Why is it necessary to increase the size of the equipment grounding conductor?

Increasing the size of the equipment grounding conductor is essential to match the size of the ungrounded conductors for several important reasons related to safety and effectiveness. When ungrounded conductors are larger, they can carry a higher current. If a fault occurs, it's crucial that the grounding system can handle the same potential fault current to ensure that it operates correctly and safely.

If the grounding conductor is not sized appropriately to match the ungrounded conductors, it may not be capable of carrying the fault current adequately, leading to a failure in protective devices (like fuses and circuit breakers) that rely on the grounding system to ensure efficient operation during fault conditions. An undersized grounding conductor can also increase the risk of overheating and potentially lead to fires or equipment damage since it cannot adequately dissipate excess currents.

Moreover, maintaining the correct proportional size between grounding and ungrounded conductors helps in minimizing differences in potential, providing better fault protection and reducing shock hazards to personnel or damage to equipment. This is in accordance with standard electrical safety practices and regulations to ensure safe operation of electrical systems.