Electrical panel emergency disconnect, ground rods and sound quality

Bare copper is fine, but an odd little find I read years ago is that bare armored ground was even better for surge protection.  During high slew rate events the armor actually carries more current than the wire inside it.

This is an uni-insulated, stranded ground insides a metal spiral jacket. 

My house has has an outside emergency disconnect since it was built in 1988. 

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? 

dmk_hifi OP

46 posts

07-06-2022 at 01:03pm

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

@dmk_hifi

WRONG!

Your electrician better read 2020 NEC 230.85 very carefully...

"For one- and two-family dwelling units, all service conductors shall terminate in disconnecting means having a short-circuit current rating equal to or greater than the available fault current, installed in a readily accessible outdoor location. "

I doubt any non fuseable 2 pole safety disconnect switch will meet this requirement. A 22kA breaker would though. (22,000 Amps). Like I said earlier it shall be rated and Listed for use as service equipment...

Also I imagine your electrician will use 230.85 (3) wiring scheme and Label the disconnecting means,

(3) Other listed disconnect switches or circuit breakers on the supply side of each service disconnect that are suitable for use as service equipment and marked as follows: “EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, NOT SERVICE EQUIPMENT”

EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, NOT SERVICE EQUIPMENT

I would strongly suggest the electrician check with the Utility Power Co, Electrical Inspector, Electrical Wholesale Supply House for what meets the requirement for your area before he buys anything.

Jim

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

PS - Please remember that whole house surge protectors have a higher clamping voltage than the best surge protection strips. The manufacturers recommend you use both on sensitive electronics.

The whole house unit will preserve your HVAC, stove, smart lights, etc. and it is the best place to take a high current surge. 

Whatever may happen in the future, the emergency disconnect requirement is pretty open and shut.

Having it after the meter makes perfect sense to me too. Don’t get scammed.

If your AHJ is using the 2022 NEC you should have gotten mostly CAFCI breakers as well.  The city inspector should have checked for this as well as appropriate.

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

Plain and simple your electrician didn’t look at the code changes for NEC 2020 edition from the previous 2017 edition.

The Emergency Disconnect is for the fireman’s safety when entering a house if there is a fire.

As for there still being live power at the meter that is not a safety issue for the fireman. If the fire has burned over and or around the meter socket the Utility Power Co is called and the power is disconnected from the dwelling unit.

Power Companies do not allow a disconnect ahead of the meter socket for a residential dwelling unit. Sequence is meter >> Switch >> Fuse.

As for securing the EM disconnect on the outside of the house there is a provision on the enclosure for installing a Padlock that secures the outer metal cover. The Fireman has a master key for all Padlocks made... It called a bolt cutter.

The AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) has the final say. If the electrician is arguing with the inspector he is only digging the hole deeper. I hope you got a contract price from the electrician for doing the job...

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. 

That 230.85 was only added a few years ago why would take it out?