690.43(C) Equipment Grounding Conductor Location.

When PV system circuit conductors leave the vicinity of the PV array, equipment grounding conductors shall comply with 250.134.
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When PV system circuit conductors leave the vicinity of the PV array, equipment grounding conductors shall comply with 250.134.

Code Change Summary: Revised language about equipment grounding conductors for the PV array.

In the 2023 NEC®, Section 690.43(C) was revised to bring clarity to an existing requirement for equipment grounding conductors within the PV array and outside of the array vicinity. The intent is still the same, but the rearranged language and additional punctuation may help this code section to be applied more accurately.

According to the public input behind the code change, the previous language has led to overly strict interpretation, particularly when the wiring methods transition from above grade to below grade in a ground-mounted PV installation.

The revised language makes it clear that there are two separate rules:

  1. Equipment grounding conductors are permitted to be run separately from the PV system conductors within the PV array.
  2. Where PV system circuit conductors leave the vicinity of the PV array, equipment grounding conductors shall comply with 250.134.

Section 250.134 exception 2 permits the equipment grounding conductor for dc circuits to be run separately from the circuit conductors. This typically results in the equipment grounding conductor being run along side the raceway containing the PV system circuits as they make their way to the other associated electrical equipment.

Adding the reference to 250.134 in 690.43(C) should help those who refused to allow the above exception based on the premise that the rules in NEC® Chapter 6 can modify the rules in Chapters 1 through 4 according to 90.3 and if it wasn’t specifically mentioned in Article 690 then the language in exception 2 to 250.134 couldn’t be used.

Below is a preview of the NEC®. See the actual NEC® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2023 NEC® edition of NFPA 70.

2020 Code Language:

690.43 (C) With Circuit Conductors. Equipment grounding conductors for the PV array and support structure where installed shall be contained within the same raceway or cable or otherwise run with the PV system conductors where those circuit conductors leave the vicinity of the PV array.

2023 Code Language:

690.43(C) Location. Equipment grounding conductors shall be permitted to be run separately from the PV system conductors within the PV array. Where PV system circuit conductors leave the vicinity of the PV array, equipment grounding conductors shall comply with 250.134.

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690.43(C) Equipment Grounding Conductor Location.

Below is a Real Question from our Electrical Continuing Education Courses for Electrical License Renewal:

Based on the 2023 NEC, which of the following is true?

A: Within the array, equipment grounding conductors must be run in a metal raceway.
B: Within the array, equipment grounding conductors must be run with the PV system conductors.
C: Equipment grounding conductors can be run separately from the PV system conductors within the PV array.
D: Within the array, equipment grounding conductors must be run inside a raceway with the PV system conductors.
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