Wrapping Up Part II — SPD Grounding & Connections
SLIDE 1 — Type 4 & Number Required
🔧 TYPE 4 SPDs (242.18)
Type 4s are component-level devices — think of them as the guts that go INSIDE listed equipment. They can ONLY be installed by the equipment manufacturer. Not a field install situation.
🔢 NUMBER REQUIRED (242.20)
Wherever an SPD is used at a point on the circuit, it has to connect to every single ungrounded conductor at that point — no partial protection.
SLIDE 2 — Location & Connection Options
📍 LOCATION (242.22)
SPDs can be indoor or outdoor — but they must be made inaccessible to unqualified persons, UNLESS they're specifically listed for accessible locations.
🔌 CONNECTION BETWEEN CONDUCTORS (242.30)
An SPD can connect between any two of these:
Ungrounded conductor(s)
Grounded conductor
Equipment grounding conductor
Grounding electrode conductor
Important nuance: the grounded conductor and the EGC should only ever get bridged together THROUGH the SPD doing its job during an actual surge event — not as a permanent connection.
SLIDE 3 — Grounding Electrode Conductor Rules
🌎 GROUNDING ELECTRODE CONDUCTOR CONNECTIONS (242.32)
Outside of what's specifically addressed in Article 242, SPD grounding connections fall back to Article 250, Part III (general grounding electrode system rules).
Also — if a grounding electrode conductor is run inside a metal enclosure, it has to comply with 250.64(E) (bonding the metal enclosure at both ends).
That closes out Part II — everything under 1000V AC / 1500V DC is officially in the books! 📚
SLIDE 4 — Exam Question + CTA
🧠 TEST YOURSELF
Q: True or False — The grounded conductor and equipment grounding conductor may be permanently tied together at the SPD connection point, outside of a surge event.
A) True
B) False
(Answer in the comments 👇)
Next up: Part III — Surge Arresters for systems OVER 1000V. FOLLOW so you don't miss it ⚡ #JoshTheSparky #NEC2026 #ElectricianLife