Tom the Elder
DIY
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My 1951 CA home (none of original wiring grounded) has 7 receptacles* that have a separate ground wire extended into the subfloor and connected to the galvanized water pipes. Those pipes will soon be replaced with PEX. My plan is to drive ground rods with a new ground wire extending from the rods into the subfloor where it will connect to the wires from each receptacle. All of the ground rod installation information I see shows 2 rods separated 8-16 feet. To make it one continuous wire, the total run will be about 150 feet.
1) I presume a single, solid, bare wire is best. What gauge should I use? (I have seen Youtube recommendations for 4, 6 & 8 awg. The circuits originate at a 100 amp fuse box.)
2) Does the wire need to be solid or can it be stranded?
2) Does the wire need to be Continuous or can I branch using connectors (which would shorten the run considerably)?
3) If the wired needs to be solid and continuous, the only suitable connectors I have see are the split-bolt, but those suckers are expensive. Is there something else that will work?
4) By extending the run about 10 feet, I can have ground rods at each end of the wire; they will be about 30 feet apart ("U" shaped house). Is there any problem with that?
Thanks.
* Some receptacles are GFCI; I plan on making them all GFCI.
1) I presume a single, solid, bare wire is best. What gauge should I use? (I have seen Youtube recommendations for 4, 6 & 8 awg. The circuits originate at a 100 amp fuse box.)
2) Does the wire need to be solid or can it be stranded?
2) Does the wire need to be Continuous or can I branch using connectors (which would shorten the run considerably)?
3) If the wired needs to be solid and continuous, the only suitable connectors I have see are the split-bolt, but those suckers are expensive. Is there something else that will work?
4) By extending the run about 10 feet, I can have ground rods at each end of the wire; they will be about 30 feet apart ("U" shaped house). Is there any problem with that?
Thanks.
* Some receptacles are GFCI; I plan on making them all GFCI.