pigtailing multiple EGC's in a panelboard

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electrofelon

electrofelon

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Location
Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
wirenutting several EGC's to a single which then goes to the ground (or neutral if service) bar. Is this compliant? I always thought it was, but looking at 250.122(C) seems to only mention raceway, cable, or cable tray. No cabinets. IS there another section I am not aware of?
 
Well, the way 250.122 (C) is written it neither prohibits or allows doing the same thing elsewhere. It simply doesn't apply to panelboards. Unless you want argue that a panelboard is a raceway. Which it arguably could be.

A point in favor of compliance is that 312.8 allows for splices in panelboards up to reasonable limits. Also see 250.148. I guess the required size of the pigtail might be a little hard to pin down if one wanted to be particular about it.
 
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I have done it, mainly as part of residential panel upgrades. As long as the wire is at least as large as required for the largest connected circuit, you're golden.
 
LarryFine said:
I have done it, mainly as part of residential panel upgrades. As long as the wire is at least as large as required for the largest connected circuit, you're golden.
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I frequently do it too. Its hard to come up with what to cite for a violation. I cant really find anything, other than the logical progression that 250.122(C) exists therefor implying I must have permission to use a single EGC for multiple circuits, and then a cabinet or box is not listed.
 
electrofelon said:
I frequently do it too. Its hard to come up with what to cite for a violation. I cant really find anything, other than the logical progression that 250.122(C) exists therefor implying I must have permission to use a single EGC for multiple circuits, and then a cabinet or box is not listed.
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Legal. You cannot find a section because no section exists.:)
 
jaggedben said:
Well, the way 250.122 (C) is written it neither prohibits or allows doing the same thing elsewhere. It simply doesn't apply to panelboards. Unless you want argue that a panelboard is a raceway. Which it arguably could be.

A point in favor of compliance is that 312.8 allows for splices in panelboards up to reasonable limits. Also see 250.148. I guess the required size of the pigtail might be a little hard to pin down if one wanted to be particular about it.
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I am gonna tell you right now:

There is absolutely no way on earth that a panelboard could be considered a raceway.......

The enclosure/cabinet perhaps.......:D
 
electrofelon said:
then they should delete 250.122(C) since it serves no purpose yes?
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No, I do not think so.

Tying the grounds together in the panel is rare. Easier to just land them usually.

Only reason I have done it is for making room in a crowded panel.

The section is just a clarification that favors the installer really.

Can you imagine if we had to prove it was okay to a single ground for multiple circuits to an inspector using theory?
 
LarryFine said:
As long as the wire is at least as large as required for the largest connected circuit, you're golden.
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I agree, I have done it on some old panels where the neutral/EGC bus didn't have enough terminal holes for all of the conductors.
 
As long as the splicing connector is listed for the combination of wires spliced-compliant.
 
EGC under one lug

EGC under one lug

I often see in older panels all of the EGCs terminated under one large lug. What is the history or acceptance of this practice?
 
Greg1707 said:
I often see in older panels all of the EGCs terminated under one large lug. What is the history or acceptance of this practice?
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Not legal now, wasn’t legal then. Not listed for all those small conductors.

Some ground buses are listed for two EGC wires, but is about as good as it gets. Some weird terminals may accept three.
 
Greg1707 said:
I often see in older panels all of the EGCs terminated under one large lug. What is the history or acceptance of this practice?
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Not legal but likely not a hazard either if they're twisted neatly and terminated in a proper sized lug.
 
I use a lot of troffs above panels , make a nice 20 pos G bar w/ lug in them, elevate it above the troff 'lip ' with 1/4-20 hardware. I'll use 2 or 3 2" nipples troff to panel....There's only one (usually #4 bare cu ) running into my panels

It's a 1/3 less messy

~RJ~
 
jumper said:
I am gonna tell you right now:

There is absolutely no way on earth that a panelboard could be considered a raceway.......

The enclosure/cabinet perhaps.......:D
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Touche. You almost had me arguing with you there.

jumper said:
You saying I cannot just split bolt 42 EGCs together and run only one to the ground bus?:D

Yeah, prolly ain’t gonna work...
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Be honest. You don't want to do that with a ground bus. You want to do it with a lay-in lug because you forgot to pick up a ground bar that morning. Or maybe you want to use just a green screw.
 
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