Grounding conductor question

[LarryFine]

Now how does that little strip really get the job done?
I really do not know the answer to that.

Yes you do:

The strip which the NEC requires to be in contact with the armor essentially shorts each wrap to the next reducing the impedance.

You were more accurate than you realized. The strip does not itself carry fault current, per se. It works despite its light gauge because it only has to carry enough current between adjacent wraps of the sheath, maybe 1/2" or so, to effectively 'short out' each turn, and not full fault current.


Remember the story about the two guys hiking in the forest and encountering a rather large bear?

While sweating (and perhaps making other moisture) as the bear reared up and growled menacingly, one slowly bent down, removed his hiking boots, and put on the sneakers from his backpack.

The other guy says "What are you doing?! You think those shoes will help you outrun that bear?!"

The first guy says "I don't have to outrun the bear; I only have to outrun you."