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162 Assault Helicopter Co,(Vultures ) D troop 3/5 Air Cav. ( Bastard CAV) South of Saigon, U Minh Forest, Delta, and most parts in between. |
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06-11-2026, 01:54 PM
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Band.
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 13,516
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Yeah DAD's rules are the way to go. Main thing is grounding back to the main panel and 'also' a rod close by. Lightning will find the rod but other stuff will just act normal through the tied ground.
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1983 SC Coupe 2020 Macan Turbo 1963 BMW R60/2 1972 Triumph Tiger 1995 Triumph Daytona SuperIII Last edited by Gogar; 06-11-2026 at 08:32 PM.. |
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06-11-2026, 08:30 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
Posts: 38,939
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Drive it in with an SDS roto hammer.
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06-12-2026, 11:26 AM
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Air Medal or two
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: cross roads
Posts: 14,328
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Zeke- thanks!
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162 Assault Helicopter Co,(Vultures ) D troop 3/5 Air Cav. ( Bastard CAV) South of Saigon, U Minh Forest, Delta, and most parts in between. |
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06-12-2026, 01:41 PM
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1979 Porsche 930 3.4
