Ground Size In Europe

[fifty60]

Per the NEC we can size the equipment grounding conductor smaller than the main service conductors. I am reading in a European standard that the terminal for the Equipment Grounding Conductor (called the Protective Conductor Terminal) has to be sized the same as the main input power terminals. Anyone familiar with this requirement? My guess would be that it would allow the customer to run the same size conductor to the equipment grounding conductor that they run to the main power terminals. Is this common practice in Europe?

The actual standard (IEC-61010) is also the same standard that UL uses to list/recognize the same type of equipment. UL inspectors have used the standard to test equipment and never brought any attention to this clause, nor required that the terminals be sized the same.

 

[mbrooke]

Per the NEC we can size the equipment grounding conductor smaller than the main service conductors. I am reading in a European standard that the terminal for the Equipment Grounding Conductor (called the Protective Conductor Terminal) has to be sized the same as the main input power terminals. Anyone familiar with this requirement? My guess would be that it would allow the customer to run the same size conductor to the equipment grounding conductor that they run to the main power terminals. Is this common practice in Europe?

The actual standard (IEC-61010) is also the same standard that UL uses to list/recognize the same type of equipment. UL inspectors have used the standard to test equipment and never brought any attention to this clause, nor required that the terminals be sized the same.

My guess it would be local requirement. Im guessing you are referring to the main power service conductors at the dwelling. I have seen installs in pictures (not in person though) where the main PE is smaller as well as the wire to the ground rod (s). I do know for a fact that in Canada and most of Europe the branch egc is allowed to be smaller then hot or neutral conductors. In Canada a #14 romex will have a #14 egc, but a 12-2 will have a #14 egc, 10-2 a #12 egc, 8-2 a #10, 6-2 a # 8 (I know ours goes to a #10 on that one) and so forth. Similar goes for Europe's twin and earth cable even the low amper branch circuits.