Identification of GEC

[sparkmantoo]

i have a question. How do you identify the grounding electrode conductor in the service equipment, or transformer and where does it say that? I have looked in Art. 250 and came up empty, but i will keep diggin. Any thoughts out there?

 

[jro]

Re: Identification of GEC

With green tape. GO COWBOYS BUFFALO THE BILLS!

 

[iwire]

Re: Identification of GEC

I do not believe you have to mark it.

 

[jro]

Re: Identification of GEC

Iwire I could not find anything either, but if phaseing out the hot and nuetral conductors is done, would not it make sense to mark the ground also, a ground under a wrong lug can be trouble .

 

[websparky]

Re: Identification of GEC

Bob is right. The closest description is here;

250.62.....The conductor shall be solid or stranded, insulated, covered, or bare.

 

[iwire]

Re: Identification of GEC

I do not see a need to mark it on the end at the electrode, and I have only seen it done a few times usually when a GEC terminates onto building steel.

But I do not believe there is any NEC requirement to do so.

It may even be wrong as it is not an EGC.

 

[sparkmantoo]

Re: Identification of GEC

Hmmm. interesting replies. i usually don't mark it at the electrode but i always mark it in the panel or transformer. imagine the chaos it would create if you landed the wire under the wrong lug. I wonder if one of the moderators can answer that question. any moderators care to answer this one??

 

[websparky]

Re: Identification of GEC

sparkmantoo,

No moderator needed, just read 250.

This subject has been discussed here many-a-times. Do a search here and I'm sure you will come up with a tread!

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: Identification of GEC

In my opinion the GEC can be any color but white. There is no code rule that requires the GEC to be identified. The current code does not prohibit the use of green to identify the GEC. An accepted proposal(5-220) for the '05 code would prohibit the use of green on the GEC.
Don

 

[gwz2]

Re: Identification of GEC

I don't remember exactly when, but about 4 code cycles ago, I proposed the GEC be marked green if covered or insulated.

It was not accepted.

 

[jro]

Re: Identification of GEC

Don what would be the reason for prohibiting the use of green for the ID of the GEC.

 

[dereckbc]

Re: Identification of GEC

Originally posted by jro:
Don what would be the reason for prohibiting the use of green for the ID of the GEC.

I cannot speak for Don. But IMO, green, represents a AC equipment grounding conductor. I firmly believe a color code should be adopted going forward to identify major components of the electrical system.

 

[tom baker]

Re: Identification of GEC

There is no color code requirement for the GEC, we often use green. There are some colors it can't be, white or gray. Probably shouldn't be orange.

 

[charlie]

Re: Identification of GEC

any moderators care to answer this one??

There is nothing special about a moderator except it is a person who has some special area of expertise and has agreed to help keep the posts sort of on subject and keep the language and tone nice (at least reasonably so).

I tend to add an electric utility viewpoint to some of the discussions and I have a bit of Code knowledge. I generally try to stay out of discussions unless something really interests me or someone is not getting any response.

 

[earlydean]

Re: Identification of GEC

Don,
What section of the code is ROP 5-220 found in?

 

[websparky]

Re: Identification of GEC

Earl,

Don is referring to the 2005 Draft copy.

 

[earlydean]

Re: Identification of GEC

websparky,
I have downloaded the 2005 draft. I tried to locate the 5-220 proposed change, but I could not find it in article 250. I was inquiring what article number it changed, so I could read it.

 

[gwz2]

Re: Identification of GEC

ROP ( Report On Proposals ) , in this case for the 2002 to the 2005 NEC.
5-220,
5 refers to CMP ( Code Making Panel ) and 220 refers to the 220th proposal to that CMP.

Go to the web site NFPA.org maybe it is .com and download the 2005 proposals, looking for CMP 5.

gwz2

 

[websparky]

Re: Identification of GEC

Hi Earl,

Here ya go!

250.119 Identification of Equipment Grounding Conductors. Unless required elsewhere in this Code, equipment grounding conductors shall be permitted to be bare, covered, or insulated. Individually covered or insulated equipment grounding conductors shall have a continuous outer finish that is either green or green with one or more yellow stripes except as permitted in this section. Conductors with insulation that is green, green with one or more yellow stripes, or identified as permitted by this section shall be used only as an equipment grounding conductor. [ROP 5?1, 5?220]


250.24(D) Grounding Electrode Conductor. A grounding electrode conductor shall be used to connect the equipment grounding conductors, the service-equipment enclosures, and, where the system is grounded, the grounded service conductor to the grounding electrode(s) required by Part III of this article. [ROP 5?1]