sizing grounding conductor

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Question?

150 amp residental service requires a # 6 cu grounding
conductor. can the inspector require a larger size without showing me any local specifications or requirments.
 

chris kennedy

Senior Member
Location
Miami Fla.
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60 yr old tool twisting electrician
If the ungrounded conductors were for any reason increased in size, then yes as per 250.122(B).
 

Dennis Alwon

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Chapel Hill, NC
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Retired Electrical Contractor
If the ungrounded conductors were for any reason increased in size, then yes as per 250.122(B).
If the op is talking about a service then I believe he may be referring to 250.66. T. 250.66 is based on service conductor size not breaker size. Are we talking egc or gec
 

infinity

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New Jersey
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So if it's a service then the GEC is dependent upon the size of the service entrance condcutors. Run #4/0 Al for a 150 amp service and you may need a #4 Cu GEC depending on the electrode type. Also if the #6 might not be adequate if it falls under this:

250.64 Grounding Electrode Conductor Installation.
(B) Securing and Protection Against Physical Damage. Where exposed, a grounding electrode conductor or its enclosure shall be securely fastened to the surface on which it is carried. A 4 AWG or larger copper or aluminum grounding electrode conductor shall be protected where exposed to physical damage. A 6 AWG grounding electrode conductor that is free from exposure to physical damage shall be permitted to be run along the surface of the building construction without metal covering or protection where it is securely fastened to the construction; otherwise, it shall be in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, rigid nonmetallic conduit, electrical metallic tubing, or cable armor. Grounding electrode conductors smaller than 6 AWG shall be in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, rigid nonmetallic conduit, electrical metallic tubing, or cable armor.
 

Dennis Alwon

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Chapel Hill, NC
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Retired Electrical Contractor
thank's for the replys.

the breaker is 150 amps and the ungrounded conductors are 2/0 al.
If you are talking about the service then you are talking about the gec- the wire to a ground rod or water pipe. A #6 is good enough but as trevor pointed out you may need to protect it. #4 would not need protection
 

tom baker

First Chief Moderator
Staff member
Question?

150 amp residental service requires a # 6 cu grounding
conductor. can the inspector require a larger size without showing me any local specifications or requirments.

The 2011 NEC did away with the term grounding conductor as no one knew what it was.
For your use, what color is it and where does it go?
 
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