In summary, GEC which stands for GROUNDING Electrode Conductor is what connects to the GROUND (Earth). EGC which stands for EQUIPMENT Grounding Conductor is what connects all the equipment to the service panel.
bottom line: an equipment grounding conductor is intended to provide a current path to trip the overcurrent protection in the event of a short circuit to prevent equipment from becoming energized . a grounding electrode system (including the conductor) is used to prevent there being a voltage difference between the "neutral" conductor and the ground. it also has the secondary purpose of providing a very weak current path in the event of an open neutral condition, but don't count on it.
Any time we have to do a trench and are tight on time due to weather, etc. our local inspector will allow us to stick several pieces of plastic conduit straight down to allow for a visual inspection. This way we can backfill the same day and not have to worry frost, rain, snow, and such slowing us down. The inspector can come along at his leisure and see the buried stuff with a flashlight then stick a tape measure in as well. All we have to do later is yank out the pipe and kick in the extra dirt that we left there. Beats the heck out of leaving a trench open for weeks at a time, then bringing back the whole crew to do the finished landscaping. One guy and 20 minutes to button up the job.
our various inspectors sometimes trust us more or less. a lot of times, the power company inspector is fine with a photo of a tape measure, and since they require 3' radius sweeps on buried conduit, with short runs, they're fine if the top of the sweep is flush to the ground. (they require 3' burial depth) but I worked with an old timer in L.A. and he told us when he was working, the power company wanted the ENTIRE trench to be completely open and would fail it even if an edge had sloughed in while the trench waited for inspection.
@@kenbrown2808 ... yes, it helps if you have developed a trust with the the local inspectors. It seems since the crunch with Covid, many inspectors will just tell you to text or e-mail pics into their office. Some will even take this for a pressure test on a gas line if you have their respect over prior years.
I am not an electrician but I just love your stuff. Extremely informative and it has given me the courage and knowledge to do some elementary home electrical work myself. Thank you.
As always, excellent and very informative presentation; here in Puerto Rico (an US territory for an citizens since 1917) we’re also regulated by the NEC, BUT in many of the old concrete buildings the GEC has always been the EMTs, sssooo, we all know the outcome after some 20 plus years of galvanized tubing buried in concrete, and that’s why many of the electrical services (mostly residential) are very messed up, and also why I became am Electrician 😜
In my opinion (from a non-electrician), using IEC terminology is better than what the NEC defines because its pretty much easier to understand and is simply more straightforward, plus its used by regions outside North America (aka the rest of the world). For example, instead of equipment grounding conductor, protective earth (PE) could be used instead. However, Protective Earth still has its problems as the British prefer calling it the CPC (circuit protective conductor). Really hope the NEC and other responsible organizations (not a fan of the decentralized way in the US) would consider it, even if it costs money and takes time getting used to the new terminology and other potential obstacles.
Great video Bill. Well layer out and explains the information clear and understandable. Thanks for sharing this knowledge with us Bill. Your videos deserve an honor.
Hi Bill from Sparky channel Looks like I’m watching the number of your videos today Course they all are great This one was particularly good, and you even taught me some good stuff Thanks so much you’re really going to town on some great quality videos lately
In this part of the world our code book refers to grounding and bonding. I find that easier than the acronyms used there to essentially explain the same thing...
Just for clarification, this makes it look like when you run a circuit using EMT, you do not need to pull a (green) ground wire. I was taught to always use a ground wire in EMT, and the contractors I worked with over the years always made me do that. Pretty much every building I have worked in that was wired in recent years has a ground wire in pipe runs. Curious as to why we do this if code does not require it.
Just going the extra mile for safety. That is all. Electricity takes the path of least resistance. The more paths the better for your electrical system in case of a fault.
Excellent...watched it twice I soon will have someone look at my well water pump again ... Hydro already told me that the massive tree I share with the city property line was the beginning of all my electrical issues(I just never looked up) I changed the water pump 4 times $$$$$$$$$$$$and the last handy man was not so handy and left even more of a mess with my switches and receptacles only because he did not understand aluminum and copper wiring OMG BETWEEN THE HANDY MAN AND THE TREE I started learning electricity and electricity is my weakness...I got electrocuted so many times I can’t touch a switch I always feel it coming for me even if I turn the main switch off THANK YOU SIR ...🌈🇨🇦 I CALLED THE APPROPRIATE ELECTRICIAN WITH GREAT CREDENTIALS TOLD ME HOW MUCH IT WILL BE .....BUT we’ve got to start from the WELL and that’s going to take a little longer than I thought since today is -20 with the wind and the snow is not going anywhere until mid March ...but is okay is all good we have to patiently wait.
I am just wondering. If two grounding rods are used, would equal potential grounding have to be considered? I once saw an outside hot tub with a disconnect. The disconnect had a bonding jumper to a separate ground rod. The main electrical panel that provided power to the hot tub had its own connection to a ground rod. I was curious why whoever wired the hot tub needed two ground rods?
that must have been a local inspector, or an installer who didn't quite get it. if you look inside the hot tub, you will see a network of bonding conductors creating the equipotential plane inside the hot tub. those are all connected to the EGC, which provides a low impedance path to ground. the hot tub is also supposed to be completely protected through a GFCI so that ANY fault to ground will immediately disconnect all power from the faulty component. I have never seen a requirement for grounding electrode at a hot tub. a pool built in place does also have to have the equipotential bonding for all components, but again, it doesn't, as far as I recall, need grounding electrodes.
@@kenbrown2808 Do you understand why we get to use the "two and done" rule when installing ground rods? Somehow, 1 individual rod, has to be no greater than 25 Ohms, but for two ground rods, the 25 Ohm maximum no longer applies. Suppose I install ground rod #1, and its resistance is 70 Ohms. Then I install a second identical ground rod, 6 feet away in identical soil. Mathematically, I would expect the combined resistance of the two ground rods to be 35 Ohms. If the Physics of grounding electrodes requires 25 Ohms or less for just one of them, I would think you would have to continue to drive ground rods until you get the combined resistance to 25 Ohms or less. In this example, I would expect that to be 3 rods, which would have a combined resistance of 23 Ohms. Do grounding electrodes get disproportionately more conductance with each rod in parallel that you install? Or is it simply a matter of most soils being conductive enough that 2 rods is most likely 25 Ohms or less?
@@carultch they just hope 2 rods will be enough. Or they figure if 2 isn't enough, more won't do much better. Technically, if you can get your test, you can use 1, but everybody i know drives the second so they don't have to test.
@@SparkyChannel but it should be mentioned that a codebook is not a textbook, and learners should be using textbooks to learn from. (or instructional videos)
That's only for balance loads ...like a 240 water heater an Ac. The 240 loads that have a neutral has a lower voltage circuit also...like your dryer and electric stove
240v doesn't use the neutral. During each half of the cycle, the current flows into the device through one of the hot conductors and out through the other one. You only need a neutral to get 120v, which means any device that uses both 240v and 120v needs a 2-pole breaker and a neutral... and by extension, a 4-prong plug.
ZIGGY. Actually only one phase which CAN BE split in the middle if a 120 volt circuit is needed ALONG with the 240 volt circuit. Confused Yet? The Power Company DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM uses a three phase system. YOUR HOUSEHOLD only uses one of these three.
@@SparkyChannel once you get done a foot it’s all hard dirt and rock need a pick axe or jackhammer or a machine to dig for you, you go to stick a shovel in the dirt past 1 ft and it bounces off
Hey Sparky. You seem to have a well-grounded background of experience in this area.
LOL! Have a great day Eugene!
In summary, GEC which stands for GROUNDING Electrode Conductor is what connects to the GROUND (Earth). EGC which stands for EQUIPMENT Grounding Conductor is what connects all the equipment to the service panel.
Yes! It's that simple! Ty for sharing
bottom line:
an equipment grounding conductor is intended to provide a current path to trip the overcurrent protection in the event of a short circuit to prevent equipment from becoming energized .
a grounding electrode system (including the conductor) is used to prevent there being a voltage difference between the "neutral" conductor and the ground. it also has the secondary purpose of providing a very weak current path in the event of an open neutral condition, but don't count on it.
Thanks Ken!
Very especific and well explained video I really appreciate the way you explain so clear the details and the difference in electrical materials 👍
Excellent, great to hear!
Any time we have to do a trench and are tight on time due to weather, etc. our local inspector will allow us to stick several pieces of plastic conduit straight down to allow for a visual inspection. This way we can backfill the same day and not have to worry frost, rain, snow, and such slowing us down. The inspector can come along at his leisure and see the buried stuff with a flashlight then stick a tape measure in as well. All we have to do later is yank out the pipe and kick in the extra dirt that we left there. Beats the heck out of leaving a trench open for weeks at a time, then bringing back the whole crew to do the finished landscaping. One guy and 20 minutes to button up the job.
Great tip, thanks!
@@SparkyChannel ... oops, don't forget to add in a pipe or two for the buried caution tape. (where necessary)
@@rupe53 Will do.
our various inspectors sometimes trust us more or less. a lot of times, the power company inspector is fine with a photo of a tape measure, and since they require 3' radius sweeps on buried conduit, with short runs, they're fine if the top of the sweep is flush to the ground. (they require 3' burial depth) but I worked with an old timer in L.A. and he told us when he was working, the power company wanted the ENTIRE trench to be completely open and would fail it even if an edge had sloughed in while the trench waited for inspection.
@@kenbrown2808 ... yes, it helps if you have developed a trust with the the local inspectors. It seems since the crunch with Covid, many inspectors will just tell you to text or e-mail pics into their office. Some will even take this for a pressure test on a gas line if you have their respect over prior years.
I am not an electrician but I just love your stuff. Extremely informative and it has given me the courage and knowledge to do some elementary home electrical work myself. Thank you.
This really helps me stay grounded.
LOL!
This video was very helpful. Easy to follow and to the point.
As always, excellent and very informative presentation; here in Puerto Rico (an US territory for an citizens since 1917) we’re also regulated by the NEC, BUT in many of the old concrete buildings the GEC has always been the EMTs, sssooo, we all know the outcome after some 20 plus years of galvanized tubing buried in concrete, and that’s why many of the electrical services (mostly residential) are very messed up, and also why I became am Electrician 😜
Thank you for becoming an electrician and helping to make others lives safer!
In my opinion (from a non-electrician), using IEC terminology is better than what the NEC defines because its pretty much easier to understand and is simply more straightforward, plus its used by regions outside North America (aka the rest of the world). For example, instead of equipment grounding conductor, protective earth (PE) could be used instead. However, Protective Earth still has its problems as the British prefer calling it the CPC (circuit protective conductor). Really hope the NEC and other responsible organizations (not a fan of the decentralized way in the US) would consider it, even if it costs money and takes time getting used to the new terminology and other potential obstacles.
Thank you very much, Bill!
This is the best explanation about grounding I've ever seen or heard!
Thanks so much!
Yes. Thank you for the information and for the examples.
My pleasure!
Great video Bill. Well layer out and explains the information clear and understandable. Thanks for sharing this knowledge with us Bill. Your videos deserve an honor.
Thanks so much!
Thank you Mr sparky 🙂🙂
No problem. ⚡
Hi Bill from Sparky channel
Looks like I’m watching the number of your videos today
Course they all are great
This one was particularly good, and you even taught me some good stuff
Thanks so much you’re really going to town on some great quality videos lately
Now if someone says "make sure your GEC is continuous" you'll know exactly what they are talking about. LOL! Thanks Jeff!
@@SparkyChannel
Indeed, nothing worse than having your GEC not be continuous.
In this part of the world our code book refers to grounding and bonding. I find that easier than the acronyms used there to essentially explain the same thing...
Where are you at?
Thank you Bill. You are a great electrician
Great videos. I’m learning a lot from you. Thanks.
Excellent, great to hear!
Excellent vid 👍👍👍 Was that your back yard at the end ?🤣🤣🤣 Thx for sharing ...
LOL! No, that's Balboa Park in San Diego, a really beautiful place. Thanks Eddy!
Just worked on these today!
Excellent!
You are great at this. Thank-you.
I appreciate that, thanks!
SALUDOS SPARKY ,ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO AS ALWAYS. YOU ARE THE BEST OUTTHERE. THANKS FOR THE EXPLANATIONS, G.B.Y.A.
Thanks so much Josian! GBY as well!
Just for clarification, this makes it look like when you run a circuit using EMT, you do not need to pull a (green) ground wire. I was taught to always use a ground wire in EMT, and the contractors I worked with over the years always made me do that. Pretty much every building I have worked in that was wired in recent years has a ground wire in pipe runs. Curious as to why we do this if code does not require it.
Just going the extra mile for safety. That is all. Electricity takes the path of least resistance. The more paths the better for your electrical system in case of a fault.
Excellent...watched it twice
I soon will have someone look at my well water pump again ...
Hydro already told me that the massive tree I share with the city property line was the beginning of all my electrical issues(I just never looked up)
I changed the water pump 4 times $$$$$$$$$$$$and the last handy man was not so handy and left even more of a mess with my switches and receptacles only because he did not understand aluminum and copper wiring OMG BETWEEN THE HANDY MAN AND THE TREE
I started learning electricity and electricity is my weakness...I got electrocuted so many times I can’t touch a switch I always feel it coming for me even if I turn the main switch off
THANK YOU SIR ...🌈🇨🇦
I CALLED THE APPROPRIATE ELECTRICIAN WITH GREAT CREDENTIALS TOLD ME HOW MUCH IT WILL BE .....BUT we’ve got to start from the WELL and that’s going to take a little longer than I thought since today is -20 with the wind and the snow is not going anywhere until mid March ...but is okay is all good we have to patiently wait.
Thanks so much. Best wishes with your project. That sounds cold!
Learning alot from you Thanks 👍
Excellent, great to hear!
Be sure to space those electrode conductors further than 6 ft apart. Or you fail.
the HANDBOOK! worth every penny.
It really is. And the handbook has the entire code book in it as well the great notes, pictures and drawings. It is more expensive though.
@@SparkyChannel so useful in being on the same page as the AHJ
@@paulwheeless1080 I agree!
Thanks buddy!
You bet!⚡⚡
Nice video 👌
Great video.
Thanks
Thanks Tommy!
That was an informative video !
Thanks William!
Thanks❤
Cool video Bill.
Thanks Aaron!
My pleasure
whats the trick to getting yout stranded ground wire small enough to fit in the neutral lug ?
Do you plan to upload any older videos from your old channel?
I have already uploaded quite a few of them. I'm making new videos now. Thanks!
@@SparkyChannel you’re welcome
Very simple the one from the ground is infact the ground wire and the other is considered a bond wire
Good morning Bill 😎🛠️😎🛠️😎
Good morning Ted!
I am just wondering. If two grounding rods are used, would equal potential grounding have to be considered? I once saw an outside hot tub with a disconnect. The disconnect had a bonding jumper to a separate ground rod. The main electrical panel that provided power to the hot tub had its own connection to a ground rod. I was curious why whoever wired the hot tub needed two ground rods?
that must have been a local inspector, or an installer who didn't quite get it. if you look inside the hot tub, you will see a network of bonding conductors creating the equipotential plane inside the hot tub. those are all connected to the EGC, which provides a low impedance path to ground. the hot tub is also supposed to be completely protected through a GFCI so that ANY fault to ground will immediately disconnect all power from the faulty component. I have never seen a requirement for grounding electrode at a hot tub. a pool built in place does also have to have the equipotential bonding for all components, but again, it doesn't, as far as I recall, need grounding electrodes.
@@kenbrown2808 Do you understand why we get to use the "two and done" rule when installing ground rods? Somehow, 1 individual rod, has to be no greater than 25 Ohms, but for two ground rods, the 25 Ohm maximum no longer applies.
Suppose I install ground rod #1, and its resistance is 70 Ohms. Then I install a second identical ground rod, 6 feet away in identical soil. Mathematically, I would expect the combined resistance of the two ground rods to be 35 Ohms. If the Physics of grounding electrodes requires 25 Ohms or less for just one of them, I would think you would have to continue to drive ground rods until you get the combined resistance to 25 Ohms or less. In this example, I would expect that to be 3 rods, which would have a combined resistance of 23 Ohms.
Do grounding electrodes get disproportionately more conductance with each rod in parallel that you install? Or is it simply a matter of most soils being conductive enough that 2 rods is most likely 25 Ohms or less?
@@carultch they just hope 2 rods will be enough. Or they figure if 2 isn't enough, more won't do much better. Technically, if you can get your test, you can use 1, but everybody i know drives the second so they don't have to test.
@@kenbrown2808 Is there any theoretical basis behind it?
@@carultch not that I'm aware of. the language is just, IIRC, that if one rod doesn't pass the test, you have to drive a second rod.
If a single ground rod is above 25 ohm, add another one. With two ground rods, no need for the inspector to measure it.
aren't there any illustrated code books you can link to? they are much more useful for learners.
The handbook is illustrated.
@@SparkyChannel but it should be mentioned that a codebook is not a textbook, and learners should be using textbooks to learn from. (or instructional videos)
Can you do a video on why 2 pole breakers don’t need a neutral and why the phases balance each other?
A multiwire branch circuit can be 2 pole and does need a neutral. NEC 210.4
That's only for balance loads ...like a 240 water heater an Ac. The 240 loads that have a neutral has a lower voltage circuit also...like your dryer and electric stove
@@silliondelfish2176 yep, those type of appliances need 120V for the timer/controls.
240v doesn't use the neutral. During each half of the cycle, the current flows into the device through one of the hot conductors and out through the other one. You only need a neutral to get 120v, which means any device that uses both 240v and 120v needs a 2-pole breaker and a neutral... and by extension, a 4-prong plug.
ZIGGY. Actually only one phase which CAN BE split in the middle if a 120 volt circuit
is needed ALONG with the 240 volt circuit. Confused Yet?
The Power Company DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM uses a three phase system.
YOUR HOUSEHOLD only uses one of these three.
👍
Thanks Theo!
Balboa park. Noice
Beautiful place!
Lopez Jeffrey Robinson Ronald Jackson Brian
Whoever named this stuff needs kicked in the genetalia.
What would you name these two terms, if it were your choice?
Especially calling the neutral the grounded conductor... What were they thinking!
I dare you to dig an 8ft long trench 2.5ft deep in Las Vegas.
What would happen?
@@SparkyChannel once you get done a foot it’s all hard dirt and rock need a pick axe or jackhammer or a machine to dig for you, you go to stick a shovel in the dirt past 1 ft and it bounces off
@@relevent114 Wow!
@@SparkyChannel
Caliche clay. Basically natural concrete.
@@scott_meyer I thought we had it bad here in San Diego with driving ground rods. Lots of rocks to run into here!