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 rewiring, new DB, add DB

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diffyhelman2
post Mar 20 2022, 01:25 PM

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Sorry to hijack thread but for those with experience with very old house (70s), any idea how they earth the ground rod? Only two cables from the tnb pole to the meter so can’t be tn-s system. But house surely got earth and measured 0.5v between N and E at the sockets.

Can’t seem to see any earth cables coming out from the main tnb panel. And can’t find any earth concrete casing for ground Rod anywhere in the house compound.

user posted image
user posted image

This post has been edited by diffyhelman2: Mar 20 2022, 01:27 PM
diffyhelman2
post Mar 20 2022, 08:57 PM

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QUOTE(ozak @ Mar 20 2022, 08:49 PM)
The ground rod is normally locate at the garden. If the front yard is tile up whole place, than the tile already cover over it.

The earth wire lay directly to the DB. Doesn’t go through the meter side.
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Thanks for the reply. Reason I’m asking is because I’m planning to install an spd and i think the db is full and will require a wire longer than 50 cm to connect to the earth point. When people talk about laying a secondary earth point to make the connection to the spd shorter, how do they do this? Will i have to lay a new grounding rod?
diffyhelman2
post Mar 20 2022, 09:02 PM

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QUOTE(ceo684 @ May 30 2021, 02:14 AM)
Actually its a different market segment. It is not about saving the pennies but it has to be up to code so that it doesn't need further investigations for the near future.
I am also interested in why a 30mA whole house RCD is NOT doable in 2021.
I personally run 30mA as single mains RCD and do not experience nuisance trips.
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Will 30mA RCD be more prone to tripping whenever there’s thunderstorm?my 100 mA RCD trips when there’s a really huge nearby lightning strike which is a good thing I guess.

This post has been edited by diffyhelman2: Mar 20 2022, 09:02 PM
diffyhelman2
post Mar 20 2022, 09:08 PM

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QUOTE(ceo684 @ May 13 2021, 10:58 PM)
[
Earth is optional if not using those old type fluorescent tube with the magnetic brick choke, and is usually not fitted, but its alright to have it fitted.
Typically lights do not come with earth wire, but for the old fluorescent tube with magnetic brick choke, this choke is like a "transformer" that need to be bonded to earth, while the lamp casing is not required to be earthed.
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What happens if the ballast/choke is not bonded with earth? none of the old fluorescent lights in my house is connected the choke with earth. ( in any case I’m changing out these lights to LEd tubes next week). I also don’t see a connection point on the choke for an earth wire ( although some of the casing do have an earth wire bond which is unconnected)

This post has been edited by diffyhelman2: Mar 20 2022, 09:09 PM
diffyhelman2
post Mar 20 2022, 10:27 PM

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QUOTE(stormer.lyn @ Mar 20 2022, 09:29 PM)
All electrical items with a metal body must be earthed. This includes the casing of the "fluorescent" tube, even if the tube is LED. Items that are double insulated, like plastic downlights, do not need to be earthed. But the 230Vac wiring to the light must still have the green wire, it is just not connected.

If you do not have an earth for any metal cased item, and should the LIVE touch the case, then the case will be at mains potential which can kill when you touch it. But if there is an earth bonding, then as soon as the LIVE touches the metal case, something in the DB should trip safely. Note that a LIVE wire touching an unearthed chassis, can still work as if nothing is wrong with it. With this in mind, you can run any metal cased item without an earth bonding, but your safety is compromised.
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Yes i understand the purpose of earth wire. The Fluorescent light fixtures are normally inaccessible. Ceiling height. I’m only asking about the
Earthing of the magnetic choke.
diffyhelman2
post Mar 21 2022, 01:59 PM

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QUOTE(stormer.lyn @ Mar 21 2022, 01:12 PM)
And I am telling you the requirement. All metal cased items that are not double insulated. This supersedes the choke inside the case.

As you have alluded to in your post, exposure determines risk. Just like you will never be mauled by a shark if you never swim in the ocean (unless you Sharknado!) a light fixture that is high and inaccessible is "safe" with no earth than say, a stand lamp. You make your choice on the level of exposure you are willing to risk.

There is no technical reason that a fluorescent tube will not work if the choke is or isn't earthed. It is done for safety.
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The ST wiring guide pdf linked by ceo, they list exceptions for earth wiring requirement on metal bodies. One of them is metallic covers for light fixture.

7.6 item iii

user posted image

This post has been edited by diffyhelman2: Mar 21 2022, 02:03 PM
diffyhelman2
post Mar 21 2022, 05:06 PM

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QUOTE(stormer.lyn @ Mar 21 2022, 05:02 PM)
Okay. If you are so confident, why did you ask the question on the first place?

By the way, this
user posted image
is not a light cover

This
user posted image
is a light cover

Lazy to take real life pictures, move to my pc, edit and annotate them, and try to convince you otherwise. You do you.
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My original question in post 59 was about earthing the magnetic choke ballast, not about earthing in general. ceo684 said that magnetic choke is considered a transformer so must be bonded to earth. I suspect the last lightning strike that blew up my outdoor lamp on the choke part may have been due to this.

This post has been edited by diffyhelman2: Mar 21 2022, 05:35 PM

 

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