Installing
Electrical Grounds

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[lesson title]

2-3. Ground Conductors. The grounding of boxes is very important. All metal boxes in a circuit must be grounded. The ground conductor connects all metal boxes and electrical equipment to the panel box. The panel box is connected to the grounding rod, so that all boxes and electrical equipment are connected to the grounding rod and the earth ground.

a.   When ground conductors are twisted together, they must be secured to prevent them from coming apart. A wire nut (Figure 2-9) or a splice cap (Figure 2-10) can be used to hold the twisted ground conductors together.

Figure 2-9. Wire nut holding twisted ground conductors

Figure 2-9.   Wire nut holding twisted ground conductors

Figure 2-10. Splice cap holding twisted ground conductors

Figure 2-10.   Splice cap holding twisted ground conductors

b.   You can bond the grounding system to the box with a grounding screw, but this screw can have no other purpose than to hold the ground conductor to the box (Figure 2-9).

c.   Another method is to use a grounding clip (Figure 2-11). The grounding clip slides over the box and the ground conductor. The ground conductor fits in the groove of the grounding clip, and the grounding clip holds the ground conductor securely to the metal box.

Figure 2-11. Grounding clip holding the ground conductor

Figure 2-11.   Grounding clip holding the ground conductor

d.   To avoid installing ground conductors incorrectly, remember these important points:

  • Do not bond more than one ground conductor to a box. Twist ground conductors together and bond them to the box as one.
  • Do not place two ground conductors under one screw. Twist ground conductors together and place them under the screw as one.
  • Do not use the internal clamp screw to hold the ground conductor to the box. This screw is being used to hold the cable clamp and should not be used to hold the ground conductor.

 

Content provider: U.S. Army, David L. Heiserman
Publisher: SweetHaven Publishing Services

Copyright © 2005, SweetHaven Publishing Services
All Rights Reserved.

Revised: April 19, 2005