What size must the equipment grounding conductor be when a 200-A fused safety switch with 125-amp fuses is installed with 8 AWG conductors?

The equipment grounding conductor is an essential part of electrical systems, serving to protect against electrical faults by directing fault current to the ground. When determining the correct size for the equipment grounding conductor in a system like the one described — a 200-A fused safety switch with 125-amp fuses and 8 AWG conductors — guidelines from the National Electrical Code (NEC) will be applied.

Based on NEC requirements, the minimum size for the equipment grounding conductor must be determined based on the size of the overcurrent protection (the fuses, in this case) and the size of the conductors. For a circuit carrying 125 amps, an 8 AWG copper conductor is typically sufficient for current-carrying purposes. However, the equipment grounding conductor size is usually calculated based on the maximum size of the conductors that are provide overcurrent protection.

In this case, since the conductors are 8 AWG, the corresponding grounding conductor per NEC guidelines would typically be required to be at least the same size, or possibly larger, if the application calls for it. Therefore, the equipment grounding conductor must be at least 8 AWG in size, ensuring it can adequately handle any fault current for safe operation. This aligns with