Taping the bare conductor green on SER

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Flanative

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Labelle , Fl
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Electrical Contractor
Would like to get everyone's input on this. Im failing inspections because my guys arent taping the bare conductor green. Ive spoke to the manufacturer and they say its not needed.
 
Flanative said:
Would like to get everyone's input on this. Im failing inspections because my guys arent taping the bare conductor green. Ive spoke to the manufacturer and they say its not needed.
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I would ask whatever is failing the inspections on this what code section is being violated. Does SER cable even have a ground? I thought the bare wire was neutral.
 
SER has three insulated conductors and a bare ground. The inspector is wrong. Otherwise ask for the Article and section being violated.
 
Flanative said:
He is citing dissimilar metals in the panel. This is three wire plus a ground for an extended service.
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What do you mean by extended service. Is the ser going to a sub panel? If so does he expect you to tape the bar that the bare wire is connected to also? LOL This is almost as bad as an inspector wanting plastic water lines bonded.
 
Ask this clueless inspector about a copper wire bonded to a steel box.

Dennis, I think that inspector was on the project below. ;)

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Roger
 
Flanative said:
Would like to get everyone's input on this. Im failing inspections because my guys arent taping the bare conductor green. Ive spoke to the manufacturer and they say its not needed.
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If the conductor is an EGC it is permitted to be bare. Ask for a code reference (you won't get one). :rolleyes:

250.118 Types of Equipment Grounding Conductors. The equipment grounding conductor run with or enclosing the
circuit conductors shall be one or more or a combination of the following:
(1) A copper, aluminum, or copper-clad aluminum conductor. This conductor shall be solid or stranded; insulated,
covered, or bare; and in the form of a wire or a busbar of any shape.
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Dennis Alwon said:
What do you mean by extended service. Is the ser going to a sub panel? If so does he expect you to tape the bar that the bare wire is connected to also? LOL This is almost as bad as an inspector wanting plastic water lines bonded.
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it’s on a house where we have a meter main outside but no garage so the main panel is in the interior of the house so it’s extended away from the service
It’s driving me nuts that he wants me to tape it from the time it exits the jacketing all the way to the bus bar
 
Like others have said; Get code reference from inspector. You can say to him/her: Without out it, how are you supposed to know exactly what you are doing wrong and correct it, and to know how it may apply to other work you do. (He/she is not likely able to find any such reference to support this.)
 
Ive asked for a code reference every time. He just keeps saying no dissimilar metals. I know we dont have to do it but he just keeps failing the installs. Ive takin the appropriate steps to prove im right but i just wanted to get some input from everyone across the nation to see if yall have ran into this. Will let you know the outcome tomm after i get it resolved.
 
Flanative said:
Ive asked for a code reference every time. He just keeps saying no dissimilar metals. I know we dont have to do it but he just keeps failing the installs. Ive takin the appropriate steps to prove im right but i just wanted to get some input from everyone across the nation to see if yall have ran into this. Will let you know the outcome tomm after i get it resolved.
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There is nothing in the NEC that would require an aluminum EGC in a panel enclosure to be protected from contact with the dissimilar metal of the enclosure. You can even use aluminum fittings with steel raceways as long as there is no possibility of it being subject to severe corrosive influences.
 
infinity said:
There is nothing in the NEC that would require an aluminum EGC in a panel enclosure to be protected from contact with the dissimilar metal of the enclosure. You can even use aluminum fittings with steel raceways as long as there is no possibility of it being subject to severe corrosive influences.
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He is saying it could touch the bare copper equip grounding conductors in the panel and they are dissimilar. 🤦‍♂️
 
Flanative said:
He is saying it could touch the bare copper equip grounding conductors in the panel and they are dissimilar. 🤦‍♂️
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That's silly (G-rated comment). :rolleyes:

Bare aluminum and bare copper conductors touch all of the time in a panel because they terminate on the same bus bar. Unless they're in a serve corrosive environment if you come back in 50 years still nothing will have happened.
 
Flanative said:
He is saying it could touch the bare copper equip grounding conductors in the panel and they are dissimilar. 🤦‍♂️
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Tell him the "dissimilar metals" issue refers to intentional electrical connections, not incidental contact.

The concern is that copper-aluminum connections might lose conductivity, not accidentally improve it.
 
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