PV Equipment Grounding Conductor (NEC 690.45)
The PV-specific equipment grounding conductor per NEC 690.45.
Example
You enter
- OCPD rating (A, 0 = no OCPD) 20
- Conductors upsized for voltage drop? no
You get
- Sizing basis 20
- Required EGC (copper) 12
Details, formula, and sources
Sized from the OCPD via Table 250.122, or from the PV short-circuit current where a source circuit has no overcurrent device, never smaller than 14 AWG. 690.45 waives the 250.122(B) rule, so enlarging the conductors for voltage drop does not enlarge the EGC -- the over-build the general rules cause.
basis = OCPD rating > 0 ? OCPD : PV Isc; EGC = Table 250.122 size for the basis, never smaller than 14 AWG; the 250.122(B) proportional upsize does not apply (690.45).
The NEC 2023 690.45 equipment grounding conductors for PV systems, with Table 250.122, by name.
The NEC is available through NFPA's free online read-only access at nfpa.org; the 690.45 and Table 250.122 provisions are in the published code.
Estimate. AHJ and licensed professional govern.
Field names used by the API: ocpd_rating_a, vd_upsized, basis_current_a, egc_awg
- No-OCPD sizing where there is no overcurrent device, the EGC is sized from the PV short-circuit currentNEC 690.45
- 14 AWG minimum the PV EGC is never smaller than 14 AWG (copper)NEC 690.45
- 250.122(B) waived the voltage-drop proportional upsize does not apply to PV EGCsNEC 690.45