Auxiliary Electrodes

The term auxiliary electrode is specific to the application, referenced in Section 250.54, of installations where a grounding
electrode is “permitted [not required] to be connected to the equipment grounding conductors specified in 250.118” thus:

250.54 Auxiliary Grounding Electrodes. One or more grounding electrodes shall be

permitted to be connected to the equipment grounding conductors specified in
250.118 and shall not be required to comply with the electrode bonding
requirements of 250.50 or 250.53(C) or the resistance requirements of 250.56, but
the earth shall not be used as an effective ground-fault current path as specified
in 250.4(A)(5) and 250.4(B)(4).

This application is specific to auxiliary grounding for equipment such as pumps, electric signs, fuel cell systems, (or in
addition to the system electrode bonding required for solar photovoltaic systems). These electrodes are “permitted to be
connected to the equipment grounding conductors specified in 250.118 and shall not be required to comply with the
electrode bonding requirements of … 250.53(C).” In other words, the auxiliary electrode bonding conductor is permitted to
be the same size as the equipment grounding conductor in accordance with Section 250.122.

Similarly, “[g]rounding electrode conductors … at each building or structure where supplied by a feeder,” in accordance
with 250.32(A)(B) and 250.64(F), are required to be connected to “an equipment grounding conductor as described in
250.118. …” However, in contrast, the system grounding electrode conductor for this application “shall be sized for the
largest grounding electrode conductor required among all the electrodes connected to it” and “the other electrode(s), if
any, are connected by bonding jumpers per 250.53(C).”

As stated in 250.64(F), the reference to 250.53(C) (regarding the grounding electrode bonding requirement for multiple
electrodes) is logically inconsistent with the exemption to 250.53(C) for auxiliary electrodes, and explicitly distinguishes
the bonding requirements for additional electrodes required by 250.56 from the auxiliary electrode bonding requirements
of 250.54:

250.32 Buildings or Structures Supplied by a Feeder(s) or Branch Circuit(s).

(A) Grounding Electrode. Building(s) or structure(s) supplied by feeder(s) or
branch circuit(s) shall have a grounding electrode or grounding electrode system
installed in accordance with Part III of Article 250. The grounding electrode
conductor(s) shall be connected in accordance with 250.32(B) or (C). Where there
is no existing grounding electrode, the grounding electrode(s) required in 250.50
shall be installed.
(B) Grounded Systems. For a grounded system at the separate building or structure,
an equipment grounding conductor as described in 250.118 shall be run with the
supply conductors and be connected to the building or structure disconnecting
means and to the grounding electrode(s). The equipment grounding conductor shall
be used for grounding or bonding of equipment, structures, or frames required to
be grounded or bonded. The equipment grounding conductor shall be sized in
accordance with 250.122. Any installed grounded conductor shall not be connected
to the equipment grounding conductor or to the grounding electrode(s).

250.64 Grounding Electrode Conductor Installation. Grounding electrode conductors

at the service, at each building or structure where supplied by a feeder(s) or
branch circuit(s), or at a separately derived system shall be installed as
specified in 250.64(A) through (F).
(F) Installation to Electrode(s). Grounding electrode conductor(s) and bonding
jumpers interconnecting grounding electrodes shall be installed in accordance with
(1), (2), or (3). The grounding electrode conductor shall be sized for the largest
grounding electrode conductor required among all the electrodes connected to it.
(1) The grounding electrode conductor shall be permitted to be run to any
convenient grounding electrode available in the grounding electrode system where
the other electrode(s), if any, are connected by bonding jumpers per 250.53(C).

In this case, the system grounding electrode bonding conductor must be sized at between 8 AWG and 6 AWG in
accordance with 250.66(A) (as opposed to the equipment grounding conductor size permitted for auxiliary electrode
bonding):

1
 Auxiliary Electrodes

250.50 Grounding Electrode System. All grounding electrodes as described in

250.52(A)(1) through (A)(7) that are present at each building or structure served
shall be bonded together to form the grounding electrode system. Where none of
these grounding electrodes exist, one or more of the grounding electrodes
specified in 250.52(A)(4) through (A)(8) shall be installed and used.

250.53 Grounding Electrode System Installation.

(C) Bonding Jumper. The bonding jumper(s) used to connect the grounding electrodes
together to form the grounding electrode system shall be installed in accordance
with 250.64(A), (B), and (E), shall be sized in accordance with 250.66, and shall
be connected in the manner specified in 250.70.

250.66 Size of Alternating-Current Grounding Electrode Conductor. The size of the

grounding electrode conductor at the service, at each building or structure where
supplied by a feeder(s) or branch circuit(s), or at a separately derived system of
a grounded or ungrounded ac system shall not be less than given in Table 250.66,
except as permitted in 250.66(A) through (C).
(A) Connections to Rod, Pipe, or Plate Electrodes.
Where the grounding electrode conductor is connected to rod, pipe, or plate
electrodes as permitted in 250.52(A)(5) or (A)(7), that portion of the conductor
that is the sole connection to the grounding electrode shall not be required to be
larger than 6 AWG copper wire. …

Examples of auxiliary electrodes are referenced in Sections 600.7(A)(4) and 692:

ARTICLE 600—ELECTRIC SIGNS AND OUTLINE LIGHTING, Part I. General

600.7 Grounding and Bonding. (A) Grounding.
(4) Auxiliary Grounding Electrode. Auxiliary grounding electrode(s) shall be
permitted for electric signs and outline lighting systems covered by this article
and shall meet the requirements of 250.54.

ARTICLE 692—FUEL CELL SYSTEMS, Part V. Grounding

692.47 Grounding Electrode System. Any auxiliary grounding electrode(s) required
by the manufacturer shall be connected to the equipment grounding conductor
specified in 250.118.

Exception to 250.32(A)

Exception: A grounding electrode shall not be required where only a single branch circuit, including a multiwire branch circuit,
supplies the building or structure and the branch circuit includes an equipment grounding conductor for grounding the normally non–
current-carrying metal parts of equipment.

Branch Circuit: The circuit conductors between the final overcurrent device protecting the circuit and the outlet(s).

If the building or structure does not include overcurrent protective device(s) (OCPD) intended to protect the circuit and the
outlets, the supply will be defined as a branch circuit. In this case, the exception to 250.32(A) will apply and the structure
will not require the installation of a grounding electrode (if the supply is limited to “a single branch circuit, including a
multiwire branch circuit”). If an electrode is installed, it may be considered as an auxiliary grounding electrode subject to
the requirements of 250.54.

This exception will not apply to buildings or structures (including manufactured buildings as well as mobile and
manufactured homes) including overcurrent protective device(s) (OCPD) intended to protect the circuit and the outlets, as
the supply must, in this case, be defined as a feeder, rather than a branch circuit.

The logic behind this exception to a grounding electrode system is that this application will not be typical for dwelling units.
Facilities supplied by “a single branch circuit, including a multiwire branch circuit” are not generally intended for use as
dwellings and thus are not subject to the same level of risk to life, health, and safety typical for dwelling units.
2
 Auxiliary Electrodes

2008 NEC Definitions:

Premises Wiring (System): Interior and exterior wiring, including power, lighting, control, and signal circuit wiring together with all
their associated hardware, fittings, and wiring devices, both permanently and temporarily installed. This includes (a) wiring from the
service point or power source to the outlets or (b) wiring from and including the power source to the outlets where there is no service
point.

Separately Derived System. A premises wiring system

whose power is derived from a source of electric energy or
equipment other than a service.

250.20 (D)
FPN No. 1: An alternate ac power source such as an onsite
generator is not a separately derived system if the
grounded conductor is solidly interconnected to a servicesupplied
system grounded conductor.