John Grabowski wrote:

"timO'" wrote in message
ups.com...

I am getting ready to pull an 220V/80A branch circuit to my new inside
heat pump. I am upgrading my 100A service to 200A locating the new
meter right next to the old one; and putting a new 200A load center,
then two branches; one to the existing 100A breaker box and another
branch circuit off the new 200A load center to the heat pump.

THE QUESTION IS:
I was advised to run a solid copper ground to my hot water heater, but
my water heater connects to everything with plastic pipe. I don't see
the point of running the wire to it.

I will be grounding the new meter; new load center, and existing load
centers to two existing ground electrodes right near the existing
meter. Since I already bought the 50' of #4 solid for the water heater
ground; I'll use that wire for this purpose
comments?



Hi Tim. I'm glad to hear that you've been continuing to do your homework
with planning out this job and will soon be doing it. I'm thinking that the
advice that you received about grounding the water heater was for the
installation of a bonding jumper. This is usually done at the water heater
to bond the metal hot water, cold water, and gas pipes together. The code
calls for all interior metal piping to be bonded together, but does not
specify that it must be at the water heater. If your water pipes are
non-metallic then there is no need for the bonding jumper.

What you just wrote reads like you're saying there is NO NEED to connect
a ground conductor to an electric water heater.

Do you really mean that John?

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.98*1014 fathoms per fortnight.