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#1
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
I tried this in misc.rural, and got a recommendation to try it
here. ------------------------------------------------------------- Been quite awhile since I started wondering what it was with the "Building Wiring Fault" lights on my UPS'. In doing some homework prior to getting a generator transfer switch installed, it became apparent that houses need tb "Grounded" - and the typical ground is one or more copper rods pounded into the ground and then attached to a (neutral?) wire in the breaker panel. This house is a split-level, crawl space but no basement, built in the fifties and I am unable to find anything that even looks like a ground. One reason for no ground might be what the house is built on: a shale ridge. The builder scooped a notch out of a hillside, sold the topsoil, and built this house on the notch. Go down about 4", and you hit shale that is so solid that you need an air hammer or a breaker bar and lots of time to get through - as in 3 days with a breaker bar and a tin cup to make 2 4" wide 28" deep holes for a boat rack I put in last year. Realistically, we've been in this house for 30+ years and never lost an appliance to electrical surge... but still... there's got tb good reasons for grounding. That being said, I'm exploring after-the-fact methods. The obvious is the copper pipe that water comes in on: buried several feet deep and running a good 30' to the main under the street. Seems like this was SOP until some time in recent history when it was deemed inadequate. The second thing that comes up is a "Ufer" ground wherein the ground wire is tied to rebar in the house's foundation. I can find a lot of articles on the techniques of doing this in new construction, but nothing about retrofits. The third approach seems tb lateral: long trenches in the yard with the grounding medium layed in the trench. Seems impractical to me bc the standard calls for 30" deep... Has anybody been he retrofitting a ground system to a house built on shale or rock? -- Pete Cresswell |
#2
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
"(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
I tried this in misc.rural, and got a recommendation to try it here. ------------------------------------------------------------- Been quite awhile since I started wondering what it was with the "Building Wiring Fault" lights on my UPS'. In doing some homework prior to getting a generator transfer switch installed, it became apparent that houses need tb "Grounded" - and the typical ground is one or more copper rods pounded into the ground and then attached to a (neutral?) wire in the breaker panel. This house is a split-level, crawl space but no basement, built in the fifties and I am unable to find anything that even looks like a ground. One reason for no ground might be what the house is built on: a shale ridge. The builder scooped a notch out of a hillside, sold the topsoil, and built this house on the notch. Go down about 4", and you hit shale that is so solid that you need an air hammer or a breaker bar and lots of time to get through - as in 3 days with a breaker bar and a tin cup to make 2 4" wide 28" deep holes for a boat rack I put in last year. Realistically, we've been in this house for 30+ years and never lost an appliance to electrical surge... but still... there's got tb good reasons for grounding. That being said, I'm exploring after-the-fact methods. The obvious is the copper pipe that water comes in on: buried several feet deep and running a good 30' to the main under the street. Seems like this was SOP until some time in recent history when it was deemed inadequate. The second thing that comes up is a "Ufer" ground wherein the ground wire is tied to rebar in the house's foundation. I can find a lot of articles on the techniques of doing this in new construction, but nothing about retrofits. The third approach seems tb lateral: long trenches in the yard with the grounding medium layed in the trench. Seems impractical to me bc the standard calls for 30" deep... Has anybody been he retrofitting a ground system to a house built on shale or rock? I would want an evaluation of the current hookup from the pole. Do you have a pole ? Greg |
#3
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
Per gregz:
I would want an evaluation of the current hookup from the pole. Do you have a pole ? Yes. Could that be something the electric utility would be willing to do? I'm thinking maybe some sort of equipment or even personnel safety concern. -- Pete Cresswell |
#4
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
"(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
Per gregz: I would want an evaluation of the current hookup from the pole. Do you have a pole ? Yes. Could that be something the electric utility would be willing to do? I'm thinking maybe some sort of equipment or even personnel safety concern. Don't think. If it were here, I could ask local permit office for requirements. If things were changed, then power company should inspect before meter was attached. Greg |
#5
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
"(PeteCresswell)" wrote in message ... I tried this in misc.rural, and got a recommendation to try it here. ------------------------------------------------------------- Been quite awhile since I started wondering what it was with the "Building Wiring Fault" lights on my UPS'. In doing some homework prior to getting a generator transfer switch installed, it became apparent that houses need tb "Grounded" - and the typical ground is one or more copper rods pounded into the ground and then attached to a (neutral?) wire in the breaker panel. This house is a split-level, crawl space but no basement, built in the fifties and I am unable to find anything that even looks like a ground. One reason for no ground might be what the house is built on: a shale ridge. The builder scooped a notch out of a hillside, sold the topsoil, and built this house on the notch. Go down about 4", and you hit shale that is so solid that you need an air hammer or a breaker bar and lots of time to get through - as in 3 days with a breaker bar and a tin cup to make 2 4" wide 28" deep holes for a boat rack I put in last year. Realistically, we've been in this house for 30+ years and never lost an appliance to electrical surge... but still... there's got tb good reasons for grounding. That being said, I'm exploring after-the-fact methods. The obvious is the copper pipe that water comes in on: buried several feet deep and running a good 30' to the main under the street. Seems like this was SOP until some time in recent history when it was deemed inadequate. The second thing that comes up is a "Ufer" ground wherein the ground wire is tied to rebar in the house's foundation. I can find a lot of articles on the techniques of doing this in new construction, but nothing about retrofits. The third approach seems tb lateral: long trenches in the yard with the grounding medium layed in the trench. Seems impractical to me bc the standard calls for 30" deep... Personally, I'd have a conversation with your local electrical inspector - the guy who has to approve the instalation for your permit. He knows best what he will approve. I've found they are glad to be consulted on such matters. |
#6
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
On Nov 15, 10:17*pm, "Bob F" wrote:
"(PeteCresswell)" wrote in message ... I tried this in misc.rural, and got a recommendation to try it here. ------------------------------------------------------------- Been quite awhile since I started wondering what it was with the "Building Wiring Fault" lights on my UPS'. In doing some homework prior to getting a generator transfer switch installed, it became apparent that houses need tb "Grounded" - and the typical ground is one or more copper rods pounded into the ground and then attached to a (neutral?) wire in the breaker panel. This house is a split-level, crawl space but no basement, built in the fifties and I am unable to find anything that even looks like a ground. One reason for no ground might be what the house is built on: a shale ridge. * *The builder scooped a notch out of a hillside, sold the topsoil, and built this house on the notch. * Go down about 4", and you hit shale that is so solid that you need an air hammer or a breaker bar and lots of time to get through - as in 3 days with a breaker bar and a tin cup to make 2 4" wide 28" deep holes for a boat rack I put in last year. Realistically, we've been in this house for 30+ years and never lost an appliance to electrical surge... but still... there's got tb good reasons for grounding. That being said, I'm exploring after-the-fact methods. The obvious is the copper pipe that water comes in on: buried several feet deep and running a good 30' to the main under the street. *Seems like this was SOP until some time in recent history when it was deemed inadequate. The second thing that comes up is a "Ufer" ground wherein the ground wire is tied to rebar in the house's foundation. *I can find a lot of articles on the techniques of doing this in new construction, but nothing about retrofits. The third approach seems tb lateral: long trenches in the yard with the grounding medium layed in the trench. * Seems impractical to me bc the standard calls for 30" deep... Personally, I'd have a conversation with your local electrical inspector - the guy who has to approve the instalation for your permit. He knows best what he will approve. I've found they are glad to be consulted on such matters. look for ground wire coming down side of pole. there are hammer tools designed to install ground rods which are currently coper coated stell for strength |
#7
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
On Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:02:05 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)"
wrote: I tried this in misc.rural, and got a recommendation to try it here. ------------------------------------------------------------- Been quite awhile since I started wondering what it was with the "Building Wiring Fault" lights on my UPS'. In doing some homework prior to getting a generator transfer switch installed, it became apparent that houses need tb "Grounded" - and the typical ground is one or more copper rods pounded into the ground and then attached to a (neutral?) wire in the breaker panel. This house is a split-level, crawl space but no basement, built in the fifties and I am unable to find anything that even looks like a ground. One reason for no ground might be what the house is built on: a shale ridge. The builder scooped a notch out of a hillside, sold the topsoil, and built this house on the notch. Go down about 4", and you hit shale that is so solid that you need an air hammer or a breaker bar and lots of time to get through - as in 3 days with a breaker bar and a tin cup to make 2 4" wide 28" deep holes for a boat rack I put in last year. Realistically, we've been in this house for 30+ years and never lost an appliance to electrical surge... but still... there's got tb good reasons for grounding. That being said, I'm exploring after-the-fact methods. The obvious is the copper pipe that water comes in on: buried several feet deep and running a good 30' to the main under the street. Seems like this was SOP until some time in recent history when it was deemed inadequate. The second thing that comes up is a "Ufer" ground wherein the ground wire is tied to rebar in the house's foundation. I can find a lot of articles on the techniques of doing this in new construction, but nothing about retrofits. The third approach seems tb lateral: long trenches in the yard with the grounding medium layed in the trench. Seems impractical to me bc the standard calls for 30" deep... Has anybody been he retrofitting a ground system to a house built on shale or rock? That's simple. Drill a hole all the way thru the core of the earth. Eventually, the drill will exit somewhere in China. Run a copper wire all the way thru this hole, and connect the far end of the wire to the ground rod of whoever has the closest house to your hole, in China. Then connect the near end to your breaker box ground bar. That's all there is to it! Plus, there's MORE..... If your house ever gets hit by lightning, some idiot in China might get electrocuted. That's the price they pay for hating Americans. |
#8
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
On Nov 16, 2:38*am, wrote:
On Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:02:05 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote: I tried this in misc.rural, and got a recommendation to try it here. ------------------------------------------------------------- Been quite awhile since I started wondering what it was with the "Building Wiring Fault" lights on my UPS'. In doing some homework prior to getting a generator transfer switch installed, it became apparent that houses need tb "Grounded" - and the typical ground is one or more copper rods pounded into the ground and then attached to a (neutral?) wire in the breaker panel. This house is a split-level, crawl space but no basement, built in the fifties and I am unable to find anything that even looks like a ground. One reason for no ground might be what the house is built on: a shale ridge. * *The builder scooped a notch out of a hillside, sold the topsoil, and built this house on the notch. * Go down about 4", and you hit shale that is so solid that you need an air hammer or a breaker bar and lots of time to get through - as in 3 days with a breaker bar and a tin cup to make 2 4" wide 28" deep holes for a boat rack I put in last year. Realistically, we've been in this house for 30+ years and never lost an appliance to electrical surge... but still... there's got tb good reasons for grounding. That being said, I'm exploring after-the-fact methods. The obvious is the copper pipe that water comes in on: buried several feet deep and running a good 30' to the main under the street. *Seems like this was SOP until some time in recent history when it was deemed inadequate. The second thing that comes up is a "Ufer" ground wherein the ground wire is tied to rebar in the house's foundation. *I can find a lot of articles on the techniques of doing this in new construction, but nothing about retrofits. The third approach seems tb lateral: long trenches in the yard with the grounding medium layed in the trench. * Seems impractical to me bc the standard calls for 30" deep... Has anybody been he retrofitting a ground system to a house built on shale or rock? That's simple. Drill a hole all the way thru the core of the earth. *Eventually, the drill will exit somewhere in China. *Run a copper wire all the way thru this hole, and connect the far end of the wire to the ground rod of whoever has the closest house to your hole, in China. *Then connect the near end to your breaker box ground bar. That's all there is to it! Plus, there's MORE..... If your house ever gets hit by lightning, some idiot in China might get electrocuted. *That's the price they pay for hating Americans.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Have you pulled the panel cover off and looked inside? The ground wired would be inside, tied together with the neutral. This was standard practice in the 50's. In the 50's having the system grounded was already standard practice. Back then, likely they would have tied it to the water pipe. But it's also possible there is a ground wire going somewhere. |
#9
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
On 11/15/2012 6:02 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
I tried this in misc.rural, and got a recommendation to try it here. ------------------------------------------------------------- Been quite awhile since I started wondering what it was with the "Building Wiring Fault" lights on my UPS'. In doing some homework prior to getting a generator transfer switch installed, it became apparent that houses need tb "Grounded" - and the typical ground is one or more copper rods pounded into the ground and then attached to a (neutral?) wire in the breaker panel. I assume this is the US, and there is an electrical code that is substantially the same as the National Electrical Code. There are several major elements to the building "ground" system. One is a bond between the neutral and service panel enclosure. The enclosure is the basic system "ground". The bond may be a visible strap. It can be a screw that just looks like a mounting screw for the neutral bar. This bonding is critical for tripping breakers when there is a short from, for instance, the hot wire in a drill to the metal drill case that is connected to the ground pin at a grounded receptacle. Another element is one or more earthing electrodes. They are not for tripping breakers. They keep the building "ground" at approximately earth potential, and keep the hot and neutral wires at a reasonable potential with respect to earth. The third element is grounding conductors that go with the branch circuit and connect to the ground terminal on receptacles. The grounding conductor can be a bare or green wire, or it can be the metal of the wiring system. I would understand "building wiring fault" to mean that there is no branch circuit grounding conductor or there is no neutral-ground bond at the panel. The UPS has no way of telling if the building "ground" is earthed. This house is a split-level, crawl space but no basement, built in the fifties and I am unable to find anything that even looks like a ground. One reason for no ground might be what the house is built on: a shale ridge. The builder scooped a notch out of a hillside, sold the topsoil, and built this house on the notch. Go down about 4", and you hit shale that is so solid that you need an air hammer or a breaker bar and lots of time to get through - as in 3 days with a breaker bar and a tin cup to make 2 4" wide 28" deep holes for a boat rack I put in last year. Realistically, we've been in this house for 30+ years and never lost an appliance to electrical surge... but still... there's got tb good reasons for grounding. That being said, I'm exploring after-the-fact methods. The obvious is the copper pipe that water comes in on: buried several feet deep and running a good 30' to the main under the street. Seems like this was SOP until some time in recent history when it was deemed inadequate. In the 50s the water pipe would have been entirely adequate as an earthing electrode. A metal water service pipe and metal municipal water system is still the best earthing electrode you will find at a house. Relatively recently a "supplemental" electrode has been required because the metal water service pipe can be replace by plastic in the future. The the N-G bonded service bar should have been connected to your water pipe (#6 wire is usually used for 100A services), and a bonding wire should have been connected across the water meter. The code now wants the wire from the panel to connect within 5 feet of where the water pipe enters the house. This will be your best earthing electrode. The second thing that comes up is a "Ufer" ground wherein the ground wire is tied to rebar in the house's foundation. I can find a lot of articles on the techniques of doing this in new construction, but nothing about retrofits. This is the next best earthing electrode, but is only practical to add before the foundation is poured. The third approach seems tb lateral: long trenches in the yard with the grounding medium layed in the trench. Seems impractical to me bc the standard calls for 30" deep... Has anybody been he retrofitting a ground system to a house built on shale or rock? Ground rods can be driven at an angle or even installed flat. Ground rods are about the worst electrode. Ask the electrical inspector what they would recommend. |
#10
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
Per bob haller:
look for ground wire coming down side of pole. I think I found it: 6mm solid copper coming out of the breaker box in two places. I was looking for that woven flexy stuff that appears in so many photos - and the patina made it look like an old telephone cable. One runs through a wall, down behind a drain spout, and disappears into the garden soil next to the house. The other runs along the ceiling, into the furnace room, and attaches to a cold water pipe. I think I'll pursue gregZ's recommendation and find somebody who can tell me if the system is actually working (in light of the "Ground Fault" lights on various UPS'). Maybe the guy who installs the cutover switch...although I have learned the hard way that not just any electrician chosen at random is what I'd call a craftsman.... Competence I don't know enough to judge... but the appearance of some of their work makes me wonder -) One thing I don't like is that the 6mm copper is bundled in with an RG6 TV cable and several Cat5 Ethernet cables on it's way to the water pipe. Unencumbered by any knowledge, I have to wonder if a high voltage spike grounding out along that copper might bleed over and fry whatever Ethernet or TV devices are on the ends of those cables. Or can I trust it to completely take the path of least resistance? While looking for the elusive house ground, I noted that the TV antenna we had installed several years ago has a long ground wire, but no ground. The wire is just coiled up in the garden soil next to the house under the antenna. I guess Job#1 (after a call to the installer....) is to run that wire through the crawl space and mate it up with a cold water pipe. ?? -- Pete Cresswell |
#11
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
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#12
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
On Fri, 16 Nov 2012 10:37:51 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)"
wrote: Per : In the 50's having the system grounded was already standard practice. Back then, likely they would have tied it to the water pipe. But it's also possible there is a ground wire going somewhere. Bingo for both. They used solid copper instead the woven flexy stuff I was looking for... so it took awhile to recognize it. In the context of the "Ground Fault" warnings from various UPS', though, I still think I need to have the ground electrically verified... I'm guessing there are tools for that and it's just a matter of finding the right person with the right tool. Possible that the ups is looking for a device ground at the outlet and does not have continuity back to the panel. It has no way to measure the complex ground/neutral panel connection. A voltmeter can be used to verify the ground integrity at the outlet. A 25 watt test bulb will indicate if the ground has a high impedance even though shown to exist by the voltmeter. Your house ground seems to be of the older rod plus pipe standard that was prevalent when built. -- Mr.E |
#13
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
On Nov 16, 10:37*am, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
Per : In the 50's having the system grounded was already standard practice. Back then, likely they would have tied it to the water pipe. But it's also possible there is a ground wire going somewhere. Bingo for both. They used solid copper instead the woven flexy stuff I was looking for... so it took awhile to recognize it. In the context of the "Ground Fault" warnings from various UPS', though, I still think I need to have the ground electrically verified... I'm guessing there are tools for that and it's just a matter of finding the right person with the right tool. -- Pete Cresswell The UPS would have no way of knowing if there is an actual earth ground of not. It could have a way of knowing if the outlet ground is connected to the neutral, but that's it. There are two issues. One is if the panel has an earth ground, which you have now verified. The other is if the grounds from outlets are in fact connected back to the panel ground. If you're having problems with UPS faults about ground, I would suspect that the outlet does not have a ground path back to the panel. |
#14
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
"(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
Per bob haller: look for ground wire coming down side of pole. I think I found it: 6mm solid copper coming out of the breaker box in two places. I was looking for that woven flexy stuff that appears in so many photos - and the patina made it look like an old telephone cable. One runs through a wall, down behind a drain spout, and disappears into the garden soil next to the house. The other runs along the ceiling, into the furnace room, and attaches to a cold water pipe. I think I'll pursue gregZ's recommendation and find somebody who can tell me if the system is actually working (in light of the "Ground Fault" lights on various UPS'). Maybe the guy who installs the cutover switch...although I have learned the hard way that not just any electrician chosen at random is what I'd call a craftsman.... Competence I don't know enough to judge... but the appearance of some of their work makes me wonder -) One thing I don't like is that the 6mm copper is bundled in with an RG6 TV cable and several Cat5 Ethernet cables on it's way to the water pipe. Unencumbered by any knowledge, I have to wonder if a high voltage spike grounding out along that copper might bleed over and fry whatever Ethernet or TV devices are on the ends of those cables. Or can I trust it to completely take the path of least resistance? Best to separate things as much as possible. all my incoming is all in one place, but the wire to the water ground is 35 feet away. While looking for the elusive house ground, I noted that the TV antenna we had installed several years ago has a long ground wire, but no ground. The wire is just coiled up in the garden soil next to the house under the antenna. I guess Job#1 (after a call to the installer....) is to run that wire through the crawl space and mate it up with a cold water pipe. ?? Antenna ground should be far away as possible from other things, including your house. Greg |
#15
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
On Nov 16, 9:42*pm, gregz wrote:
"(PeteCresswell)" wrote: Per bob haller: look for ground wire coming down side of pole. I think I found it: 6mm solid copper coming out of the breaker box in two places. * I was looking for that woven flexy stuff that appears in so many photos - and the patina made it look like an old telephone cable. One runs through a wall, down behind a drain spout, and disappears into the garden soil next to the house. The other runs along the ceiling, into the furnace room, and attaches to a cold water pipe. I think I'll pursue gregZ's recommendation and find somebody who can tell me if the system is actually working (in light of the "Ground Fault" lights on various UPS'). * Maybe the guy who installs the cutover switch...although I have learned the hard way that not just any electrician chosen at random is what I'd call a craftsman.... Competence I don't know enough to judge... but the appearance of some of their work makes me wonder -) One thing I don't like is that the 6mm copper is bundled in with an RG6 TV cable and several Cat5 Ethernet cables on it's way to the water pipe. *Unencumbered by any knowledge, I have to wonder if a high voltage spike grounding out along that copper might bleed over and fry whatever Ethernet or TV devices are on the ends of those cables. * Or can I trust it to completely take the path of least resistance? *Best to separate things as much as possible. all my incoming is all in one place, but the wire to the water ground is 35 feet away. While looking for the elusive house ground, I noted that the TV antenna we had installed several years ago has a long ground wire, but no ground. * The wire is just coiled up in the garden soil next to the house under the antenna. * I guess Job#1 (after a call to the installer....) is to run that wire through the crawl space and mate it up with a cold water pipe. *?? Antenna ground should be far away as possible from other things, including your house. Greg- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Says who? Typically an antenna is installed on the roof of the house and the ground is run to the single point grounding system for the house. Where should they run it to? Afghanistan? |
#16
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
"bud--" wrote in message eb.com... On 11/15/2012 6:02 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote: I tried this in misc.rural, and got a recommendation to try it here. ------------------------------------------------------------- Been quite awhile since I started wondering what it was with the "Building Wiring Fault" lights on my UPS'. In doing some homework prior to getting a generator transfer switch installed, it became apparent that houses need tb "Grounded" - and the typical ground is one or more copper rods pounded into the ground and then attached to a (neutral?) wire in the breaker panel. I assume this is the US, and there is an electrical code that is substantially the same as the National Electrical Code. There are several major elements to the building "ground" system. One is a bond between the neutral and service panel enclosure. The enclosure is the basic system "ground". The bond may be a visible strap. It can be a screw that just looks like a mounting screw for the neutral bar. This bonding is critical for tripping breakers when there is a short from, for instance, the hot wire in a drill to the metal drill case that is connected to the ground pin at a grounded receptacle. Another element is one or more earthing electrodes. They are not for tripping breakers. They keep the building "ground" at approximately earth potential, and keep the hot and neutral wires at a reasonable potential with respect to earth. The third element is grounding conductors that go with the branch circuit and connect to the ground terminal on receptacles. The grounding conductor can be a bare or green wire, or it can be the metal of the wiring system. I would understand "building wiring fault" to mean that there is no branch circuit grounding conductor or there is no neutral-ground bond at the panel. The UPS has no way of telling if the building "ground" is earthed. This house is a split-level, crawl space but no basement, built in the fifties and I am unable to find anything that even looks like a ground. One reason for no ground might be what the house is built on: a shale ridge. The builder scooped a notch out of a hillside, sold the topsoil, and built this house on the notch. Go down about 4", and you hit shale that is so solid that you need an air hammer or a breaker bar and lots of time to get through - as in 3 days with a breaker bar and a tin cup to make 2 4" wide 28" deep holes for a boat rack I put in last year. Realistically, we've been in this house for 30+ years and never lost an appliance to electrical surge... but still... there's got tb good reasons for grounding. That being said, I'm exploring after-the-fact methods. The obvious is the copper pipe that water comes in on: buried several feet deep and running a good 30' to the main under the street. Seems like this was SOP until some time in recent history when it was deemed inadequate. In the 50s the water pipe would have been entirely adequate as an earthing electrode. A metal water service pipe and metal municipal water system is still the best earthing electrode you will find at a house. Relatively recently a "supplemental" electrode has been required because the metal water service pipe can be replace by plastic in the future. The the N-G bonded service bar should have been connected to your water pipe (#6 wire is usually used for 100A services), and a bonding wire should have been connected across the water meter. The code now wants the wire from the panel to connect within 5 feet of where the water pipe enters the house. This will be your best earthing electrode. The second thing that comes up is a "Ufer" ground wherein the ground wire is tied to rebar in the house's foundation. I can find a lot of articles on the techniques of doing this in new construction, but nothing about retrofits. This is the next best earthing electrode, but is only practical to add before the foundation is poured. The third approach seems tb lateral: long trenches in the yard with the grounding medium layed in the trench. Seems impractical to me bc the standard calls for 30" deep... Has anybody been he retrofitting a ground system to a house built on shale or rock? Ground rods can be driven at an angle or even installed flat. Ground rods are about the worst electrode. Ask the electrical inspector what they would recommend. Great discussion and useful information. It wasn't a retrofit, but I do have thick layers of sandstone about 18 in. below grade (no basement!) and so made sure that the water and gas piping in the house, now about 10 years old, is bonded to the copper water supply pipe going to the street. The gas supply pipe is plastic. The water pipe is buried in a trench about 3 feet deep chipped out of the rock and back filled with sand and top soil. The main panel is connected to a ground electrode which the contractor made by drilling down into the stone and putting in a copper rod. I've checked for a voltage difference a few times between the panel and the incoming copper water pipe and it measured zero on the most sensitive setting of the multi-meter. Probably that's because the top soil is usually moist to wet since rain water doesn't sink into the sandstone, but slowly moves horizontally keeping the region around the top soil and stone conductive. The incoming water pipe and ground electrode are about 15 feet apart with no direct bond. Should there be one? Tomsic |
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
On 11/17/2012 8:19 AM, .-. wrote:
wrote in message eb.com... On 11/15/2012 6:02 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote: I tried this in misc.rural, and got a recommendation to try it here. ------------------------------------------------------------- Been quite awhile since I started wondering what it was with the "Building Wiring Fault" lights on my UPS'. In doing some homework prior to getting a generator transfer switch installed, it became apparent that houses need tb "Grounded" - and the typical ground is one or more copper rods pounded into the ground and then attached to a (neutral?) wire in the breaker panel. I assume this is the US, and there is an electrical code that is substantially the same as the National Electrical Code. There are several major elements to the building "ground" system. One is a bond between the neutral and service panel enclosure. The enclosure is the basic system "ground". The bond may be a visible strap. It can be a screw that just looks like a mounting screw for the neutral bar. This bonding is critical for tripping breakers when there is a short from, for instance, the hot wire in a drill to the metal drill case that is connected to the ground pin at a grounded receptacle. Another element is one or more earthing electrodes. They are not for tripping breakers. They keep the building "ground" at approximately earth potential, and keep the hot and neutral wires at a reasonable potential with respect to earth. The third element is grounding conductors that go with the branch circuit and connect to the ground terminal on receptacles. The grounding conductor can be a bare or green wire, or it can be the metal of the wiring system. I would understand "building wiring fault" to mean that there is no branch circuit grounding conductor or there is no neutral-ground bond at the panel. The UPS has no way of telling if the building "ground" is earthed. This house is a split-level, crawl space but no basement, built in the fifties and I am unable to find anything that even looks like a ground. One reason for no ground might be what the house is built on: a shale ridge. The builder scooped a notch out of a hillside, sold the topsoil, and built this house on the notch. Go down about 4", and you hit shale that is so solid that you need an air hammer or a breaker bar and lots of time to get through - as in 3 days with a breaker bar and a tin cup to make 2 4" wide 28" deep holes for a boat rack I put in last year. Realistically, we've been in this house for 30+ years and never lost an appliance to electrical surge... but still... there's got tb good reasons for grounding. That being said, I'm exploring after-the-fact methods. The obvious is the copper pipe that water comes in on: buried several feet deep and running a good 30' to the main under the street. Seems like this was SOP until some time in recent history when it was deemed inadequate. In the 50s the water pipe would have been entirely adequate as an earthing electrode. A metal water service pipe and metal municipal water system is still the best earthing electrode you will find at a house. Relatively recently a "supplemental" electrode has been required because the metal water service pipe can be replace by plastic in the future. The the N-G bonded service bar should have been connected to your water pipe (#6 wire is usually used for 100A services), and a bonding wire should have been connected across the water meter. The code now wants the wire from the panel to connect within 5 feet of where the water pipe enters the house. This will be your best earthing electrode. The second thing that comes up is a "Ufer" ground wherein the ground wire is tied to rebar in the house's foundation. I can find a lot of articles on the techniques of doing this in new construction, but nothing about retrofits. This is the next best earthing electrode, but is only practical to add before the foundation is poured. The third approach seems tb lateral: long trenches in the yard with the grounding medium layed in the trench. Seems impractical to me bc the standard calls for 30" deep... Has anybody been he retrofitting a ground system to a house built on shale or rock? Ground rods can be driven at an angle or even installed flat. Ground rods are about the worst electrode. Ask the electrical inspector what they would recommend. Great discussion and useful information. It wasn't a retrofit, but I do have thick layers of sandstone about 18 in. below grade (no basement!) and so made sure that the water and gas piping in the house, now about 10 years old, is bonded to the copper water supply pipe going to the street. The gas supply pipe is plastic. The water pipe is buried in a trench about 3 feet deep chipped out of the rock and back filled with sand and top soil. Some gas utilities don't want their gas pipes bonded to the electrical. With a plastic supply it shouldn't matter. The way the NEC handles it is that metal gas pipe is connected to the building ground at appliances, like gas stoves and furnaces. The main panel is connected to a ground electrode which the contractor made by drilling down into the stone and putting in a copper rod. I've checked for a voltage difference a few times between the panel and the incoming copper water pipe and it measured zero on the most sensitive setting of the multi-meter. Probably that's because the top soil is usually moist to wet since rain water doesn't sink into the sandstone, but slowly moves horizontally keeping the region around the top soil and stone conductive. The incoming water pipe and ground electrode are about 15 feet apart with no direct bond. Should there be one? Zero voltage means there is little, if any, current to earth (shouldn't be much anyway). Not obvious if it is from the description, but the water pipe should also be used as an earthing electrode. Water pipe and ground rod should both connect to the service panel neutral-ground bar. They can connect at the bar, or (if I remember right) the ground rod wire can connect to the water pipe wire at a convenient point. There should be a bond wire across the water meter. My guess is that the resistance to earth is quite high. In a surge "event" the building "ground" will lift higher above 'absolute' earth potential than usual. Having short ground wires from entry protectors (phone, cable, dish, ...) to a common connection point on the earthing system is more important than most houses. And the distance from the service N-G bond to the common connection point should also be short. You want all wiring to rise together. |
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
The incoming water pipe and ground electrode are about 15 feet apart with no direct bond. *Should there be one? Tomsic YES!!!! and the water meter should have a jumper, since meters can be poor conductors and mayy be removed at some time |
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
Per bud--:
I agree. There should also be a ground block where the coax enters the house. That allows the coax shield to be earthed. That connection, in particular, plus the ground wire from the TV antenna, should connect to the earthing system near the service panel. ... That requires a short wire from entry protectors to a common connection point on the earthing system. The distance from the service N-G bond to the common connection point also has to be short. Is there a conflict there for a TV antenna mounted on the North end of the house with coax running down the North wall and entering the crawl space there - and a service panel on the opposite end of the house? -- Pete Cresswell |
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On Nov 20, 3:46*pm, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
Per bud--: I agree. There should also be a ground block where the coax enters the house. That allows the coax shield to be earthed. That connection, in particular, plus the ground wire from the TV antenna, should connect to the earthing system near the service panel. ... That requires a short wire from entry protectors to a common connection point on the earthing system. The distance from the service N-G bond to the common connection point also has to be short. Is there a conflict there for a TV antenna mounted on the North end of the house with coax running down the North wall and entering the crawl space there - and a service panel on the opposite end of the house? -- Pete Cresswell In that situation the technically correct thing to do would be to have another ground rod on the end of the house with the antenna and have that ground rod bonded to the ground rod at the main panel. However there are plenty of houses out there that just have the antenna ground on one end and the panel grounded on the other. This common ground is one reason utilities, ie electric, phone, cable, etc come in at the same place. |
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On Nov 21, 9:46*am, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
Per : In that situation the technically correct thing to do would be to have another ground rod on the end of the house with the antenna and have that ground rod bonded to the ground rod at the main panel. * However there are plenty of houses out there that just have the antenna ground on one end and the panel grounded on the other. * This common ground is one reason utilities, ie electric, phone, cable, etc come in at the same place. Given that one of the building's grounds is a cold water pipe, it sounds like attaching that antenna ground wire to the nearest cold water pipe would do the trick. Or would I be trying to electrocute anybody who happened tb using a faucet at the time of the strike? -- Pete Cresswell Here are my concerns with that approach. You have an antenna mast up on the roof with a ground wire that leads back into the house and is connected to a cold water pipe. Lightning hits the antenna and where are you asking it to go? Into the house. Don't know about you, but I'd prefer to keep it out of the house. And the longer the path from the antenna to earth ground, the higher the impedance. Also adding to the impedance are any turns the ground wire and piping make on their way through the house. If you have a couple 90 deg, sharp turns where the ground enters the house on it's way to the water pipe, there is the distinct possibility that the lightning will decide there is an easier path to ground and go that route. For example, it could just arc over to earth near where it enters the house. Again, I'm sure you can find plenty of houses where this has been done with no ill effects. An interesting alternate method would be to have a ground rod for the antenna and then use the cold water pipe to bond it to the main grounding system of the house. That way with a strike, the vast majority of the energy is going to go right to earth, not into the house. By having that ground rod bonded to the other system via the cold water pipe, it would keep the ground voltage level close, ie the two will be at somewhat similar levels. Without it, you could have the ground reference at the antenna point thousands of volts different from the main house ground. And then the TV for example, could get damaged. But I don't know if it's kosher to use the cold water system to do the bonding. I could sleep OK if it were my house, but technically I suspect something in the code says you have to run an actual grounding conductor between the two ground rods. Perhaps Bud can weigh in on this. |
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On Nov 22, 10:01*am, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
Per : An interesting alternate method would be to have a ground rod for the antenna and then use the cold water pipe to bond it to the main grounding system of the house. * That way with a strike.... Sounds to me like there is no downside to a dedicated grounding rod for the antenna - right under it where the ground wire drops down the side of the house.... and then work out the bonding possibilities with the rest of the ground system later. Have I got it right? -- Pete Cresswell The only downside is that later in many cases never happens. And until it is bonded to the house grounding system, with a lightning strike, you could have that ground and anything connected to it, ie TV, at possibly thousands of volts higher than the house ground, thereby destroying the TV, etc. However, there are undoubtly a whole lot of houses out there where it's done with just the antenna grounded and no bonding. And given how much of a PIA it might be to run a proper bond, I might not do it myself either. At the end of the day, with what you describe, you don't have the perfect situation, but you do have a ground for the antenna and IMO it's not a big safety issue. More of an issue that the TV has a higher possibility of getting zapped. |
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
On 11/22/2012 9:01 AM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
Per : An interesting alternate method would be to have a ground rod for the antenna and then use the cold water pipe to bond it to the main grounding system of the house. That way with a strike.... Sounds to me like there is no downside to a dedicated grounding rod for the antenna - right under it where the ground wire drops down the side of the house.... and then work out the bonding possibilities with the rest of the ground system later. Have I got it right? The downside is that for a near strike, or strong surge current earthed through the power earthing system, the rod can be thousands of volts different from the building "ground". Those thousands of volts can show up at anything connected to the antenna and power. I wouldn't add a ground rod without bonding it back to the electrical system. But bonding does NOT eliminate this problem, created by the distant rod. IMHO the rod increases the probability of damage. What the NEC wants now is the power system earthing connection to the water pipe within 5 ft of where the water pipe enters the house. One of the places for the rod bond to connect is in the same 5 ft. Years ago the power system connection could be anywhere on the water pipe. My preference generally is to connect the rod bond near the power service. If lightning strikes the antenna, a ground rod will help only a little. The earth potential at the ground rod will likely be many tens of thousands of volts different from the building earthing and the building "ground". The antenna will be even further. There will likely be major damage. That can include arcing from the antenna or antenna wires to elsewhere in or on the house. Ask a ham with a high antenna what you have to do for lightning protection. Earthing is only part of the protection. A major element is that all wiring rises to the same potential during a strike. You can't reliably do that with the distant (but bonded) rod. A start would be to route the antenna wire into the house adjacent to the power entrance with the antenna in a compatible location. For most of us, it is real unlikely our houses (or antennas that don't stick way above the house) will be hit by lightning, and is not cost-effective to provide lighting protection. Some principles: I isn't easy to make connection to the earth. A ground rod is one of the worst ways. Two points of earth that are pretty close together can be many thousands of volts different during an "event". The ends of a wire, maybe 20 ft long, can be thousands of volts different during an "event". |
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On 11/22/12 1:04 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
Per : More of an issue that the TV has a higher possibility of getting zapped. But no higher than now with no ground rod at all, right? Your observation about bonding later never happening rings true... A local mechanic claims there is nothing more permanent than temporary. |
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On Nov 22, 4:50*pm, Dean Hoffman wrote:
On 11/22/12 1:04 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote: Per : More of an issue that the TV has a higher possibility of getting zapped. But no higher than now with no ground rod at all, right? Yes, I would think the possiblility of the TV getting zapped would be lower, not higher. If it were me, I would rather have the antenna grounded to a seperate ground rod that is not bonded to the main house ground, rather than no ground at all. At least you have a path for the main lightning current to follow and it's not into the house. In addition to the mast being grounded, there should be a lightning arrestor installed on the signal cable. Your observation about bonding later never happening rings true... * * A local mechanic claims there is nothing more permanent than temporary. |
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In article om,
bud-- wrote: If I wanted to learn more about all this, what would I read. Preferably something that didn't simply say what the code demanded, but rather something that *explained* enough so that you'd be able to look at various grounding systems and be able to tell the pros and cons of each. Any ideas? David |
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
On 1/15/2013 12:33 AM, David Combs wrote:
In raweb.com, wrote: If I wanted to learn more about all this, what would I read. Preferably something that didn't simply say what the code demanded, but rather something that *explained* enough so that you'd be able to look at various grounding systems and be able to tell the pros and cons of each. Any ideas? David The grounding chapter of the NEC is likely the most confusing of the commonly used chapters. I have accumulated information over many years. The best source may be "Soares book on gounding and bonding" published by the International Association of Electrical Inspectors. At almost 400 pages it is overkill for most people. http://ecmweb.com/bonding-amp-ground...ding-part-1-12 is a 12 part series from EC&M magazine (which is very good magazine, or was when I was reading it). [HeyBub used one page as a source, which had an error, likely oversimplification that was probably fixed on a later page. I have not read the whole series.] I read a book on "grounding" from the library and took strong exception to several pieces. You can ask questions here, but sometimes it is hard to know what to ask. |
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On 1/15/2013 12:33 AM, David Combs wrote:
In raweb.com, wrote: If I wanted to learn more about all this, what would I read. Preferably something that didn't simply say what the code demanded, but rather something that *explained* enough so that you'd be able to look at various grounding systems and be able to tell the pros and cons of each. It's unlikely w/o much detailed study and more background than you'll get you'll be able to discern "pros and cons" other than what is outlined for some given situation by any particular author. An overall practical non-journeyman's guide is http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Electrical-Wiring-Residential-Commercial/dp/0971977968 It's based on given revision of NEC but is written as narrative-style rather than simply the Code sections and has introductory chapters that are good for getting concepts for the neophyte/non-engineer/non-techschool trained...you'll not be ready for licensing exam but you'll have a good start and have info at hand for most household/farmstead/_light_ manufacturing that likely to run across outside actual commercial/industrial applications. -- |
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
Dont forget to install a ground jumper between the 2 sides of the
water meter, meters dont make good conductors and might be removed at some time. And bond all grounds together. otherwise ground loops can occur. Having grounds at different potentials can cause a hazard if anyone gets across 2 different potential ones. Nasty shock can occur |
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
In article ,
bob haller wrote: Dont forget to install a ground jumper between the 2 sides of the water meter, meters dont make good conductors and might be removed at some time. And bond all grounds together. otherwise ground loops can occur. Having grounds at different potentials can cause a hazard if anyone gets across 2 different potential ones. Nasty shock can occur Excellent "white paper" on grounding and the neutral-wire he http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/S...NQYQ_R1_EN.pdf |
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Retrofit-Grounding Fifties-Era House?
In article ,
David Combs wrote: In article , bob haller wrote: Dont forget to install a ground jumper between the 2 sides of the water meter, meters dont make good conductors and might be removed at some time. And bond all grounds together. otherwise ground loops can occur. Having grounds at different potentials can cause a hazard if anyone gets across 2 different potential ones. Nasty shock can occur Excellent "white paper" on grounding and the neutral-wire he http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/S...NQYQ_R1_EN.pdf Hey, anyone go look at that stuff? They have a variety of interesting "white papers" there. If you have looked at any of it, how about commenting back here, suggesting that others do or do not go there themselves. David |
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