Bare Solid vs Bare Stranded Ground Wire

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marmentor

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Can you offer some Pros and Cons regarding the use of Bare Solid and Bare Stranded Equipment Grounding conductors in PVC Underground conduit?
 
The use of a bare EGC in a nonmetallic pipe may result in better fault clearing in the event of an insulation fault on one of the ungrounded conductors.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
The use of a bare EGC in a nonmetallic pipe may result in better fault clearing in the event of an insulation fault on one of the ungrounded conductors.
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The OP's question is the differance between solid and stranded. Not the differance between insulated and bare.
 
That is not how I read the question. Solid wire larger than #10 is not permitted to be used in a raceway, so in general the EGC is of the same construction as the circuit conductors.
 
I don't even know why someone would want to use bare stranded to begin with, other than that's all that you have. And then again, why do you have that? I've never had nor bought, say, 12 AWG bare stranded.

And I don't recall seeing 8 AWG and larger in solid form. Although I'm sure I have.

As far as pros and cons, bare stranded just seems unecessarily messy, not that it won't work.

I am curious what the gauge is.
 
physis said:
I've never had nor bought, say, 12 AWG bare stranded.
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Have you ever bought bare #12 solid?

And I don't recall seeing 8 AWG and larger in solid form. Although I'm sure I have.
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We use bare #6 and #4 solid for EGC's all the time, and we've used bare tinned solid #2 for grounding at a cellular site.
 
ce2two

ce2two

service upgrade from 100 amp to 200 amp ,relocate panel ,#4 copper used bare ,from panel to uffer to cold water , #4 went thru the attic bare thru 3/4 " emt to c/w pipe .......hard to pull thru emt only 15' long run........
 
solid

solid

marmentor said:
Can you offer some Pros and Cons regarding the use of Bare Solid and Bare Stranded Equipment Grounding conductors in PVC Underground conduit?
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DO YOU HAVE A CODE BOOK, IF NOT BUY ONE . THIS IS A DUMB .
 
domnic said:
DO YOU HAVE A CODE BOOK, IF NOT BUY ONE . THIS IS A DUMB .
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That's a good point. is there a code we should be referencing here? I haven't seen one mentioned yet.
 
domnic said:
DO YOU HAVE A CODE BOOK, IF NOT BUY ONE . THIS IS A DUMB .
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I do have a Code Book. As a matter of fact I have 1999, 2002, 2005, and 2008 code books. Also have a Soares Book on Grounding and Bonding and Standard Handbook for Electrical Engineers.

I was just wanting to get some advice from the people who install electrical equipment every day such as Electricians, Electrical Contractors, etc. etc. Over 10 years of doing electrical design I have incorporated numerous suggestions and design changes from Electricians, Electrical Contractors, etc. in an attempt to develop better plans.
 
Larry, you kept mentioning "solid". I was interested in larger gauge "stranded". That's what seemed odd to me.
 
domnic said:
DO YOU HAVE A CODE BOOK, IF NOT BUY ONE . THIS IS A DUMB .
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only question to me that is dumb is the one you DON'T ask. Be surprised what you can learn keeping your ears open and your mouth shut :D
 
I have used from 4 to 4/0 bare stranded, I think 4/0 solid might be tough to work with. :wink:

The bare stranded has a lower strand count then insulated wire of the same size.
 
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