Below is a grounding question regarding my circuit panel in my home. I tried to provide as much information as possible.
I have a 200A service panel in my home. It is located in the basement. The service enters the house underground. The electric meter is positioned on the exterior of the home and is approximately right behind the service panel (but above the surface of the ground).
The wiring in the house is exclusively via rigid conduit.
I checked the panel to see how the ground was connected and only saw a small "about 3 or so inches" rigid copper piece that was connected to the ground bar and then screwed to the back of the circuit panel box. I checked all other lines and didn't see any other type of grounding for the box on the exterior as well as around the basement, etc..
The home was built in 1987 (in IL) and originally had well water but then was converted to municipal water sometime later. The well is still active and used for outside irrigation purposes but the municipal water services the inside of the home (enters the home (basement) at a different location). I checked both sets of copper pipe thoroughly and saw no grounding clamps/wiring on either.
It appears that the only type of grounding for the panel is the small copper piece described above. My questions are as follows:
1) is that, in fact, the ground for the home?
2) if it is, is that sufficient?
3) if not, should I be looking for something else not described above?
4) if "yes" to #3, what should I be looking for or what needs to be done to properly ground the panel/home.
Hope this is enough information to answer my questions.
Thanks in advance.
I have a 200A service panel in my home. It is located in the basement. The service enters the house underground. The electric meter is positioned on the exterior of the home and is approximately right behind the service panel (but above the surface of the ground).
The wiring in the house is exclusively via rigid conduit.
I checked the panel to see how the ground was connected and only saw a small "about 3 or so inches" rigid copper piece that was connected to the ground bar and then screwed to the back of the circuit panel box. I checked all other lines and didn't see any other type of grounding for the box on the exterior as well as around the basement, etc..
The home was built in 1987 (in IL) and originally had well water but then was converted to municipal water sometime later. The well is still active and used for outside irrigation purposes but the municipal water services the inside of the home (enters the home (basement) at a different location). I checked both sets of copper pipe thoroughly and saw no grounding clamps/wiring on either.
It appears that the only type of grounding for the panel is the small copper piece described above. My questions are as follows:
1) is that, in fact, the ground for the home?
2) if it is, is that sufficient?
3) if not, should I be looking for something else not described above?
4) if "yes" to #3, what should I be looking for or what needs to be done to properly ground the panel/home.
Hope this is enough information to answer my questions.
Thanks in advance.