Do I need an EGC?

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Sparky068

Member
Location
California
Occupation
Electrician
Feeding a 3phase 120/208 panel in separate building with an overhead branch circuit. It is fed with a quadplex. 3 insulated phase conductors and a bare neutral. This is not a service so the neutral will not be bonded to the panel. Do I need to run an equipment ground with the other wires?
 
Feeding a 3phase 120/208 panel in separate building with an overhead branch circuit. It is fed with a quadplex. 3 insulated phase conductors and a bare neutral. This is not a service so the neutral will not be bonded to the panel. Do I need to run an equipment ground with the other wires?
Yes. You used to be able to rebond N-G (with conditions) for remote structures but that was changed in 2008. I have never seen quintplex so you would have to lash on your extra conductor.
 

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
The section is 250.32(B).

If you are adding a panel at the separate structure then you need 4 wires. 3 phase conductors, neutral and an equipment grounding conductor.
 

ramsy

Roger Ruhle dba NoFixNoPay
Location
LA basin, CA
Occupation
Service Electrician 2020 NEC
..never seen quintplex so you would have to lash on your extra conductor.
POCO services have an overhead messenger wire that gets bonded to buildings, then gets split from the Main Bonding Jumper into Neutral / GEC / EGC.
Why can't the messenger wire of similar overhead feeders, or branches be used as an EGC?
 

texie

Senior Member
Location
Fort Collins, Colorado
Occupation
Electrician, Contractor, Inspector
POCO services have an overhead messenger wire that gets bonded to buildings, then gets split from the Main Bonding Jumper into Neutral / GEC / EGC.
Why can't the messenger wire of similar overhead feeders, or branches be used as an EGC?
Because it violates 250.24(A)(5) and 250.32.
 

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
Location
Henrico County, VA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
I believe we don't have a "quint-plex" because that type of cable isn't really for feeders, even though we use it as such on 1ph.
 

texie

Senior Member
Location
Fort Collins, Colorado
Occupation
Electrician, Contractor, Inspector
I believe we don't have a "quint-plex" because that type of cable isn't really for feeders, even though we use it as such on 1ph.
Nope there is no "quint" available. I've checked this some time back. I have seen quadplex allowed with the messenger used as the EGC and lash an insulated neutral to it allowed.
 

Another C10

Electrical Contractor 1987 - present
Location
Southern Cal
Occupation
Electrician NEC 2020
Feeding a 3phase 120/208 panel in separate building with an overhead branch circuit. It is fed with a quadplex. 3 insulated phase conductors and a bare neutral. This is not a service so the neutral will not be bonded to the panel. Do I need to run an equipment ground with the other wires?

I'd have to say being that its not a main feed and as noted branch then yes, I'd isolate a ( Insulated ) neutral while bonding a provided equipment ground to the metal enclosure. You wouldn't want a current carrying neutral for the mentioned 120 v to have a chance of leaking due to finding a better grounded path. just a thought .. Or just land the 3 phase into a disconnect, that way some other electrician wont come by years later and add a needed 120 v circuit for the new soda machine.
 

paulengr

Senior Member
The messenger can be the EGC. Then you just need quad PLLC with 4 insulated conductors, 3 phase and a neutral.
 

Sparky068

Member
Location
California
Occupation
Electrician
POCO services have an overhead messenger wire that gets bonded to buildings, then gets split from the Main Bonding Jumper into Neutral / GEC / EGC.
Why can't the messenger wire of similar overhead feeders, or branches be used as an EGC?
Using the bare as a neutral. Only have 4 conductors. Not
The messenger can be the EGC. Then you just need quad PLLC with 4 insulated conductors, 3 phase and a neutral.
Yes. Problem is my cable only has 3 insulated and 1 non insulated conductors. Boss man says we don’t need to run a ground. Use the bare for neutral and just drive ground rod to get a ground. I think we need to run a ground with the phase and neutral conductors 😂😂
 
Using the bare as a neutral. Only have 4 conductors. Not

Yes. Problem is my cable only has 3 insulated and 1 non insulated conductors. Boss man says we don’t need to run a ground. Use the bare for neutral and just drive ground rod to get a ground. I think we need to run a ground with the phase and neutral conductors 😂😂

Ask the boss man how a fault will clear when the electrons try to go thru the dirt that the ground rod is pounded into. :cry:
 
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