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NEC Grounding

NEC Article 250 Grounding Overview — Beyond Just the GEC

Article 250 covers far more than the grounding electrode conductor sizing table — a broader map of what it actually contains.

NEC Article 250 — Grounding and Bonding — is one of the code's longest and most comprehensive articles, and Table 250.66's GEC sizing (covered in a dedicated article) is only one specific piece of it.

What Else Article 250 Covers

Topic areaGeneral scope
System groundingHow and when the electrical system itself must be grounded, and the specific connection points
Equipment groundingBonding requirements for enclosures, raceways, and equipment — distinct from the grounding electrode conductor covered in the dedicated GEC article
BondingEnsuring metal parts are electrically connected together to maintain a low-impedance fault path and equalize potential
Grounding electrodesWhat qualifies as a grounding electrode (ground rods, concrete-encased electrodes, metal water piping under specific conditions) and how they must be combined when more than one is present

Why the Scope Matters

Treating "grounding" as synonymous with "look up the GEC size in Table 250.66" misses most of what a compliant grounding and bonding system actually requires — the GEC is one output of a much larger set of requirements.

OhmWorks' NEC Grounding calculator focuses specifically on GEC sizing per Table 250.66 — the rest of Article 250's requirements need separate, direct review against the full article.

Engr. Jason Morales — Founder, SolarEnergyPH & OhmWorks

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