Fpbear II wrote:

I am extending the ground for the service panel with two 8' rods because the
pipes were re-done in PVC. I plan to attach #4 wire to the end of the
existing #6 wire with two copper split-bolt connectors and make the
connection real tight. I have been reading that the copper ground wire
should be one continuous wire. However I pefer not to mess with high
voltage and take apart the service panel to make it one continuous ground
wire. Are the split bolt connectors sufficient or is there some "physics"
reason it must be one wire? Or is it to prevent someone from accidentally
un-screwing the bolt?

You need to redo it with a continuous wire, unless you are equipped to
weld (not solder) the wires together. This is generally only done on big
commercial work and is done with exothermic welding gear which you in
all probability don't have.

Assuming this is a residential scenario, the service panel does not
contain high voltage, it contains 240V. Even if it's commercial it isn't
likely above 480V which is still not high voltage.

If you really don't feel safe working in the panel, install your ground
rods and the wire all the way back to the panel leaving plenty of extra
and then have an electrician stop by and make the connection in the
panel.

Pete C.