Adding a ground wire beside a 3 wire SEU cable?

[Stevenfyeager]

A Home inspection revealed a 3 wire SEU cable (Cu)with a bare #6 solid wire (Cu) ran separately between an outside disconnect and inside house sub panel. Sub panels require 4 wire cable. The solid grd wire is not even run along side the SEU. This does not meet code even if it was done 40 years ago, correct?

 

[petersonra]

It might have been if the cable was grounded at the subpanel. There is no prohibition on running extra EGCs.

 

[infinity]

Whether the separate EGC is code compliant or not it is irrelevant because the neutral to the sub-panel cannot be bare.

 

[augie47]

Definitely a violation under todays Code and likely was at the time of installation but considering the age it might have been an accepted practice locally at one time. Interior runs of SEU (3 wire) with no outside disconnect were commonplace in this area at one time.

 

[petersonra]

maybe the outside disconnect was added after the inside panel was wired up?

 

[augie47]

maybe the outside disconnect was added after the inside panel was wired up?

That would be my guess and possibly the added conductor was acceptable by the AHJ at some point.