NEC conductor terms??

[mdpeck]

The NEC utilizes the terms grounded conductor, grounding conductor, grounding electrode and ungrounded conductor.

In layman's terms I have always understood the grounded conductor to be the neutral conductor, the grounding conductor to be the equipment grounding conductor, the grounding electrode to be the conductor utilized to bond to building steel, ground rods, etc., and the ungrounded conductor to be the hot conductors.

Please confirm

 

[iwire]

Re: NEC conductor terms??

Yeah you got it.

You can look in article 100 of the NEC for the definitions of each of these.

Like this for the GEC

Grounding Electrode Conductor. The conductor used to connect the grounding electrode(s) to the equipment grounding conductor, to the grounded conductor, or to both, at the service, at each building or structure where supplied from a common service, or at the source of a separately derived system.

 

[charlie b]

Re: NEC conductor terms??

Originally posted by mdpeck: In layman's terms

There is a time for laymen?s terms, and a time for precise use of the NEC-defined terms. It is well for us all to know when to use which language. But to address each of your terms:

</font>

• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Grounded conductor = neutral conductor</font>

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">True.

</font>

• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Grounding conductor = equipment grounding conductor</font>

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">True. But please note that the ?laymen?s term? has only two words, and the two similar NEC-defined terms each have three words. Take care not to confuse the EGC with the GEC, which is the next term.

</font>

• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Grounding electrode = conductor utilized to bond to building steel, ground rods, etc.,</font>

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">True, presuming that you intended to say ?grounding electrode conductor,? not just ?grounding electrode.?

</font>

• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ungrounded conductor = hot conductors.</font>

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">True.

 

[bphgravity]

Re: NEC conductor terms??

A grounded conductor isn't always a neutral conductor, but a neutral conductor is always a grounded conductor.