More Than Three Current Carrying Conductors

[78SC4X4]

Ok. Is the ground wire "current carrying"? I need some help from the experts.

I'm planning on putting in a sub panel on the end of my shop opposite from the service panel (52'). I'm going to run wet rated cable in PVC conduit under the slab.

Does the ground wire count as a current carrying conductor? If so, then do I have 4 conductors "stacked or bundled" and need to down grade the ampacity rating of the wire to 80%?

Thanks for the help.

 

[sparky 1971]

No. The ground is not a current carrying conductor. Only the hot(s) and neutral are ccc's.

 

[78SC4X4]

Thanks Sparky. Appreciate the quick reply.

That makes my life a bit easier! Or at least saves me some money on cable.

 

[exranger06]

Ground wire never counts as a current carrying conductor. Also, in this case, the neutral doesn't count as a current carrying conductor either, since it only carries the unbalanced portion of current between the hot legs. If you were running a 120v circuit with just a hot leg, neutral, and ground, then the neutral would count as a current carrying conductor.

 

[sberry]

I was piping something not too long ago and made one of the light circuits a mwbc so it slid under the rules. Not that it would mattered due to the fact there was only minor load on this whole thing but them is the rules.