Code books
 

Construction Codebooks and Estimating Guides

NEC Quiz: Article 250, Part Ten Answers

Back to Quiz

  1. [250.56]. No. This is a commonly misunderstood point. The NEC doesn't require the earth resistance to be any particular number. The actual number is an engineering decision. The NEC simply says that if you drive one ground rod and the earth resistance is 25 ohms or less then you need to supplement it with an additional grounding electrode. It's common for electricians to pee on the rod and then measure--the salty urine is a strong electrolyte that brings the reading way down from just dry soil. If ever called upon to repeat the measurement, they pee first and then get people gathered around to witness the testing.
     

  2. [250.58]. No. Doing so would create a dangerous difference of potential. In fact, they must be grounded to the same electrode(s).
     

  3. [250.60]. No. Air terminals are of entirely different construction and dimensions. You can use grounding electrodes in lieu of air terminals, but you can't go the other way around.
     

  4. [250.62]. No. Such pipe can serve as an auxiliary electrode and it should be bonded to your grounding system to eliminate dangerous differences of potential. But you cannot use it as part of the grounding path. It may seem wasteful to run a length of copper or aluminum wire along a water pipe instead of just hooking onto it on each end, but it's not wasteful at all. The pipe is for carrying water, not for carrying lighting or other undesirable electrical current.
     

  5. [250.62]. The answer depends on what materials your cathodic protection system is constructed of. Use the appropriate conductor based on that, remembering that it must be "resistant to any corrosive condition existing at the installation." On any give site, the cathodic protection systems and grounding system must be engineered as a unified system, not as separate systems.

 

 

Other Codes

More NFPA 70 Resources

Learn more about: Mike Holt Ultimate Electrician Training Library

Contractor Cafe Code Site | Joe Tedesco's National Electrical Code

How the NEC is arranged

  1. The first four Chapters of the NEC apply to all installations.
  2. Article 90 precedes Chapter One, and establishes the authority of the NEC.
  3. Article 80 follows the body of the NEC; it exists as Annex H. It provides the requirements for administration.
  4. Chapters 5, 6, and 7 are the "special" chapters, covering special: occupancies, equipment, and conditions (in that order).
  5. Chapter 8 provides the requirements for communications systems.
  6. Chapter 9 provides tables.
  7. The appendices provide mostly reference information.
  8. Appendix D contains examples that every NEC user should study.

 

Pass the Electrical Exam | Get Codebooks | Get Estimating Guides

Codebookcity is a subsidiary of Mindconnection, LLC. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please write to sales @ mindconnection.com. We do want your business.
 

We support engineering and the construction trades. Based in Kansas City, we also participate locally. Here are the meetings of the IEEE Kansas City Section and Society Chapters: