Hello all
I have a TT earth system supplying mains power to my Garage. The
earth (6mm cable IIRC) runs from the garage CU to an earth rod
situated nearby.

Whilst at TLC recently I picked up an 'earth rod terminal cover' in an
attempt to tidy up the clamping arrangement to the earth rod:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MTETC.html

However this unit turns out to be not quite what I expected and I'm a
little unclear how it's supposed to be used.

The earth rod clearly goes in the bottom tube (which swivels), and
then there is just a 20mm or so hole in the side of the box. Is this
intended to take a cable gland for the earth cable? Or just a grommet
of the appropriate size? And why the swivel? I'd have thought this
would encourage small children to play with it and maybe loosen the
internal clamp arrangement.

Thanks for your thoughts

J^n

jkn wrote:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MTETC.html

The earth rod clearly goes in the bottom tube (which swivels), and
then there is just a 20mm or so hole in the side of the box. Is this
intended to take a cable gland for the earth cable? Or just a grommet
of the appropriate size? And why the swivel?

I think you've got it backwards. I fitted mine the way up it is shown in
the picture, with the rod exiting through the open hole in the bottom
and a conduit for the cable fitted onto the "tube". I can't remember
exactly how the conduit attached, it's been a couple of years, but are
you sure your "swivel" isn't a screw thread for screw-in conduit fittings?

My box is then sunk slightly into the ground so that just the top, with
the warning label, sticks out a little.

Pete

On 7 Aug, 13:10, jkn wrote:
Hello all
* * I have a TT earth system supplying mains power to my Garage. The
earth (6mm cable IIRC) *runs from the garage CU to an earth rod
situated nearby.

Whilst at TLC recently I picked up an 'earth rod terminal cover' in an
attempt to tidy up the clamping arrangement to the earth rod:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MTETC.html

However this unit turns out to be not quite what I expected and I'm a
little unclear how it's supposed to be used.

The earth rod clearly goes in the bottom tube (which swivels), and
then there is just a 20mm or so hole in the side of the box. Is this
intended to take a cable gland for the earth cable? Or just a grommet
of the appropriate size? And why the swivel? I'd have thought this
would encourage small children to play with it and maybe loosen the
internal clamp arrangement.

Thanks for your thoughts

* * J^n

The entry shown on the right is a conduit connector which you would
use to fit a length of conduit into and bring the green/yellow earth
wire through from the clamp to safely end up above the surface of the
ground on the run up the wall to the MET position. The rod would be
driven into the ground through the bottom of the box. Ideally the
insulated box will be flush with the ground surface to minimise
surface potential gradients in the event of fault current passing
through the earth conductor into the ground. This particular box looks
a bit on the small (shallow) side but its better than nothing I
suppose.
I suggest you get your hands on a copy of the CITB book on BS7671 2008
in which technical data sheet 5B/4 is very explanatory. Your local
reference library may be able to help if you dont want to buy the
book. (ISBN 978-1-85751-278-6)

Can I suggest you

On 7 Aug, 20:52, cynic wrote:
On 7 Aug, 13:10, jkn wrote:



Hello all
* * I have a TT earth system supplying mains power to my Garage. The
earth (6mm cable IIRC) *runs from the garage CU to an earth rod
situated nearby.

Whilst at TLC recently I picked up an 'earth rod terminal cover' in an
attempt to tidy up the clamping arrangement to the earth rod:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MTETC.html

However this unit turns out to be not quite what I expected and I'm a
little unclear how it's supposed to be used.

The earth rod clearly goes in the bottom tube (which swivels), and
then there is just a 20mm or so hole in the side of the box. Is this
intended to take a cable gland for the earth cable? Or just a grommet
of the appropriate size? And why the swivel? I'd have thought this
would encourage small children to play with it and maybe loosen the
internal clamp arrangement.

Thanks for your thoughts

* * J^n

The entry shown on the right is a conduit connector which you would
use to fit a length of conduit into and bring the green/yellow earth
wire through from the clamp to safely end up above the surface of the
ground on the run up the wall to the MET position. The rod would be
driven into the ground through the bottom of the box. Ideally the
insulated box will be flush with the ground surface to minimise
surface potential gradients in the event of fault current passing
through the earth conductor into the ground. This particular box looks
a bit on the small (shallow) side but its better than nothing I
suppose.
I suggest you get your hands on a copy of the CITB book on BS7671 2008
in which technical data sheet 5B/4 is very explanatory. Your local
reference library may be able to help if you dont want to buy the
book. (ISBN 978-1-85751-278-6)

Can I suggest you

Based on your comment about this particular box being rather too
shallow in your experience, can you suggest a supplier of one that you
would use. I'm about to fit an earth rod in a similar situation to
the OP.

Thanks
Rob

"cynic" wrote in message
...
On 7 Aug, 13:10, jkn wrote:
Hello all
I have a TT earth system supplying mains power to my Garage. The
earth (6mm cable IIRC) runs from the garage CU to an earth rod
situated nearby.

Whilst at TLC recently I picked up an 'earth rod terminal cover' in an
attempt to tidy up the clamping arrangement to the earth rod:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MTETC.html

However this unit turns out to be not quite what I expected and I'm a
little unclear how it's supposed to be used.

The earth rod clearly goes in the bottom tube (which swivels), and
then there is just a 20mm or so hole in the side of the box. Is this
intended to take a cable gland for the earth cable? Or just a grommet
of the appropriate size? And why the swivel? I'd have thought this
would encourage small children to play with it and maybe loosen the
internal clamp arrangement.

Thanks for your thoughts

J^n

The entry shown on the right is a conduit connector which you would
use to fit a length of conduit into and bring the green/yellow earth
wire through from the clamp to safely end up above the surface of the
ground on the run up the wall to the MET position. The rod would be
driven into the ground through the bottom of the box. Ideally the
insulated box will be flush with the ground surface to minimise
surface potential gradients in the event of fault current passing
through the earth conductor into the ground. This particular box looks
a bit on the small (shallow) side but its better than nothing I
suppose.


The conduit entry may be swapped for
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/17058/Electrical-Supplies/Cable-Accessories/Glands/IP68-Nylon-Gland-White-20mm-Pack-of-10?cm_re=SEARCHPROMO-_-20MM%20GLAND-_-17058

but it looks more like a surface mount rod cover than a sunken one.

Adam

There are larger pits like the following...
- Screwfix
- Plastic Inspection Earth Pit - 16092
- http://www.screwfix.com/prods/16092/...CFEY?ts=63381#

It is a bit more, probably too, industrial.

"Rob G" wrote in message
...
On 7 Aug, 20:52, cynic wrote:
On 7 Aug, 13:10, jkn wrote:

snipped

Based on your comment about this particular box being rather too
shallow in your experience, can you suggest a supplier of one that you
would use. I'm about to fit an earth rod in a similar situation to
the OP.

Thanks
Rob

Try here
http://www.tradingdepot.co.uk/DEF/pr...%20Cover%20Box for a good supplier.

Hi Chaps
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

One followup - my current earth rod, composed of two 4foot (I think)
Furse rods screwed together, sticks out of the ground a couple of feet
- I can't hammer it in any further. Would it be acceptable to cut this
down nearer to the ground? They are probably the copperbonded steel
cored type.

Thanks
J^n

jkn wrote:
Hi Chaps
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

One followup - my current earth rod, composed of two 4foot (I think)
Furse rods screwed together, sticks out of the ground a couple of feet
- I can't hammer it in any further. Would it be acceptable to cut this
down nearer to the ground? They are probably the copperbonded steel
cored type.

Thanks
J^n


Put a fancy flower pot in front of it, just to stop people falling over it.
:-) lol

Try cutting the very tip off, to see material it is, and then cut it down to
suit the level you need. If you're using a proper clamp, it won't matter
where that is sited on the rod to do its job.

In article , BigWallop
scribeth thus
jkn wrote:
Hi Chaps
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

One followup - my current earth rod, composed of two 4foot (I think)
Furse rods screwed together, sticks out of the ground a couple of feet
- I can't hammer it in any further. Would it be acceptable to cut this
down nearer to the ground? They are probably the copperbonded steel
cored type.

Thanks
J^n


Put a fancy flower pot in front of it, just to stop people falling over it.
:-) lol

Try cutting the very tip off, to see material it is, and then cut it down to
suit the level you need. If you're using a proper clamp, it won't matter
where that is sited on the rod to do its job.




If its a proper Furse it'll be high tensile steel!..

Cut it and make sure its got a good dollop of sealant on it, should be
fine..
--
Tony Sayer