Grounding sizing is important; it must meet two specific requirements. Which statement correctly lists them?

• A. Must be able to carry maximum fault current.
• B. The equipment shall have an ampacity greater than or equal to 2 AWG copper.
• C. Must be able to carry maximum fault current and ampacity greater than or equal to 2 AWG copper.
• D. Grounding clamps must be sized to meet the cable's current carrying capacity.

Answer: (C)

Grounding sizing must account for two safety requirements: the path must be able to carry the maximum fault current without overheating, and the grounding conductor itself must have enough ampacity, at least equal to a 2 AWG copper conductor. The first ensures the fault current can flow to trip the protective device promptly, preventing damage and fire; the second ensures the conductor won’t overheat during normal operation or fault conditions. So the statement that combines both aspects is the best choice. Focusing on fault current alone misses the conductor’s own heating limits, while focusing only on a minimum conductor size misses the need to handle the worst-case fault current. Clamps matter for connections, but they don’t substitute for sizing the grounding conductor itself.