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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => AC Power and Grounding => Topic started by: Jeffery Foster on July 16, 2015, 10:27:25 PM

Title: Stage bonding to ground
Post by: Jeffery Foster on July 16, 2015, 10:27:25 PM
For a temporary outdoor metal stage, power provided by a generator,  is there a best practice in regards to bonding the stage directly to the driven ground rod vs the grounding lug on the genset?

Thanks in advance for any input!
Title: Re: Stage bonding to ground
Post by: Stephen Swaffer on July 16, 2015, 10:43:35 PM
A ground rod is primarily lightning protection.  The MUST be an equipment grounding conductor between the grounding lug on the genny and anything that needs bonded (which code defines as anything likely to become energized).  The EGC should be sized according to the breaker of the circuit feeding the wiring on or near the stage.

If you bond to a ground rod without an EGC, a pinched cord can energize the stage and never trip a breaker creating a very hazardous condition.
Title: Re: Stage bonding to ground
Post by: Jeffery Foster on July 17, 2015, 12:14:01 AM
Thank you Stephen, I always appreciate your input.

To be clear, the #4 bonding wire - from the metal stage to genny ground lug - would be a completely different piece of gear than the EGC that is my green feeder cable from genny to distro. 

Additionally, the generator is bonded to the driven ground rod from the ground lug.

Did any of the above sentences raise red flags with you or one one else?
Thanks again!