Any Idea Why TC Integral Grounds Seem Undersized?

That Man

Senior Member
Location
California, United States
Occupation
Electrical Designer
Running 350KCMIL TC, and the NEC states that the ground wire for for a 350 should be 1/0AWG, but the Houston 154 TC spec lists an integral ground wire sized at 3AWG. This makes it seem like I have to run an extra ground conductor, which luckily is 1/0 and so it also TC rated. But if I needed to run say, a 250KCMIL, I'd still have to run a 1/0 ground. What's the point of the integral ground if it's too small? What am I missing?
 
Running 350KCMIL TC, and the NEC states that the ground wire for for a 350 should be 1/0AWG,
How do you determine that you need 1/0 AWG ?

If I look at the 90C rating of a 350 KCMIL Cu conductor, table 310.16 gives 350A.

If I have a circuit protected by a 350A OCPD, table 250.122 requires a 3 AWG EGC.

But I can see a different set of assumptions or different conditions leading to a larger EGC requirement.
 
and the NEC states that the ground wire for for a 350 should be 1/0AWG,
Where does it say that? Are you looking at the requirements for a grounding electrode conductor or an equipment grounding conductor?
The product standard for TC requires a 3AWG for tray cable with ungrounded conductors 300 through 400kcmil (copper)
 
Where does it say that? Are you looking at the requirements for a grounding electrode conductor or an equipment grounding conductor?
The product standard for TC requires a 3AWG for tray cable with ungrounded conductors 300 through 400kcmil (copper)
It says it on the chart! ...the wrong chart (250.102(C)(1)).

Thank you. I figured I was doing something wrong. What a relief.
 
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