bobby ocampo
Senior Member
Which do you think is better equipment grounding conductor, BARE or INSULATED? Why?
I think if you have a metallic raceway, it is more difficult to pull an bare conductor through the raceway than it would be to pull an insulated one.What are the advantages and disadvantages of bare or insulated equipment grounding conductor?
Isn't it a code violation to pull a bare Cu ECG through a metallic raceway?I think if you have a metallic raceway, it is more difficult to pull an bare conductor through the raceway than it would be to pull an insulated one.
Which do you think is better equipment grounding conductor, BARE or INSULATED? Why?
No-- not at all . Grounding electrode conductor thru metal conduit needs bonding but equipment grounding conductor is fineIsn't it a code violation to pull a bare Cu ECG through a metallic raceway?
I have worked on jobs where the specs required the EGC to be a bare conductor when installed in non-metallic underground raceways.Well, I was indifferent once, but when I got red tagged for running a bare ground in a underground run of PVC. It was explained to me there is a
greater chance of water damage to the conductor. I re-pulled the ground with insulation; And have been doing so ever since(30 years). It made since to me at the time and it just stuck. Having said that I realize that I have seen many EGC with no damage from the elements...so that is my story. :slaphead:
A correctly sized EGC along with a correctly sized and functioning OCPD, should limit the temperature rise on the EGC enough so that the circuit conductors are not damaged by the heat from the fault current on the EGC.Insulated. if there is a ground fault, and the EGC gets hot, the insulation will protect the ungrounded conductors. I read this in Soares.
Plus the insulated are easier to pull, less likely to be damaged as the smaller sizes bare wires tie them selfs in knots when you are not looking.
There are some applications that require an insulated EGC such as 517.13(B) and 680.23(B)(3) for a couple of examples but, there is not a blanket prohibition of bare EGC'sIsn't it a code violation to pull a bare Cu ECG through a metallic raceway?