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The term auxiliary electrode is specific to the application, referenced in Section 250.54, of installations where a grounding
electrode is “permitted [not required] to be connected to the equipment grounding conductors specified in 250.118” thus:
This application is specific to auxiliary grounding for equipment such as pumps, electric signs, fuel cell systems, (or in
addition to the system electrode bonding required for solar photovoltaic systems). These electrodes are “permitted to be
connected to the equipment grounding conductors specified in 250.118 and shall not be required to comply with the
electrode bonding requirements of … 250.53(C).” In other words, the auxiliary electrode bonding conductor is permitted to
be the same size as the equipment grounding conductor in accordance with Section 250.122.
Similarly, “[g]rounding electrode conductors … at each building or structure where supplied by a feeder,” in accordance
with 250.32(A)(B) and 250.64(F), are required to be connected to “an equipment grounding conductor as described in
250.118. …” However, in contrast, the system grounding electrode conductor for this application “shall be sized for the
largest grounding electrode conductor required among all the electrodes connected to it” and “the other electrode(s), if
any, are connected by bonding jumpers per 250.53(C).”
As stated in 250.64(F), the reference to 250.53(C) (regarding the grounding electrode bonding requirement for multiple
electrodes) is logically inconsistent with the exemption to 250.53(C) for auxiliary electrodes, and explicitly distinguishes
the bonding requirements for additional electrodes required by 250.56 from the auxiliary electrode bonding requirements
of 250.54:
In this case, the system grounding electrode bonding conductor must be sized at between 8 AWG and 6 AWG in
accordance with 250.66(A) (as opposed to the equipment grounding conductor size permitted for auxiliary electrode
bonding):
1
Auxiliary Electrodes
Exception to 250.32(A)
Exception: A grounding electrode shall not be required where only a single branch circuit, including a multiwire branch circuit,
supplies the building or structure and the branch circuit includes an equipment grounding conductor for grounding the normally non–
current-carrying metal parts of equipment.
Branch Circuit: The circuit conductors between the final overcurrent device protecting the circuit and the outlet(s).
If the building or structure does not include overcurrent protective device(s) (OCPD) intended to protect the circuit and the
outlets, the supply will be defined as a branch circuit. In this case, the exception to 250.32(A) will apply and the structure
will not require the installation of a grounding electrode (if the supply is limited to “a single branch circuit, including a
multiwire branch circuit”). If an electrode is installed, it may be considered as an auxiliary grounding electrode subject to
the requirements of 250.54.
This exception will not apply to buildings or structures (including manufactured buildings as well as mobile and
manufactured homes) including overcurrent protective device(s) (OCPD) intended to protect the circuit and the outlets, as
the supply must, in this case, be defined as a feeder, rather than a branch circuit.
The logic behind this exception to a grounding electrode system is that this application will not be typical for dwelling units.
Facilities supplied by “a single branch circuit, including a multiwire branch circuit” are not generally intended for use as
dwellings and thus are not subject to the same level of risk to life, health, and safety typical for dwelling units.
2
Auxiliary Electrodes
Premises Wiring (System): Interior and exterior wiring, including power, lighting, control, and signal circuit wiring together with all
their associated hardware, fittings, and wiring devices, both permanently and temporarily installed. This includes (a) wiring from the
service point or power source to the outlets or (b) wiring from and including the power source to the outlets where there is no service
point.
250.20 (D)
FPN No. 1: An alternate ac power source such as an onsite
generator is not a separately derived system if the
grounded conductor is solidly interconnected to a servicesupplied
system grounded conductor.