New House and only 3 service wires?

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New house, electrical has been approved by the State inspector. I Am I not understanding something?? I thought we needed 4 wires on a new construction ? I could not visually see a ground rod, Ufer ground and no plumbing ground because we had a Pex water service line. The service wire came in from underground and there was a big green box in the side yard, I’m assuming that’s where the power came in from. I just need to understand, is this like a secondary distribution panel because all the grounds in the panel were separated from the neutrals ? Thank You In Advance

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There should only be three service entrance conductors for a single phase 120/240 system. There does need to be a GEC connected to the GES.

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Three-wire feed is allowed (and common in my area). If the panel is going to be more than a few feet from the shutoff then it will be four to that panel. That panel looks to be bonded due to the green screw being driven in.

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4

The GEC most be underneath the utility company’s big green box. Good information

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I think I see the GEC leaving the top far left of the panel, which is a bit unusual(?). Panel is bonded, with neutrals and grounds sharing the same buss bar on both sides.

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6

Those look like the bare EGC’s cable tied together not the GEC. The EGC’s and neutrals are on separate buses.

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Why did you consider this? There are two 120V ungrounded conductors (hot legs) and a separate grounded conductor (neutral).**

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8

Usually I see a GEC at the panel or at the meter base

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9

You have a point.

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10

If you don’t see the GEC or the ground rod…it must not be there.

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11

I’ve seen the GEC being run in conduit into the meter base in a few occasions on older homes, but never on new construction though…

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Agree. It has to be either connected to the meter box or to the grounding bus in the service panel.
I don’t believe it can be anywhere else ahead of the meter box.
And since the meter box is not caulked to the wall, you should see it exiting the bottom of the box if it was there, even if it disappears behind stucco.

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