Copper clad steel

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Smith5584

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Residential inspector
An electric company has been switching from #4 bare copper grounding electrode conductors to #4 copper clad steel on single family homes. I cannot find anything in NEC 250 allowing this.
Would love to know what y’all think.
 
“An electric company”..
What does that mean? A utility or an EC company?
If it’s a utility why is the utility installing the GEC?
It’s not allowed in the NEC.
We use it all the time under the NESC.
 
I am not familiar with what the NESC says about copper clad steel however I’m guessing that the NEC won’t approve this due to a life span of 40-50
 
Smith5584 said:
I am not familiar with what the NESC says about copper clad steel however I’m guessing that the NEC won’t approve this due to a life span of 40-50
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Copper clad steel isn’t mentioned and therefore not allowed in the NEC IMO

GEC Materials, NEC 250-62: Copper, aluminum or copper-clad aluminum.
 
petersonra said:
Unless it is listed maybe?
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250.62Grounding Electrode Conductor Material. The grounding electrode conductor shall be of copper, aluminum, copper-clad aluminum, or the items as permitted in 250.68(C). The material selected shall be resistant to any corrosive condi‐ tion existing at the installation or shall be protected against corrosion. Conductors of the wire type shall be solid or stran‐ ded, insulated, covered, or bare.
 
Curious. I had to look up copper clad steel wire to see what it even is. Apparently One of its primary uses is in grounding systems.

Maybe the utility has started using it so the electrical contractor figured if it was good enough for the utility is good enough for him.
 
petersonra said:
Curious. I had to look up copper clad steel wire to see what it even is. Apparently One of its primary uses is in grounding systems.

Maybe the utility has started using it so the electrical contractor figured if it was good enough for the utility is good enough for him.
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We started using it to stop (or lessen) copper theft.
Train the crooks..
Especially in substations. It’s only used above ground.
During our monthly inspections we have to note any corrosion, rust, etc.
 
petersonra said:
Curious. I had to look up copper clad steel wire to see what it even is. Apparently One of its primary uses is in grounding systems.

Maybe the utility has started using it so the electrical contractor figured if it was good enough for the utility is good enough for him.
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Maybe figures inspector won't notice any difference and he cuts costs with it.

simple to check with a magnet to tell if it has steel in it though.
 
kwired said:
Maybe figures inspector won't notice any difference and he cuts costs with it.

simple to check with a magnet to tell if it has steel in it though.
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not sure what the point is. #6 copper can't be all that much more expensive than this stuff.

I poked around the Internet and found it is also used as a tracer wire so underground utility installations can be tracked down.
 
petersonra said:
not sure what the point is. #6 copper can't be all that much more expensive than this stuff.

I poked around the Internet and found it is also used as a tracer wire so underground utility installations can be tracked down.
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Most tracer wire I've seen is only like 12 AWG size or something close to it and is usually covered and not bare.
 
#6 copper clad steel is definitely is not electrically equivalent to #6 copper. Even if it was acceptable to use per the NEC I'm guessing you would need to use a much larger conductor.
 
curt swartz said:
So the sizing specified by the NEC for copper, aluminum and copper-clad aluminum can be ignored?
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The code does not specify a size for copper clad.

Think of it this way. If it is connected to a rod the rod might we'll be made of steel. Logically, Why can the rod be steel but not the conductor?
 
petersonra said:
The code does not specify a size for copper clad.

Think of it this way. If it is connected to a rod the rod might we'll be made of steel. Logically, Why can the rod be steel but not the conductor?
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Look at Table 250.66. It states sizes for copper-clad aluminum. Aluminum is a better conductor that steel so who know what the equivalent size of copper-clad steel would be.

For a ground rod it probably doesn't matter much but as I mentioned it could make a difference on a water pipe bond.
 
petersonra said:
The code does not specify a size for copper clad.

Think of it this way. If it is connected to a rod the rod might we'll be made of steel. Logically, Why can the rod be steel but not the conductor?
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The rods are supposed to have at least 10 mils of cladding on a 5/8 rod which is SUPPOSED to be equal to a #6 copper rod.
Haven’t put a lot of thought into the whole cu clad steel wire…
 
The manufacturer of this wire is making the argument that since 40% of the cu clad steel wire is copper, it is equivalent to same size full copper. This doesn’t address the corrosion issue with exposed steel ends, not to mention the fact that it is not approved in the NEC table and no apparent UL listing.
 
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