Connector for grounding electrode required?

Status
Not open for further replies.
L

Leespark57

Senior Member
Location
Boston, MA, USA
What is the requirement for using a connector such as this:
http://www.aifittings.com/catalog/g...ation-for-grounding-electrode-conductors/GC50

It would make sense to use such a connector if you are a running bare GEC to a service enclosure to eliminate inductive choke, but what if the conductor is insulated? Would running the conductor through a standard romex connector (metal or plastic), without stripping insulation be acceptable? I have heard different opinions on this.

Thanks in advance
 
Insulated or not would not change the potential for inductive choking if running through a ferrous metal raceway. Either the GEC gets bonded to raceway on BOTH sides or run non ferrous metal such as aluminum.

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
 
Many panels have small 3/8" KO's in the bottom to run the GEC through, no connector is required. I believe that technically a NM squeeze connector is not listed for single conductors even if it were no stripping is required when the GEC is insulated.
 
infinity said:
Many panels have small 3/8" KO's in the bottom to run the GEC through, no connector is required. I believe that technically a NM squeeze connector is not listed for single conductors even if it were no stripping is required when the GEC is insulated.
Click to expand...

does it say anywhere in the code that such a connector has to be listed?
 
kwired said:
Does code require such a connector? Seems like a product with no real need, so far.
Click to expand...

No, that would be my argument for using a squeeze connector even if it's not listed or tested for use with a single conductor.
 
infinity said:
Many panels have small 3/8" KO's in the bottom to run the GEC through, no connector is required. I believe that technically a NM squeeze connector is not listed for single conductors even if it were no stripping is required when the GEC is insulated.
Click to expand...
Just wanted to add that the gec wire is supposed to be properly supported or secured prior to entering that 3\8 hole. IMHO, if you choose to enter the cabinet through a std. KO then you should be using a fitting like the one shown or a "Kenny clamp".
 
goldstar said:
Just wanted to add that the gec wire is supposed to be properly supported or secured prior to entering that 3\8 hole. IMHO, if you choose to enter the cabinet through a std. KO then you should be using a fitting like the one shown or a "Kenny clamp".
Click to expand...
Anything that reasonably closes the hole should be acceptable. Anything that does clamp onto the conductor is providing some securing/support.

The item in OP says it is made of zinc - so should not need to bond to it for the purpose of reducing inductive effects.
 
kwired said:
Anything that reasonably closes the hole should be acceptable. Anything that does clamp onto the conductor is providing some securing/support.
Click to expand...
While I agree with your assumption I want to point out that there's a big difference in Code language between "should" and "shall". In all of our professional opinions a squeeze connector "should" be acceptable to secure a GEC to a panel. Years ago I used to strip the insulation where the RX connector clamp squeezed down on the wire until I was informed it was not listed for that use. "Listed for use" is the long and short of it. In a weird kind of way, if you think about this logically, if ALL other cables entering a cabinet require a connector why shouldn't a GEC require one?
 
goldstar said:
While I agree with your assumption I want to point out that there's a big difference in Code language between "should" and "shall". In all of our professional opinions a squeeze connector "should" be acceptable to secure a GEC to a panel. Years ago I used to strip the insulation where the RX connector clamp squeezed down on the wire until I was informed it was not listed for that use. "Listed for use" is the long and short of it. In a weird kind of way, if you think about this logically, if ALL other cables entering a cabinet require a connector why shouldn't a GEC require one?
Click to expand...

Have you ever failed for this?
 
infinity said:
Have you ever failed for this?
Click to expand...
I don't remember ever failing but during several CEU courses it was pointed out that the 3\8" hole should be used and that an RX connector was not listed for use as I was using it. So, I stopped using that method. Besides, using a KO for the GEC may take up a desperately needed KO space if you have a lot of branch circuits.
 
goldstar said:
I don't remember ever failing but during several CEU courses it was pointed out that the 3\8" hole should be used and that an RX connector was not listed for use as I was using it. So, I stopped using that method. Besides, using a KO for the GEC may take up a desperately needed KO space if you have a lot of branch circuits.
Click to expand...
Where is it required to be listed for that use though? I would see a problem if you ran the GEC through a metal raceway, then put a coupling and the NM connector on the end and tried to claim that was how you were bonding the end of the raceway to the conductor - it is not listed for grounding/bonding and needs to be, but does it need to be listed just for purpose of entering the enclosure, outside of situations where it may need to be water tight or something like that?
 
kwired said:
Where is it required to be listed for that use though?
Click to expand...
it is not listed for grounding/bonding and needs to be, but does it need to be listed just for purpose of entering the enclosure, outside of situations where it may need to be water tight or something like that?
Click to expand...
Not sure. Just going by what was taught in a CEU course and what has been discussed here in the past.

PS: I won't be responding for a while - I'll be on the beach soaking up the Rey's :cool:
 
goldstar said:
Not sure. Just going by what was taught in a CEU course and what has been discussed here in the past.

PS: I won't be responding for a while - I'll be on the beach soaking up the Rey's :cool:
Click to expand...

"Not listed for that use" is one of my pet peeves at times. Is a situational thing quite often. Sometimes you must use something per listing, but other times the item in question isn't required to be listed in the first place, even though there may be something available that has been listed for the purpose.

One example of a instance I once had - plastic staples designed and listed for NM cable ,the ones with longer "legs" for use with two or three NM cables to be stacked under them, being rejected for securing MC cable because they are not listed for that purpose. But I can use non listed all metal staples and inspector was fine with that, even though they are easier to "overdrive" and ultimately smash the cable:slaphead: I couldn't find anywhere where it said such supports needed to be listed, and just because I did use something that was listed for another purpose......:slaphead::slaphead:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top