Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff
Earthing mains power supply
akis:
The ground wires in my house all go to the consumer unit (main fuse box) and there they connect to the Neutral of the incoming mains power supply. In other words my "earth" is the neutral of the mains.
My question is, if there are buried copper pipes or other physically grounded devices can this create some problem? because then it seems I have two "earths", one underground and another the neutral of the incoming mains supply which I presume is connected to the Earth at the substation?
themadhippy:
--- Quote ---The ground wires in my house all go to the consumer unit (main fuse box) and there they connect to the Neutral of the incoming mains power supply.
--- End quote ---
sounds like you have a TNC-S supply arrangement,or pme in old money,about the most common in the uk,Tera or earth and Neutral are Combined on the incoming supply and Separate on the consumer side.
--- Quote ---if there are buried copper pipes or other physically grounded devices can this create some problem?
--- End quote ---
yes you can get a potential between your electrical earth and mother earth, "equipotental bonding"is the answer.Or in other words ,connecting the services (gas a water etc) entering your property to your main earth terminal so there all at the same potential as the electrical earth .Also the supply cable often has the neutral/earth spiked to earth to keep the potential lowish
bjbb:
Perhaps it is TN-C-S. Depends on the distribution system particular to your region. Hi-Z earthing to the distribution transformer is not unusual for parts of the UK.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthing_system; and reference regulation 411.3.1.2 and BS7671
akis:
Alright, so if my house's earth wires solely depend on the incoming mains supply neutral for earthing purposes, there can potentially be an impedance in that leg from faulty electrical device chassis to the real Earth travelling for miles maybe before it connects to (mother) Earth. Is it not then better to have a few rods into the ground (or buried copper pipes, or basement swimming pools etc) to make sure that my earth wires have a very short and very low impedance path to Earth?
Ah just saw this
"Also the supply cable often has the neutral/earth spiked to earth to keep the potential lowish"
Yes, that is what I am saying would be prudent, but do not have it at my house.
Can I just install my own iron rod into the ground? Will I be breaking any rules?
themadhippy:
--- Quote ---Can I just install my own iron rod into the ground
--- End quote ---
yes,maybe,no,it all depends who you ask.
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