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I was set to convert to Verizon and the installer told me I had to get an outside grounding pole since I do not have an outside electrical box. Can someone tell me who to contact and about how much this costs, and if it is worth it?
OK, first you want to find out if the electrical service has a proper grounding rod. It should, either with a wire coming off the mains panel leading to it, or possibly from the meter box.
If you have one, Verizon should tie into that, and NOT install a separate ground. If you DON'T have one, you really should have one for the electric rather than rely on a tap to a water line or such.
Unless you have stony soil, driving a ground rod is a matter of finding the right spot, standing on a stepladder and using a sledge to drive it in. 8' to 10' is a common length, so the driving can take some time.
Multiple ground rods that are not bonded (electrically tied together via thick copper wire) are an invitation to disaster. EVERY electrical system in a place should have a COMMON ground. That means telephone, cable, satellite, power, and any other system including the ground for a tv or radio antenna.
NO WAY would I allow an installer to demand an independent ground.
Location: Sometimes Maryland, sometimes NoVA. Depends on the day of the week
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Do you not have phone service at all? Or is this for a FIOS install? I don't know if it makes a big difference, but I do knot that for our FIOS install, they placed the box near the electric meter and tied into the ground. Do you really not have a meter outside your house? Also, like the others said, if you don't have a ground for the house (grounded to pipes), I'd call an electrician and have a new ground put in and have him ground the panel. Easy fix.
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cynthia4joy
I was set to convert to Verizon and the installer told me I had to get an outside grounding pole since I do not have an outside electrical box. Can someone tell me who to contact and about how much this costs, and if it is worth it?
Good advice from Harry and Southgeorgia. This may be something like the guy at Jiffylube making recommendations that a certified mechanic would reject out of hand.
"If you're able to pull the rod out of the ground after each use, you're wasting your time, as the rod is completely ineffective in loose conditions. "
True, especially if it is a short one. For the limited amount of time in such a setup, mixing a little fertilizer and water and drenching the area around the rod could help (although it wouldn't be a sure thing).
"you should not be able to pull it out of the ground without some type of mechanical assistance."
AMEN! Even then, it should be hard to remove.
"but why are you driving a ground rod at a concession trailer?"
Likely some requirement of the site. A lot of RV parks and such sites are horrible disasters in wiring, and no one knows for sure if a trailer is wired incorrectly. Safer to have dozens of grounds than have a few mis-wired trailers make trouble (and danger) for everyone.
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