Grounding cable must have an ampacity that is greater than or equal to which gauge?

The requirement for grounding cable involves ensuring it has sufficient ampacity to safely carry fault currents without overheating or causing damage. The National Electrical Code (NEC) provides certain standards for grounding conductors, emphasizing that the minimum size of a grounding electrode conductor must be appropriately rated based on the size of the overcurrent protection device or the largest ungrounded conductor.

When determining the grounding cable size, the #2 awg gauge meets the necessary criteria for ampacity. This ensures that the cable can handle potential fault conditions, which is critical for maintaining the safety and reliability of electrical systems. Grounding conductors must be robust enough to handle potential fault currents that could occur during electrical surges or short circuits. Using #2 awg provides a balance between sufficient carrying capacity and mechanical durability to fulfill these safety requirements.

While other gauges like #4, #6, and #10 also play roles in various electrical applications, they do not meet the same ampacity threshold that #2 awg does for grounding purposes. Thus, #2 awg is considered the minimum acceptable gauge in this context, ensuring proper protection and compliance with electrical safety standards.