During an inspection of an electrical panel today I noticed the main grounding wire was bare copper. First time ever seeing a totally unsheathed grounding wire. It looks wrong to me and after a 20-minute Google could not find anything saying it was not allowed. Any insight would be appreciated. And yes, there is an open knockout at the bottom of the panel.
Did you find anything that says it was allowed or required?
No, did not find anything say it was allowed or not allowed.
Interesting.
Your Bio says you’ve been a member since Nov 2016, and you operate in Wisconsin, a licensed state.
I am in Minnesota, and have never seen an insulated GEC, ever… (to the best of my memory). Typically, I only see insulated “grounds” at the interior for ‘Bonding’ conductors.
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Bare and insulated GECs are allowed in the NEC.
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Interesting on my end as well. Most of what I see in the Madison, WI area is sheathed braided copper.
Could be a local AHJ requirement. I have a few small (College) towns that have stricter Electric and Fire Code requirements than the State does.
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The GEC can be bare or insulated, solid or stranded. Around here no one uses solid copper.
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So True!
I would use the correct terminology: the GEC.
But that appears to be way too small for a GEC. Looks like 12 gauge. Did you follow it out to the Grounding electrode?
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The minimum size GEC required to a ground rod electrode for the service conductors in the photo would be #6.
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The maximum size to a ground rod would also be #6 copper.
Which is the size that appears to be…
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