CEC - Grounding/Bonding

[gmrobert]

Does anyone have any links for sites that show the CEC way to do grounding/bonding connections for switch/outlet boxes?

Most books seem to only show the NEC way. I know the CEC way is different than the NEC way shown in most books and I wanted to understand it a bit better.

My understanding is for CEC the source ground needs to be first wound around the ground screw for the box prior to any pigtail. Where as with NEC the source goes straight to the wire nut and pigtails to the box from there.

Anyone have a good link or explaination for this?

Thanks

Greg

[Mr Fixit eh]

The following is found atwww,esasafe.comin the FAQ section and the question is called, "Proper connection of more than one bond conductor at an outlet?"

Question
Where there is more than one bare ground wire entering a box what are the acceptable methods for bonding and splicing these and connecting them to the receptacle. Can one wire be left long and run straight to the bonding screw on the receptacle with the other wire(s) wound around this wire or does there have to be a pigtail and an insulated cap in all cases?


Answer
There are two methods that are considered Code compliant.

The first is the pigtail connection. One of the bond conductors is looped around the outlet box bonding screw and left long enough to be connected together with the other bond wires and with a pigtail that goes to the receptacle bonding screw. The wires must be joined together using a suitable wire connector.

Note- there are manufactured wire connectors available that incorporate a "built in pigtail".

Note that twisting the bond wires together without a wire connector does not comply with the Code.

The second method can be done with metal boxes that have two bond screws in the back with a raised metal ridge on either side of the screws. Each bond conductor may be terminated by laying it under and on one side of the screw in such a manner that the tightening of the screw will pull the conductor rather than push it (note- only two bonding conductors per screw can be done in this manner). Each bond conductor may have any excess cut off with the exception of one which is connected to the bonding screw of the receptacle (note this conductor must be at least 150 mm or 6" long between the box bond screw and the receptacle bond screw).

Ontario Electrical Safety Code Rule 10-906.

I don't recommend the second method.

I have always believed that the ground conductor coming from the panel should be the one trapped under the screw. But the CEC does not specifically require it.

[gmrobert]

So for a switch (which has no ground screw) I could do either:

1. wind around a single ground screw and connect with the other ground using a connector.

OR

2. where there are two ground screws in a box simply connect each ground to its own screw.


Greg