What is the minimum size for protective grounds?

The minimum size for protective grounds is typically #2 AWG stranded copper. This standard is based on guidelines established for ensuring adequate conductivity and strength to safely carry fault currents without excessive heating or deterioration. The #2 AWG size provides a balance of flexibility and conductivity, making it suitable for various protective grounding applications in electrical work.

Larger sizes, such as #4 AWG, while still functional, may not meet the stringent requirements for all applications, particularly in environments where high fault currents could occur. Smaller sizes like #6 AWG and #8 AWG do not provide sufficient capacity to handle the potential fault currents effectively, which could lead to dangerous situations if the grounding systems fail during an electrical fault. Therefore, #2 AWG stranded copper is the minimum size to ensure safety and compliance with industry standards.