Grounding conductor from main 400 amp to sub 200 amp.

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Nelson electric

Christian
Location
Sacramento, ca
Occupation
Electrician
A residential client had a new solar array installed alongside with a new 400 amp panel at array. Then had a 200 amp sub feed to existing home 400' away and did a new 200 amp panel, with parallel 350 Al in same conduit :( without a grounding conductor. The contractor said no ground was needed whereas I disagree.
Can you verify for me if that is safe and to code?
 
N

Nelson electric

Christian
Location
Sacramento, ca
Occupation
Electrician
From some of the video discussions by Mike Holt on grounding, it can't get back to the source so it'll try through the uffer ground. Which, if I understand correctly, would have current in the ground around the earth ground and would dissipate as it try's to travel back to the source.
Which is no good and could have the potential of harm to anyone, or thing, close to that earth ground, especially if barefoot.
Am I correct?
tom baker said:
If there is a line to case fault on the 200 amp sub, how does the fault current get back to its source?
Click to expand...
From some of the video discussions by Mike Holt on grounding, it can't get back to the source so it'll try through the uffer ground. Which, if I understand correctly, would have current in the ground around the earth ground and would dissipate as it try's to travel back to the source.
Which is no good and could have the potential of harm to anyone, or thing, close to that earth ground, especially if barefoot.
Am I correct?
 
kwired

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
For other than service equipment you pretty much always need a grounding conductor. There can be situations (and they have become even less frequent since about 2005) where you may be able to use the grounded conductor for both grounded and grounding functions. Doesn't sound like your situation is one of those either.
 
N

Nelson electric

Christian
Location
Sacramento, ca
Occupation
Electrician
kwired said:
For other than service equipment you pretty much always need a grounding conductor. There can be situations (and they have become even less frequent since about 2005) where you may be able to use the grounded conductor for both grounded and grounding functions. Doesn't sound like your situation is one of those either.
Click to expand...
That's what I was thinking too. So now I'll see what I can do to make it right for them.
 
don_resqcapt19

don_resqcapt19

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Illinois
Occupation
retired electrician
Are the parallel 350s protected at 200 amps at the supply end? If they are, then the EGC will have to be 2/0 aluminum.
 
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