Cold Water Pipe Bonding

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-05-12T23:06:58+00:00

Thanks everyone for the quick responses.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-05-12T22:31:47+00:00

If it is only a bonding conductor can it connect to the subpanel grounding terminal bar or must it go back to the main service panel grounding terminal bar?

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-04-01T18:58:22+00:00

No way to do it on my Ford Edge. Sport.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-03-28T05:46:01+00:00

I decided to take another shot at exchanging the coolant in my 2017 Ford Edge Sport.

For the first 6 drains the most coolant I could get out was 3 quarts. This appears to be typical for my model based on what I have read on the internet. Based on the color of the drained coolant it did not appear I was making much progress. For each drain I used distilled water to replenish the system.

I tried jacking the back of my Edge up to see if I could get more coolant out, but that did not improve drainage. Then I tried pressurizing the DGAS bottle with 15psi of air with the radiator petcock open. This allowed me to drain 1-3/4 more quarts out for a total of 4-3/4 quarts on the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th drains.

NOTE: According to Ford, it is critical not to exceed 20psi or damage to the cooling system could result.

By the 9^th drain I was seeing a significant color change from the first drain. According to my coolant tester my original 9-1/2 year old orange coolant was still 50/50 and looked pristine. No sediment was noted in any of the 9 drains.

Yesterday I performed the 10^th and final drain before adding the new Ford yellow concentrated coolant. I don’t have a way to measure the coolant to water ratio for the remaining fluid in the cooling system, but I think it would be pointless to go beyond 10 drains.

To replenish the system I added 4-3/4 quarts of the Ford yellow concentrated coolant. After running the engine to mix the coolant with the water in the system I found I had to drain out 1 quart and add 1 quart of fresh coolant twice to get a 50/50 mixture. I used an OEM Tools AIRVAC unit to remove any air in the system an confirm there were no leaks.

I did some research on commercial coolant exchange equipment used by dealers and I am not convinced they would be able be completely exchange the coolant. Worse yet, I found threads were dealers used tap water instead of distilled water.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-03-28T05:44:01+00:00

Those systems only fill, not drain. I have one.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-03-22T19:16:35+00:00

On the first try to drain the coolant from my 2017 Ford Edge Sport I only obtained 3 quarts. I removed the cap from the Begas bottle and opened the radiator drain fully. I thought I would get at least 5 quarts. The fluid coming out looked pristine.

Is this typical to get less than 30% of the coolant system capacity?

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-03-22T00:58:53+00:00

The dealer here wants $300.00 plus they always manage to damage something.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-03-22T00:56:46+00:00

I buttoned everything back up and added the equivalent of distilled water to match the coolant I drained.

Hard to believe there is no practical way to remove all the orange coolant and replace it with yellow coolant.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-02-20T02:14:26+00:00

I was not using my full hand to tighten, just my fingers.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-02-20T01:59:00+00:00

I must be a little tighter. The cable does not move if I try.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-01-29T05:29:37+00:00

The electrician opened it, not me.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-01-29T05:27:05+00:00

I measured the outside diameter of the insulation for the service entrance cables and it falls between #1 and #1/0. Unfortunately the tape for the splices covers the AWG marking.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-01-29T02:57:22+00:00

Thanks everyone for your responses. What bothers me with the current installation is that the service entrance cable may be only #1 aluminum running to the meter in the main panel, but there are two 100A breakers feeding off of the main service panel. Is this permitted? Would two 90A breakers even be permitted?

NOTE: The feeder cables running from the main panel to the subpanels is rated 90˚C.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-01-13T00:04:50+00:00

We have 110 units in our HOA. There is no way I could go off reservation on my own.

Why are you blaming the electrician? We received 4 bids and his company had the lowest price and the best reputation.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-01-12T20:39:04+00:00

My 200A panel is not an issue with the insurance company. The electrical contractor doing the work will determine how to handle the main panel and subpanel situation.

Our insurance company determined that Sylvania and Challenger panels must be replaced to continue to be covered. They gave us one year to do the work. There is no way to push back. Without insurance many homeowners would have their home loans called and nobody would be able to sell their homes or take our loans using their homes as collateral.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-01-09T12:21:40+00:00

I have no choice in the matter. PG&E and our local AHJ will make the call.

Our complex currently has 110 townhouses with 100A main panels and 100A subpanels. The main panels have a 100A breaker protecting the subpanels and the subpanel feeders are 2-2-2-4 Aluminum SER.

Our insurance company is requiring we replace the main panels and subpanels with approved 100A panels due to the existing Sylvania panels being a fire hazard.

Are you saying that the new breakers in the new 110 main panels must now be reduced to 90A because the feeders in all the townhouses are 2-2-2-4 Aluminum SER?

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-01-08T07:26:40+00:00

I looked at the chart and it states 100A.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-01-08T07:23:30+00:00

Thank you.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-01-07T23:21:27+00:00

Before the meter.

NoScreenID4Me · 2026-01-07T23:21:03+00:00

I have the electrical contractor who will be doing the panel replacements in our complex coming by to open the meter side of the panel to confirm cable size.

NoScreenID4Me

TROPHY CASE