At a minimum, personal protective grounds must have the ampacity of which gauge copper conductor?

Personal protective grounds are critical for ensuring the safety of personnel working on electrical systems by providing a low-resistance path for fault currents, thereby minimizing the risk of electric shock. The correct choice specifies that personal protective grounds must have the ampacity of a #2 copper conductor.

The #2 copper conductor is selected because it has sufficient current-carrying capacity to handle potential fault currents and provide appropriate protection. This gauge is necessary to ensure that, in case of an electrical fault, the conductor can safely carry the fault current without overheating or failing. Using a conductor with inadequate ampacity could lead to dangerous situations, as it may not effectively redirect the fault current, risking personnel safety.

In comparison, other gauges such as #4 or #6 do not meet the required ampacity for this application. These smaller conductors would not be able to carry the expected fault currents without a risk of damage or failure, which compromises the protective grounding system's effectiveness. The selection of #2 copper ensures optimal performance and adherence to safety standards in electrical utility practices.