What earth size is required for 16mm live and neutral?

Answer 1

Answer for USA, Canada and countries running a 60 Hz supply service.

Equipment grounding conductors are not based on the size of the live and neutral conductors. Equipment grounding conductors are based on the amp rating of the circuit, which may or may not be the same ampacity of the conductors of the circuit.

However, working backwards, a 16mm conductor is the same as a 3/0 conductor, which is rated for 200amps, which requires an equipment grounding conductor (earth) of at least 6 AWG copper / 4 AWG aluminum. If your circuit is rated higher (usually the breaker size) than 200 amps a larger conductor may be required.

<><><>

As always, if you are in doubt about what to do, the best advice anyone should give you is to call a licensed electrician to advise what work is needed.

Before you do any work yourself,

on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,

always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.