The minimum grounded conductor size for paralleled service-entrance conductors is not smaller than 1/0 AWG.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Depends

Answer: (A)

When service-entrance conductors are paralleled, the neutral (grounded conductor) must be sized to carry the same ampacity as the parallel hot conductors. To ensure reliable current sharing, safe heat dissipation, and proper overcurrent protection, there is a practical minimum size for the grounded conductor in such a setup, which is 1/0 AWG copper (or the equivalent size in aluminum). This prevents the neutral from becoming the weak link in the parallel set and protects against overheating or imbalance issues that could occur if a smaller neutral were used. While the exact conductor choice can vary with material (copper vs aluminum) and service rating, the requirement to avoid a grounded conductor smaller than 1/0 AWG for paralleled service conductors is the rationale behind the statement.