Brandon Loyd
Senior Member
Is it legal to use green gounding screw for other uses like panel deadfront cover or the like that need a 10-32 screw type?
Ground Screws
- Thread starter Brandon Loyd
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Massachusetts
Well, grounding screws are not 'listed' so 110.3(B) does not apply to the screws.
I am sure some will say that the panels cabinet and cover are listed so 110.3(B) would require the use of the factory screws.
In my opinion it is fine but who knows what an inspector might think.
chris kennedy
Senior Member
- Location
- Miami Fla.
- Occupation
- 60 yr old tool twisting electrician
Tell the inspector the cover is grounded.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I would not use a green ground screw just because it looks hideous and you may also need a washer to boot. Go to Home Depot and get a screw that will match the originals to some degree. But to answer your question- I would see no problem but I am not the inspector as Bob mentioned.
brian john
Senior Member
- Location
- Leesburg, VA
When we do IR?s we often need 100?s of 10/32?s in a week, nothing simpler and as readily available then a ground screw.
The hex head simplifies dead front removal the next go round.
The hex head simplifies dead front removal the next go round.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
What kind of panels is the OP referring to? All of our commercial panels use 1/4" truss head screws. I've also wondered if using a different screw would affect the listing.
Last edited:
- Location
- Massachusetts
Here is a factory cover screw for a Cutler-Hammer 3R panel I installed last year.
Not very impressive.
Not very impressive.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Interesting, around here they turn you down if you don't use a machine screw- no points allowed-- their own rule.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Here is a factory cover screw for a Cutler-Hammer 3R panel I installed last year.
Not very impressive.
I've seen the exact same screw type on a stainless steel 4X panel enclosure.
jaylectricity
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Occupation
- licensed journeyman electrician
There was a great thread/poll about what to use for panel covers. I think it was started by iwire, but I can not find it through his profile, nor the search tool, nor Google.
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Yes, if you provide another bonding path for the bonding of the cover.
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
I thought that as long as I met 250.8(A)(6), sheet metal screws did bond the cover.
(6) Thread-forming machine screws that engage not less
than two threads in the enclosure.
- Location
- Massachusetts
I am not convinced that 250.8 applies to a panel cover / cabinet attachment.
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
Then what does this section mean? It seems to say the proper screws can bond the cover.
250.102 Bonding Conductors and Jumpers.
(A) Material. Bonding jumpers shall be of copper or other
corrosion-resistant material. A bonding jumper shall be a
wire, bus, screw, or similar suitable conductor.
(B) Attachment. Bonding jumpers shall be attached in the
manner specified by the applicable provisions of 250.8
for circuits and equipment and by 250.70 for grounding
electrodes.
- Location
- Massachusetts
IMO there is no 'bonding jumper' at a panel cover / cabinet connection.
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
How is the cover bonded? What section covers this?
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
It clearly does not cover the cover...just agitating a bit. I don't think the NEC really covers the bonding of the cover. That should be in the product standars.
- Status