Are equipment grounding conductors required to be larger than the circuit conductors supplying the equipment?

Equipment grounding conductors (EGCs) are not required to be larger than the circuit conductors that supply the equipment. In fact, the National Electrical Code (NEC) allows for EGCs to be the same size as the circuit conductors in many scenarios, provided that they meet the necessary requirements for effectively grounding the equipment. This facilitates safe operation and minimizes the risk of electrical hazards.

Additionally, grounding conductors are primarily intended to provide a path for fault current to ensure proper operation of protective devices, like circuit breakers or fuses, while circuit conductors carry current during normal operation. Therefore, as long as the EGC is adequately sized to handle fault current and follows NEC guidelines, it can indeed be the same size as the conductors supplying power to the equipment.

Understanding this distinction is crucial for ensuring compliance with electrical safety standards while also promoting safe installation practices in grounding and bonding.