Ecmweb 2047 001ecmcqfig1
Ecmweb 2047 001ecmcqfig1
Ecmweb 2047 001ecmcqfig1
Ecmweb 2047 001ecmcqfig1
Ecmweb 2047 001ecmcqfig1

Stumped by the Code?

Feb. 17, 2010
Do I need a grounding conductor for a pole light, or is the ground rod good enough?

All questions and answers are based on the 2008 NEC.

Q. Do I need a grounding conductor for a pole light, or is the ground rod good enough?

A. You absolutely need an equipment grounding conductor. Metal parts of electrical raceways, cables, enclosures, or equipment must be bonded together (and to the supply system) in a manner that creates a low-impedance path for ground-fault current that facilitates the operation of the circuit overcurrent device [250.4(A)(5)], as shown in the Figure. Because the earth is not suitable to serve as the required effective ground-fault current path, an equipment grounding conductor is required to be run with all circuits.

Danger: Because the contact resistance of an electrode to the earth is so high, very little fault current returns to the power supply if the earth is the only fault current return path. What’s the result? The circuit overcurrent device will not open, and all metal parts associated with the electrical installation, metal piping, and structural building steel will become and remain energized.

About the Author

Mike Holt

Mike Holt is the owner of Mike Holt Enterprises (www.MikeHolt.com), one of the largest electrical publishers in the United States. He earned a master's degree in the Business Administration Program (MBA) from the University of Miami. He earned his reputation as a National Electrical Code (NEC) expert by working his way up through the electrical trade. Formally a construction editor for two different trade publications, Mike started his career as an apprentice electrician and eventually became a master electrician, an electrical inspector, a contractor, and an educator. Mike has taught more than 1,000 classes on 30 different electrical-related subjects — ranging from alarm installations to exam preparation and voltage drop calculations. He continues to produce seminars, videos, books, and online training for the trade as well as contribute monthly Code content to EC&M magazine.

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