The equipment grounding conductor should be sized based on which of the following?

The equipment grounding conductor must be sized based on several factors that relate to the phase conductors, specifically the type of material used and the cross-sectional area of those conductors.

When considering the type of material, copper and aluminum conductors have different conductivity properties. This impacts how effectively they can carry current and helps to determine the appropriate size of the grounding conductor. A grounding conductor made from a different material than the phase conductors may need to be adjusted in size to maintain safety and effectiveness.

The cross-sectional area of the phase conductors is another critical factor. The larger the conductors' cross-sectional area, the larger the grounding conductor needs to be to ensure that it can safely conduct any fault currents that may occur. This sizing ensures that the grounding system is capable of handling potential fault conditions without overheating or failing.

Thus, both the type of material and the cross-sectional area of the phase conductors are essential criteria in determining the proper size for the equipment grounding conductor to ensure safety and compliance with electrical codes.