An steel metal cable tray that is to be used as an equipment grounding conductor must have a cross-sectional area of how many square inches if conductors are protected by a 100A circuit breaker?

The determination of the required cross-sectional area for a steel metal cable tray used as an equipment grounding conductor when protecting conductors by a 100A circuit breaker is based on the standards set forth in the National Electrical Code (NEC).

When assessing the necessary cross-sectional area of a metal component used for grounding, the NEC specifies that the area must be sufficient to safely carry fault current. For a circuit breaker rating of 100A, the minimum cross-sectional area through which the grounding conductor must be sized is typically defined.

In this scenario, the requirement for the grounding conductor via the cable tray directly correlates to the ability to handle fault currents safely and efficiently without overheating or causing damage to the equipment.

The specified cross-sectional area of 0.40 square inches is identified as the minimum requirement for a steel cable tray in this application based on NEC guidelines. This ensures that the ground path is adequately sized to handle potential fault currents associated with a 100A service, thereby providing protection to the system and ensuring safety.

Using an insufficiently sized grounding conductor can lead to serious safety hazards, including the risk of fire, equipment damage, and electric shock. Thus, ensuring a cross-sectional area of 0.40 square inches for the