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

"(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

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

"(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

"(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.

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

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

"(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

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?

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

"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

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.

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

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

On Tue, 15 Jan 2013 06:33:21 +0000 (UTC), (David
Combs) wrote:

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.

Various? The code is the code.

Any ideas?

Use GFCIs.

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.

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.

--