123 EGC (Equipment Grounding conductor)
Wenatchee Home Inspections
Equipment grounding conductors (EGC) seem like an innocent little part of the electrical cable assembly but they do play a pretty significant function.
Often in electronics the movement of current creates induced energy on components. So having the EGC will help keep components and equipment as close to the ground potential as possible. In electrical equipment if the equipment has high potential (voltage) on it, it will want to move to a place of lower potential when it can, such as the ground. So the EGC helps keep that ground reference in place, lowering the
electrical potential difference
.
The second function, and this is very important, is the EGC creates a low impedance path back to the overcurrent devices to clear a fault. A fault is an in this case is an unintentional current path that can lead to shock and damage to electronics and equipment.
So here, we can see, someone ran a cable but decided that the equipment ground conductor was just not that important and clipped it off. This has now created a safety issue. Oten those who do not actually fully understand the electrical wiring system can make a simple mistake and create a potentially deadly situation.
When in doubt hire an electrician.
“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.”
Eleanor Roosevelt.
If you find any errors or have additional information that would expand on any code, building standards or manufacturer requirements please let me know.
NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
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Instructor- Fundamentals of Home Inspection- Bellingham Technical College
WA Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board
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