Dielectric union / coupling at gas meter
Is it necessary or desirable to use a dielectric union or coupling when
connecting new gas lines to a gas meter? I have seen this done in some installations but not others. What is the correct thing to do? Thanks for any replies / assistance. Smarty |
Dielectric union / coupling at gas meter
Smarty wrote:
Is it necessary or desirable to use a dielectric union or coupling when connecting new gas lines to a gas meter? I have seen this done in some installations but not others. What is the correct thing to do? Thanks for any replies / assistance. Smarty It depends upon whether your gas utility uses metal supply lines with "active cathodic protection" or not. If they do, then they apply a low voltage to their pipes to prevent electrolytic corrosion and the dielectric unions are needed to avoid shorting that voltage to ground through the home's plumbing and/or electrical grounding system. Best to check with your gas utility and do what they say. AFAIK nonmetalic supply lines are the defacto stardard for new installations nowadays. HTH, Jeff -- Jeffry Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE) The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight. |
Dielectric union / coupling at gas meter
In most cases an insulating coupling is part of the meter set supplied by
the utility, of course, this may vary in some localities. "Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message et... Smarty wrote: Is it necessary or desirable to use a dielectric union or coupling when connecting new gas lines to a gas meter? I have seen this done in some installations but not others. What is the correct thing to do? Thanks for any replies / assistance. Smarty It depends upon whether your gas utility uses metal supply lines with "active cathodic protection" or not. If they do, then they apply a low voltage to their pipes to prevent electrolytic corrosion and the dielectric unions are needed to avoid shorting that voltage to ground through the home's plumbing and/or electrical grounding system. Best to check with your gas utility and do what they say. AFAIK nonmetalic supply lines are the defacto stardard for new installations nowadays. HTH, Jeff -- Jeffry Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE) The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight. |
Dielectric union / coupling at gas meter
Thanks Jeff (and 73's) - I was unaware that the utilities used an active
method to fight electrolytic erosion / transfer. This is a retrofit to an existing meter and a 50+ year old underground supply line, so I think it best I put the dielectric union in "just in case". Thanks again, Smarty (another older, retired E.E.) "Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message et... Smarty wrote: Is it necessary or desirable to use a dielectric union or coupling when connecting new gas lines to a gas meter? I have seen this done in some installations but not others. What is the correct thing to do? Thanks for any replies / assistance. Smarty It depends upon whether your gas utility uses metal supply lines with "active cathodic protection" or not. If they do, then they apply a low voltage to their pipes to prevent electrolytic corrosion and the dielectric unions are needed to avoid shorting that voltage to ground through the home's plumbing and/or electrical grounding system. Best to check with your gas utility and do what they say. AFAIK nonmetalic supply lines are the defacto stardard for new installations nowadays. HTH, Jeff -- Jeffry Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE) The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight. |
Dielectric union / coupling at gas meter
Thanks also for your reply, EXT.
"EXT" wrote in message anews.com... In most cases an insulating coupling is part of the meter set supplied by the utility, of course, this may vary in some localities. "Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message et... Smarty wrote: Is it necessary or desirable to use a dielectric union or coupling when connecting new gas lines to a gas meter? I have seen this done in some installations but not others. What is the correct thing to do? Thanks for any replies / assistance. Smarty It depends upon whether your gas utility uses metal supply lines with "active cathodic protection" or not. If they do, then they apply a low voltage to their pipes to prevent electrolytic corrosion and the dielectric unions are needed to avoid shorting that voltage to ground through the home's plumbing and/or electrical grounding system. Best to check with your gas utility and do what they say. AFAIK nonmetalic supply lines are the defacto stardard for new installations nowadays. HTH, Jeff -- Jeffry Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE) The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight. |
Dielectric union / coupling at gas meter
Smarty wrote:
Thanks Jeff (and 73's) - I was unaware that the utilities used an active method to fight electrolytic erosion / transfer. This is a retrofit to an existing meter and a 50+ year old underground supply line, so I think it best I put the dielectric union in "just in case". Thanks again, Smarty (another older, retired E.E.) The tecnical term for that is "Impressed Current Cathodic Protection". There's a little about it he http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathodic_protection 73s, Jeff -- Jeffry Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE) The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight. |
Dielectric union / coupling at gas meter
Good info I was unaware of. Thanks again!
Smarty "Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message et... Smarty wrote: Thanks Jeff (and 73's) - I was unaware that the utilities used an active method to fight electrolytic erosion / transfer. This is a retrofit to an existing meter and a 50+ year old underground supply line, so I think it best I put the dielectric union in "just in case". Thanks again, Smarty (another older, retired E.E.) The tecnical term for that is "Impressed Current Cathodic Protection". There's a little about it he http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathodic_protection 73s, Jeff -- Jeffry Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE) The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight. |
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