[BITList] Earths

[FS]

Hugh
In Australia its been illegal for a long time to use the water pipes as 
a grounding point so we use earthing rods but due to the nature of the 
soil the distance that these rods have to be driven to obtain a good 
ground connection can be quite staggering, Plus we use what is called a 
multiple earthed Neutral (MEN) system which ties the Neutral to ground 
to stop it from rising above zero volts unlike some parts of the UK 
where it is allowed to float above zero which produces some interesting 
results when there is a ground fault in a circuit which then allows the 
neutral to back feed the circuit and liven points up that one would 
expect to be dead
frank

On 10/29/2010 3:20 AM, HUGH wrote:
> Over the past 9 months or so, Scottish Water have dug up two large 
> areas in front of our house and performed whatever they perform, deep 
> down in the giant holes. In neither case were we told in advance that 
> we'd have no access to our front door for 2 weeks, nor would some of 
> our neighbours (as I said, they were big holes).  The foreman, who 
> wasn't pleased at having to get the second hole dug, told us it was 
> typical of these &%$£&%s not to tell us in advance.  This morning we 
> all got a package of papers and notes announcing even more digging in 
> unspecified locations and at unspecified dates and times. At the top 
> of one of these bits of paper it says, Warning (in red) : it is 
> dangerous to use metal water service pipes as electrical earths.  I 
> generally use copper wire for earthing, but I read on.  Apparently it 
> has been illegal since 1966 to earth a UK domestic el system via the 
> water pipes.  First I heard of it, and I don't know of a house that is 
> not so earthed.  Our house was built in 1967 and was delivered to us 
> comprehensively earthed via the water pipes. It makes sense to allow 
> for the later insertion of any length of plastic pipe by bridging it 
> with a wire suitably clamped, but the leaflet implies it is dangerous 
> and illegal regardless.  In fact, what they are saying is that 
> whatever they do down their holes with plastic water mains may render 
> our (illegal) earths useless, so if falls on us to hire electricians 
> to do the needful, whatever that is, for money.  Question, how should 
> one earth an electrical system other than by metal water pipes that go 
> into the ground?  A big spike?  I think they're trying to forestall 
> legal rouble via a smokescreen.
> Hugh.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> To unsubscribe from this email List, send an email to:
> BITList-unsubscribe at lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com
>
> BITList mailing list
> BITList at lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com
> http://lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com/mailman/listinfo/bitlist
>
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 9.0.864 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3224 - Release Date: 10/28/10 14:34:00
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com/pipermail/bitlist/attachments/20101029/b27830c5/attachment.shtml