250.122(B) Size of Equipment Grounding Conductors.

Increased in Size.

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Code Change Summary: New text was added to clarify when the size of an equipment
grounding conductor must be increased in size. The new text requires a careful read
and a bit of deep thought in order to fully grasp the impact of the change.

Often, the ungrounded conductors of a circuit must be increased in size in order to be

able to sufficiently carry the load. The two most common reasons an ungrounded circuit
conductor is increased in size are:
 1. Voltage drop. Longer runs of wire results in greater impedance which means less
current at the load end of the wire where the equipment is connected.

2. Conditions of use (how the conductor is used). This includes things like the ambient
temperature around the wire and number of current carrying conductors in the raceway.
These conditions may warrant the need to increase the size of a conductor.

The previous 2011 code language in 250.122(B) required that any time an ungrounded
conductor of a circuit was increased in size (for any reason); the equipment grounding
conductor of the circuit was also to be increased in size, the same proportional amount.
This code language was too restrictive and unnecessary.

An increase in the size of an ungrounded circuit conductor because of voltage drop,

creates the need to also increase the size of the equipment grounding conductor of the
circuit. If there is significant impedance in an ungrounded conductor because of voltage
drop at the end of a long run of wire, then it won’t perform well. The same issue occurs
with the equipment grounding conductor. Installing an equipment grounding conductor
of the proper size ensures an effective ground-fault current path. An increase in the size
of the equipment grounding conductor means less resistance. This results in the
overcurrent device tripping quicker during a ground-fault condition.

Increasing an ungrounded conductor in size because of conditions of use does not

always create the need to also increase the equipment grounding conductor of the
circuit. If it has been determined that a 6 AWG copper ungrounded circuit conductor is
the smallest size wire that can carry a 20 amp load after applying adjustment factors for
high ambient temperature, then the 6 AWG conductor is now "the minimum size that
has sufficient ampacity for the intended installation".

According to the new code language, if the 6 AWG conductor is connected to a 20-amp
overcurrent device, the minimum required size copper equipment grounding conductor
(12 AWG per Table 250.122) can still perform to carry 20 amps of ground fault current
under these circumstances.

Below is a preview of the NEC. See the actual NEC text at NFPA.ORG for the
complete code section. Once there, click on the “free access” tab and select the
applicable year of NFPA 70 (National Electrical code).

2011 Code Language:

250.122(B) Increased in Size. Where ungrounded conductors are increased in size,

equipment grounding conductors, where installed, shall be increased in size
proportionately according to the circular mil area of the ungrounded conductors.

2014 Code Language:

250.122(B) Increased in Size. Where ungrounded conductors are increased in size from
the minimum size that has sufficient ampacity for the intended installation, wire-
type equipment grounding conductors, where installed, shall be increased in size
proportionately according to the circular mil area of the ungrounded conductors.

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250.122(B) Size of Equipment Grounding Conductors. Increased

in Size.
Below is a Real Sample Question from our Electrical Continuing Education Courses for
Electrical License Renewal:

Which of the following reasons does the NEC require an increase in the size of an
equipment grounding conductor?

A: When the grounded conductors are increased in size to account for harmonics.

When the ungrounded conductors are increased in size from the minimum size that has sufficient
B:
ampacity for the intended installation.

When the ungrounded conductors are changed in size from 12 AWG to 14 AWG because the
C:
electrician was out of 12 AWG wire.

D: When the ungrounded conductors are decreased in size.