Equipment Grounding Conductors and Voltage Drop

Currently, manufacturers of multi-conductor cable assemblies such as Type TC

and MC cables include a standard size of equipment grounding conductor (EGC)
with a given size of ungrounded conductor, as per UL standards. However, if the
ungrounded conductors are increased due to voltage drop, you lose the curve that is
built into NEC Table 250.122 for reducing the size of EGCs due to 250.122(B).
Section 250.122(B) requires that if the ungrounded conductors are increased in size
for voltage drop, the EGC needs to be increased in size too, proportionately.
For example, a 50A overcurrent protective device (OCPD) on a circuit normally
requires an 8 AWG, Type XHHW, copper (75°C) conductor (minimum), per Table
310.15(B)(16). Let’s say the ungrounded conductors are increased to a 2 AWG,
Type XHHW, copper conductor due to voltage drop. We can calculate a change
ratio for 2 AWG to 8 AWG as follows:
66,360 cm ÷ 16,510 cm = 4.02
(Conductor properties can be found at Chapter 9 Table 8 Sheet 70-766)
For a 50A OCPD, according to Table 250.122, a 10AWG was originally
acceptable for use as the EGC. However, you must now increase the size based on
the following calculation:
10,380 cm (the size of a 10 AWG conductor) x 4.02 (the ratio found above) =
41,721 cm
Now the EGC needs to be sized to meet this figure. A check of the table reveals we
now need a 4 AWG, copper conductor (minimum).

This calculation is not applicable for Multi Conductor cables. (This is because
Multi Conductor cables are manufactured with standard grounding conductor sizes
and adding separate EGC which require special cables is not cost effective)