Treatment of spare conductor

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Natfuelbilll

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The contractor wants to use a 3/C with ground to feed a single phase step down transformer. What does CODE say about what to do with the unused spare conductor at each end? One end in a panelboard the other in disconnect switch.

Thanks TEAM!!
 
AFAIK code is silent on what to do with a spare conductor. All of the other requirements for conductors are in play, for example having insulation rated for the voltages in the enclosure, etc.

I'd be inclined to ground attach it to bonded metal at one end or the other so that there is no chance of 'stray voltage' induced on it...but capping it off is just fine.

Given that it isn't being used as a conductor, I wonder if it would be kosher to connect it to bonded metal at both ends, so that it serves to enhance the EGC.

-Jon
 
Natfuelbilll said:
The contractor wants to use a 3/C with ground to feed a single phase step down transformer. What does CODE say about what to do with the unused spare conductor at each end? One end in a panelboard the other in disconnect switch.
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Code doesn't say anything so you're free to just leave it there.
 
winnie said:
Given that it isn't being used as a conductor, I wonder if it would be kosher to connect it to bonded metal at both ends, so that it serves to enhance the EGC.
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Wouldn't it need to meet the parallel-conductor minimum size?
 
infinity said:
EGC's do not need to meet the minimum #1/0 rule for parallel conductors but if used as an EGC (connected on both ends) it would need to comply with the EGC rules regarding identification.
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But what if it isn't an EGC, but some random metal that happens to be an incidental fault current return path? Plumbing pipes, building members, decorative wall coverings, communications cable shields, etc. are all often in parallel with a required EGC but have no special identification requirements.

-Jon
 
winnie said:
AFAIK code is silent on what to do with a spare conductor. All of the other requirements for conductors are in play, for example having insulation rated for the voltages in the enclosure, etc.

I'd be inclined to ground attach it to bonded metal at one end or the other so that there is no chance of 'stray voltage' induced on it...but capping it off is just fine.

Given that it isn't being used as a conductor, I wonder if it would be kosher to connect it to bonded metal at both ends, so that it serves to enhance the EGC.

-Jon
Click to expand...
IMO connecting it to bonded metal makes it an EGC thus it would need to be green or bare.
 
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