SubPanel URD Feeder and Ground

[Wrench507]

The electrician ran a 2-2-4 URD feeder to my detached garage 100A subpanel. After reading several posting on this site, I realized it's wrong and needs to be brought up to latest NEC.

So now the electrician wants to bury a #4 ground wire between the house and garage. I’m assuming it's insulated direct bury wire. It should be #2 wire and the URD #4 become the ground wire? Right? I thought I read in a posting the URD feeder must be 4-wires and a separate ground can't be run separately. Thanks.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

If this is a jacketed cable, all of the wires must be in the jacket, and in any case, the wires must all be run together.

Charles

 

[pattenp]

URD should not be a jacketed cable. You should add another #2 of the same type UD (USE-2) and identify the #4 as the ground.

Also the #2 feeder should be protected with a max of a 90A breaker in the main panel.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Wow, sounds like he's got a hack!

Make sure you put in ground rods @ the detached garage!

 

[Wrench507]

So does he have to tape the new #2 next to the 2-2-4 URD cable. This new #2 AL wire will be the neutral. I thought the four wires (2 hot, one neutral, and one ground) had to be together? Thanks.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Yes, all the wires need to be together!