Nec 310.3 C Conductors in a raceway 8AWG +

[CoolWill]

Aren't the rotors in electro-mechanical watt-hour meters made of aluminum?

Yes, but they operate on a different principle. The steel core of a motor is to get a maximum B field from the applied H field. But the rotor of a watt-hour meter moves due to Eddy currents induced in it by the consumer's usage. It needs to be both lightweight and conductive, but not magnetic. The forces of attraction/repulsion in a ferrous material would probably swamp the effect you want in the meter. Aluminum is the best choice.

 

[infinity]

I am familiar with this table but this table is for max conductor fill per conduit diameter / size.

Yes it for raceway fill which is my point. It tells you in the notes that a sleeve is not a raceway system so the rule for raceways limiting solid conductors to #10 or smaller does not apply to sleeves. A sleeve is not a complete conduit system.

 

[Jpflex]

Yes it for raceway fill which is my point. It tells you in the notes that a sleeve is not a raceway system so the rule for raceways limiting solid conductors to #10 or smaller does not apply to sleeves. A sleeve is not a complete conduit system.

Ok i will look up the exact wording in the foot note for this table. I dont believe nec has a specific length before they no longer consider a piece of conduit a sleeve. I will check either way. Thanks

 

[kwired]

Ok i will look up the exact wording in the foot note for this table. I dont believe nec has a specific length before they no longer consider a piece of conduit a sleeve. I will check either way. Thanks

300.12 says raceways must be continuous between cabinets, boxes, conduit bodies, fittings or other enclosures or outlets.

A section of raceway that ends to open air is a sleeve for protection and not a raceway, which is covered in the exceptions that follow 300.12.

Then as I brought up earlier, does a GEC even apply to the rules of 310, and I guess you could ask similar about this as a GEC typically never runs from enclosure to enclosure. Some bonding jumpers might do that though.

 

[jaggedben]

According to 310.3 C,

conductors 8 AWG or larger that are in a raceway, must be stranded


According to 250.64 B 2
A 6 Awg or larger grounding electrode conductor exposed to physical damage musy be protected in (conduit) RMC, IMC, SCH 80 PVC...etc

Likewise, 250.64 B 3
All grounding electrode conductors smaller than 6 AWG must be inztalled in (conduit), RMC, IMC, SCH 80 PBC, etc

However, rarely do i see grounding electrode conductors that are both 8 AWG or larger and installed in raceway to be stranded, yet they pass inspection.

Is this a code that is standard to be overlooked?

You are saying that you don't typically see GECs larger than 8awg installed in raceways? If so that's probably because most people think they are not subject to physical damage until an AHJ comes along and tells them it is.

Or you are saying that you see solid 6awg and larger GECs install in raceways all the time? In find that surprising since it sounds like a huge PITA to me, but I agree with others that I don't think a GEC has to follow the rule in 310.3(C).

 

[jaggedben]

The conduit for the GEC is just a sleeve and not a complete raceway. You are not pulling major lengths of large, solid, bare conductors through bends, just sleeving it for protection. Then it's usually just a straight piece from the ground up to the landing point.

That is incorrect. See 250.64(E), especially subsection (4).
Plus I have seen many, many GECs installed in complete raceways with lots of bends.

 

[letgomywago]

If there is a short section of raceway being used as a sleeve the #8 and larger solid GEC is permitted. If there is a complete section of raceway like in commercial building then the GEC is required to be stranded.

If I remember correctly a pool light does allow a #8 solid to be installed in a raceway.

Pools let you do a solid insulated #8

 

[Jpflex]

You are saying that you don't typically see GECs larger than 8awg installed in raceways? If so that's probably because most people think they are not subject to physical damage until an AHJ comes along and tells them it is.

Or you are saying that you see solid 6awg and larger GECs install in raceways all the time? In find that surprising since it sounds like a huge PITA to me, but I agree with others that I don't think a GEC has to follow the rule in 310.3(C).

i mostly see GEC solid despite the AWG size and being in conduit

 

[jaggedben]

i mostly see GEC solid despite the AWG size and being in conduit

Ok that surprises me. Around here it's usually one or the other.