Wrapping the ground screw in a light or J-box 250.148 (B)

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Thomas3474

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I am in South Carolina and I was told the inspector requires that:

1. A grounding conductor cannot be wrapped around the ground screw then tapped to the other grounding conductors. (this eliminates the need for a pigtail)

Is this true and where can I find this in the NEC?

2. I was also told that when wrapping the ground screw the wire cannot overlap itself because it will somehow keep the device or enclosure from being grounded properly.

Is this true and if so can someone explain it and give a NEC reference?
 
#1. Not true unless you leave less than 6" of free conductor from where the EGC emerges from the cable. This is usually the case with this method - the installer goes right to the ground screw and then to the device, leaving less than 6" of free conductor to the termination.

#2. Not in the NEC, but this is common sense. Obviously a bad connection can result from overlapping the ground wire.
 
So, if after entering the light or j-box I skin part of the ground wire then connect it to the ground screw before tapping the other wires it's ok?
 
georgestolz said:
I agree, I'd like to hear from the inspector what code is referenced for the citation, if the rules mentioned above are followed.
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Howdy George,

I agree, there is none that I know of either. Wire terminal wraps show up in manufacturer recommended methods all the time.(i.e. 237degwrap) I have never seen one that recommends window stripping as suggested by one of the posts.

Ben
 
i looked at the handbook to the 2005 nec and this is what i found. on page 41 it shows how to wrap a screw. on page 326 it shows an egc not needing 6 inches of free conductor outside the nm sheath. exhibit 314.3.
 
peter d said:
#1. Not true unless you leave less than 6" of free conductor from where the EGC emerges from the cable. This is usually the case with this method - the installer goes right to the ground screw and then to the device, leaving less than 6" of free conductor to the termination.

#2. Not in the NEC, but this is common sense. Obviously a bad connection can result from overlapping the ground wire.
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My guess is that the inspector in question saw too much of #2 and lack of the 6" rule and decided to freelance as a result.

To avoid this, I always give myself 12" of ground when stripping the NM. Any excess can then be trimmed once wrapped around the screw. Faster than pigtailing for sure.
 
dab said:
i looked at the handbook to the 2005 nec and this is what i found. on page 41 it shows how to wrap a screw. on page 326 it shows an egc not needing 6 inches of free conductor outside the nm sheath. exhibit 314.3.
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That's because, IMO it's not required. Mike Holt has a few of these illustrations in his books that also do not show a 6" loop before the screw. The requirement is for at least 6" is to make up the device or to make a splice. If you had 6" after the screw you are compliant.
 
infinity said:
That's because, IMO it's not required. Mike Holt has a few of these illustrations in his books that also do not show a 6" loop before the screw. The requirement is for at least 6" is to make up the device or to make a splice. If you had 6" after the screw you are compliant.
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Totally agree with that.:cool:
 
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