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DON'T CONNECT A GROUND WIRE TO A COLD WATER PIPE!!!
Use ground rods in accordance with local codes.
When in doubt, contact a local electrician or the local building and zoning office of your city or county.
Connecting a ground wire to your cold water pipe can result in electrolysis that will eat away at you water pipe.
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Metal underground water pipe is the first grounding electrode listed in the NEC. It is still commonly used in residential installations and is used in commercial installations when available. When the water pipe is used as the primary grounding electrode, it must be supplemented with another electrode which is most commonly a ground rod.
Generally speaking, a 325 amp service requires 350 kcmil copper conductors for residences or 400 kcmil copper conductors for commercial installations. In either case these require a grounding electrode conductor of 1/0 ("one ought") copper.
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How to ground and bond a panel?
It must be grounded outside with two 8' copper ground rids driven fully into the ground. One under the meter and one 6' to either side connected together with the proper size copper ground wire. The above answer leaves out the requirement for a grounding connection to a metal water pipe. The NEC actually makes the ground rods supplemental to the water pipe. We don't usually consider the water pipe as the primary grounding electrode but that is how it is treated in the code. Depending on the size of your service, the grounding electrode conductor to the water pipe may actually be a different size than what connects to the ground rods, which are allowed to be connected with 6 AWG copper regardless of the size of service.
How can you ground an ungrounded electrical outlet to a cold water pipe?
It is true that a cold water pipe will work as a ground but it should not be trusted. If the wiring in a house is older then the introduction of electrical grounding I would have to recommend the instillation of new grounded wiring. Grounding using the plumbing system, past where the cold water pipe enters the house, can present a hazard to plumbers. They can receive electrical shock if they remove a piece of pipe that was part of the groundings pathway. Also, as plumbing codes change they do not take into account electrical need. In many areas of the united states plumbers are using non-metallic piping and fitting. If this is added to your system you will lose your grounding.
Why are neutral and earth wires connected together at the panel?
The quick and dirty answer is that the live wire (or hot/black wire) in a North American supply has a potential of 120V above ground - The voltage you pump out of the hot wire will do what it is meant to do (such as heating a kettle element) and then find the shortest path back to ground which in this case should be the neutral wire since it is directly bonded at a very low resistance path to the ground (your panel earth will probably be connected to your cold water pipe inlet, or to a metal pipe hammered into the ground).A more complicated question is why do you need a separate ground/earth wire when both of them are connected to the same thing. I will leave that one for someone else :)For information about that see the answer to the Related Question shown below!
Can you run insulated wires in a conduit pipe?
Except for the ground wire they must be insulated.
The flow of electricity can be compared to the circulation of water in a?
A pipe. The volume of water available can be compared to voltage. The diameter of pipe could be compared to resistance with smaller diameter being larger resistance and the flow of water past a point in pipe is equivalent to current flow.
What is a cold water pipe ground?
Electrical grounded to the cold water pipe, usually before the first fitting once it is through the foundation..
What wire is connected to the cold water pipe at home?
ground
What size wire to ground water pipe?
For a 200amp service you need number 4 copper
How can I find electrical ground in a house?
A cold water pipe is usually a ground. Nowadays with plastic pipe you can't be sure. If the pipe out of the foundation is copper chances are it is good. You can check it with a meter. You can also get an electrical ground rod and install it. It is just a 10' spike that you hammer into the ground and clamp a wire to. It will also give you a good ground. You may already have one at your home. Check by the service entrance for electricity and phone.
Hot water pipe or cold water pipe which will rust first?
Hot water pipe rust first as compared to the cold water pipe for the same chemical composition of the water.
What could the problem be if there is power at the breaker box ground wire to the water pipe?
The problem sounds like the water pipe is not bonded to the ground wire of the distribution. These two wires should have a potential of zero between them once they are bonded together as per electrical code recommendations.This must be an older installation as nowadays most new water pipe installations use PVC to service a water supply to the home. In this case the PVC water supply pipe does not need to be bonded to the ground wire of the distribution service.
Is a cold to hot water metal band required for residential construction to ground the hot water pipe?
Depends where you are. In British Columbia, not required.
How water comes through a pipeline for bath when water is freezed?
Because the mains pipe is buried in the ground where it takes longer for the cold to reach.
Which pipe goes to hot water heater?
Cold water pipe.
What is the Minimum diameter of a incoming cold water service pipe?
That would depend on local codes and the fixture demands
What problems occur when cutting Cold Water pipe with electrical ground?
The only problem that can happen is you would not have a ground for your electrical in the house if the pipe is cut between the clamp and the copper going into the ground outside. You shouldn't get shocked, if that is what you're worried about.
What is water supply water pipe?
Supply coming from water source is a water service line.
