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Electrical panel emergency disconnect, ground rods and sound quality

I finally pulled the trigger on upgrading my house old electrical panel (load center) setup that wasn’t properly grounded.

I went with the Square D QO series panel, whole house surge protection and 2x8' ground rods and 4ga solid copper ground cable per NEC code. My electrician drove ground rods at a 7' distance between them per code. I learned too late that there is a recommendation for optimal distance between ground rods to be about 2x the length of the rods. Oh well...

Even so, I could clearly hear improvement in my system and it was not subjective. I no longer hear a transformer-like buzzing noise coming from my speakers that would increase with volume. Instead I hear a much softer noise similar to an AM radio being tuned. I have to be right next to tweeter and volume up pretty high to hear it. I’m sure that noise was always there but masked our before the upgrade.

City inspector, however, faulted new panel install for the lack of an outside emergency disconnect between it and the meter per NEC 230.85. My electrician thinks it’s completely unnecessary and that requirement will be done away with in the next NEC revision, but I digress.

Is there an opinion about which brand/type of emergency disconnect has the least negative effect on the quality of power coming into the house?

How much my ground effectiveness has been reduced by having distance between ground rods be less than 2x their length?

All in all, I highly recommend this type of upgrade for older electrical systems!

dmk_hifi

Showing 4 responses by dmk_hifi

dmk_hifi OP
61 posts
 

My electrician believes it’s because 2020 code puts disconnect between meter and electrical panel, whereas it really belongs between meter and the provider. Just like gas companies have it. Intent for the disconnect is to allow emergency services to cut off electricity for safety, but with the current spec you still have live electricity at the meter even after cut off. Personally I think it puts undue expense on homeowners and allows pranking teens easy access to your whole house electrical shut off. 

dmk_hifi OP
61 posts
 

Jea, thanks for your breakdown, that’s helpful.

Installing disconnect will be an extra charge to me, but due to this hassle with the inspection he is giving me a discount on the job. 

So based on what I’ve learned and with your post, I will bite the bullet and install the disconnect. I really want this work to be permitted officially for when it comes time to sell the house.

Is there a disconnect brand/type that you prefer?
Should I bother with changing distance between ground rods?

Thanks for your help guys.

dmk_hifi OP
61 posts
 

Good stuff. Sounds like brand/type of disconnect doesn’t really matter provided it has the right amp rating. 

dmk_hifi OP
61 posts
 

Funny you should say it, I already got electrician in touch with the city inspector. Hopefully this will ensure everything will done correctly on the second try. 

I've seen online ground wire to the ground rods come in a green jacket. Mine is a bare copper solid core. Is there an issue with bare ground wire being exposed to the elements? 

 

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