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Sizing Alternating Current Grounding Electrode Conductors
Table 250.66

Grounding Electrode Conductor for Alternating Current Systems

Size of Largest Ungrounded Service Entrance Conductor or Equivalent Area for Parallel Conductors (AWG/kcmil) (Note 3) Size of Grounding Electrode Conductor (AWG/kcmil)
Copper Aluminum or Copper Clad Aluminum Copper Aluminum or Copper Clad Aluminum
(Note 4)
2 or smaller 1/0 or smaller 8 6
1 or 1/0 2/0 or 3/0 6 4
2/0 or 3/0 4/0 or 250 4 2
Over 3/0 through 350 Over 250 through 500 2 1/0
Over 350 through 600 Over 500 through 900 1/0 3/0
Over 600 through 1100 Over 900 through 1750 2/0 4/0
Over 1100 Over 1750 3/0 250
Fig. 8-89 Table 250.66 Grounding Electrode Conductor for Alternating Current Systems
Note 1: Where multiple sets of service entrance conductors are used as permitted in Section 230.40 Exception #2, the equivalent size of the largest service entrance conductor shall be determined by the largest sum of the areas of the corresponding conductors of each set.
Note 2: Where there are no service entrance conductors, the grounding electrode conductor size shall be determined by the equivalent size of the largest service entrance conductor required for the load to be servied.
Note 3: This table also applies to the derived conductors of separately derived systems.
Note 4: See installation restrictions in 250.64(A) for aluminum or copper-clad aluminum conductors.