Enquireing minds want to know

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Cavie

Cavie

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SW Florida
Why can't sealtight be used to protect a solid #4 GEC, but right next to it, we use it for outdoor eqiuipment hookups with voltage on the wires?

Why do we install UFER Ground clamps to be accessible but insist that ground rods and clamps be buried?
 
OK i stand corrected.I was taught to use #4 so i would not need emt over it.Way i see it there is no subject to damage if i run it down the wall and under dirt to the ground rod. I still must ask why sealtite could not protect it.
 
The largest solid wire in conduit is 10. If its a GEC and metallic conduit then it has to be bonded at each end. I always use stranded.
 
Cavie said:
Why can't sealtight be used to protect a solid #4 GEC, but right next to it, we use it for outdoor eqiuipment hookups with voltage on the wires?
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I don't know. I would say, perhaps it's the nature of current flow through a bare conductor inside a helically constructed raceway. But cable armor is an option, so I guess that's not it?

Why do we install UFER Ground clamps to be accessible but insist that ground rods and clamps be buried?
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What's this "we" stuff? You got a frog in your pocket? :)

Ufer clamps can be encased, so long as they're listed for the application, same as a ground rod, et al. 250.68(A), exception 1.

Ironically, around here they're all pretty much accessible. The rebar sticks up through the concrete. We drive ground rods until there's an inch exposed to clamp to - sacrificing the effectiveness of that angry inch for the sake of proving there's a rod there to begin with. :D

I love this place. Ask a question and get a question. Can't anybody just answer a question with an Answer?
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What fun would that be?

I would just come along and question the answers, and we'd be back in the same boat again. Wait - what was the question?
 
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Around here, when the AHJ wants additional protection of the #6 or #4 solid GEC, we protect it with a piece of Wiremold 500 with the back side removed to prevent the 'choke' effect. This is not a wiring method but rather a simple form of mechanical protection that we happen to have on the trucks and it makes the AHJ happy.

Bob on the left coast.
 
So, . . . what IS wrong with using flex? You do the bonding at each end like 250.64 (E) says and you shuld be good to go.

Personally, I'm all for additional "protection" for the GEC running down the exterior wall what with weed wackers, etc. Granted IMC, etc. may be stronger but sometimes the amount of bends you have to have is to much of a PIA so flex makes sense.
 
Here our inspections require us to have an encased connection.I use #4 so the issue of protection from damage never comes into play.The cost between #4 an #6 is so slight we keep #4 only.But I do agree with Jim if we can feed an a/c unit with carflex then why not a piece of #6 bare ?????
 
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