Bare copper ground wire in metal conduit

[Crowbarman55]

Is it safe to run a bare copper ground through metal conduit for a 240volt hookup about 15 feet from a sub panel to a AC disconnect?

 

[Jim greengo]

Is there anything else in the pipe,any junction boxes?

 

[Crowbarman55]

Is there anything else in the pipe,any junction boxes?

No. Just the 3 wire's and no junction boxes. There are 4 elbows to get around a wall.

 

[mike93lx]

If the conduit is continuous, you can just use that as the EGC.

 

[Steve W.]

There are 4 elbows to get around a wall.

If the conduit is continuous, you can just use that as the EGC.

With 4 elbows, I can pretty much guarantee that the conduit is NOT one piece.

With that many joints, is it still safe to use the conduit as EGC?

.

 

[mike93lx]

With 4 elbows, I can pretty much guarantee that the conduit is NOT one piece.

With that many joints, is it still safe to use the conduit as EGC?

.

Thankfully I didn't say it needed to be one piece, just continuous. Meaning no switches to pvc, liquidtite, etc, or gaps.

Conduit is used as EGC all the time

 

[Crowbarman55]

But is it safe to use the bare ground wire in the metal conduit? I can pull it out and replace it with green covered wire but, if I don't need to.

 

[mike93lx]

Ah, so it's already installed.

Since the conduit can be the EGC, I would expect the wire could be bare, but stuff like that can be location dependent...where are you?

 

[Crowbarman55]

In Michigan. The wire is installed. Nothing has ever been hooked up yet. This is for a new install 18K mini split. Because I have not gotten a yes or no answer, I will probably just pull it and replace it with covered wire.

Ah, so it's already installed.

Since the conduit can be the EGC, I would expect the wire could be bare, but stuff like that can be location dependent...where are you?

 

[mike93lx]

In Michigan. The wire is installed. Nothing has ever been hooked up yet. This is for a new install 18K mini split. Because I have not gotten a yes or no answer, I will probably just pull it and replace it with covered wire.

I only use bare wire for connections to ground rods and water pipes , but I am no electrician.

Why replace it at all? Just use the conduit

 

[Walkers]

Is it safe, absolutely, no difference in potential between the conduit and the ground wire.

 

[Firebrick43]

In Michigan. The wire is installed. Nothing has ever been hooked up yet. This is for a new install 18K mini split. Because I have not gotten a yes or no answer, I will probably just pull it and replace it with covered wire.

Why, there is nothing wrong with a bare ground wire in conduit, just harder to pull but you have already done that

 

[pattenp]

Keep the bare ground wire. It's okay.

 

[joe_padavano]

Why do you think a bare copper wire is any different than the bare metal inside of the conduit?

 

[tdkkart]

Why do you think a bare copper wire is any different than the bare metal inside of the conduit?

Depends on the OP's thoughts when he asked if it was "safe". "Safe" as in perfectly functional and serving the same purpose as a green insulated wire. Or, "safe" in the eyes of an electrical inspector who may or may not come up with some assinine reason that it doesn't meet code in his jurisdiction.

 

[Jim greengo]

Should probably bond it to the boxes.

 

[Crowbarman55]

Depends on the OP's thoughts when he asked if it was "safe". "Safe" as in perfectly functional and serving the same purpose as a green insulated wire. Or, "safe" in the eyes of an electrical inspector who may or may not come up with some assinine reason that it doesn't meet code in his jurisdiction.

Safe as in will it negatively affect the operation of the unit or cause electrical shock somehow. I'm not concerned about the inspector at this time because I call him Mr. Magoo.
Thanks

 

[Steve W.]

Conduit is used as EGC all the time

I'm quite certain that it is, and I would probably not hesitate (much) to do it myself, but my concern is the possible "loss of mechanical integrity" due to a loose/missing/corroded fastener on one of the (many) joints.

Personally, I would keep the ground wire. Whether it's insulated or not doesn't really matter.

.

 

[Crowbarman55]

I am having a ground wire in it either way. I just wanted to know if it being bare will be a problem. Code aside, is it okay to use a bare wire in conduit for a ground?
Todd

 

[billconner]

I am having a ground wire in it either way. I just wanted to know if it being bare will be a problem. Code aside, is it okay to use a bare wire in conduit for a ground?
Todd

yes

 

[billconner]

I worked on maybe 150 projects over 40 years, a lot designing lighting. I am not an electrical engineer but every project I worked on with an ee required a ground wire in the conduit. A couple design build projects where the electrical contractor made the call left them out.

 

[alfredeneuman]

It all depends an the type of metal itself.
If it is steel (EMT, GRC, or IMC) all's good with bare copper
If aluminum it's not.