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| Thread ID: 137688 | 2014-08-08 02:11:00 | NZ standards for mains earth - connection required at premises or not? | Agent_24 (57) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1381144 | 2014-08-08 02:11:00 | I was just reading an article in this month's Silicon Chip magazine about mains earth faults, which raised some questions about my own house wiring. Recently, the water pipe in my house was replaced with a plastic one. At the time I assumed the house wiring was earthed through the old pipe and questioned the plumber on this. He was unsure and said I should consult an electrician, but he said he had not found any electrical connection to the old pipe at the time. Not long after, an electrician was around to replace worn-out thermostats in the stove. I asked him about the earth connection and he said there was no need for one in the house because New Zealand uses the Multiple Earth Neutral system, and an earth connection is provided by the electricity company 'somewhere' outside the premises. Admittedly the article I just read is written for Australian homes and regulations, but we always seem to be very close if not the same as Australia in terms of electrical codes, and there was definitely no mention of anyone NOT having an earth in their house, either via the water pipe or a separate earth rod (or more) Should I have an earth connection at my house or was the electrician right and it is not really needed? Does anyone here know the answer? |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1381145 | 2014-08-08 02:25:00 | One of the earth points in the Multiple Earth Neutral System is close to the entry point at your premises. Without it, it is possible to have some interesting effects. Wives surprised to find themselves doing vigorous dances while hanging the washing out can adopt radical positions regarding domestic disharmony. Rest assured, if the dancing wife happens to be your mother-in-law, your mirth does nothing to defuse the situation. |
R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 1381146 | 2014-08-08 02:29:00 | Section 4 Page 25 ( if this link works its a PDF) www.med.govt.nz ode%20of%20Practice%20for%20Homeowner%20Occupiers% 20Electrical%20Wiring%20Work%20in%20Domestic%20Ins tallations%20%20-%20Published%2027%20July%202004%20.pdf Dont know if its upto date / still current or not Some other interesting comments on another forum www.electricalforum.co.nz Same question |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 1381147 | 2014-08-08 04:53:00 | At the time I assumed the house wiring was earthed through the old pipe and questioned the plumber on this. electrician said there was no need for one in the house because New Zealand uses the Multiple Earth Neutral system, and an earth connection is provided by the electricity company 'somewhere' outside the premises. ? Wander round the house outside, you'll see a wire in the ground somewhere......that's the house earth. Could be under it although mostly it's up against it on the outside....somewhere. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 1381148 | 2014-08-08 05:10:00 | Without an earth, you may not have an earthly chance of getting a red cent out of your insurance claim. (Don't try that at home;) ) | R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 1381149 | 2014-08-08 05:37:00 | This what you're after? 5884 |
B.M. (505) | ||
| 1381150 | 2014-08-08 06:08:00 | its not an earth via the water pipe but rather you earth the water pipe in case there is a short and the cooper pipes become live, which makes life in the bathroom rather short and smoky. it gets a little interesting with some plumbing being muitiple products. eg i have cooper pipe onto pvc pipes. |
tweak'e (69) | ||
| 1381151 | 2014-08-08 07:04:00 | 5885 Here's a copy of the relevant bit of the requirements for domestic premises earthing . Worst case, if you don't comply the coroner may get a bit terse when you say " . . . but I thought . . . " |
R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 1381152 | 2014-08-08 07:59:00 | So, it looks like there should be one, even if under normal circumstances it may not make a huge difference, assuming the neutral connection back to the pole doesn't fail. I guess I should have the situation looked at by someone other than the previous electrician...? Wander round the house outside, you'll see a wire in the ground somewhere......that's the house earth. Could be under it although mostly it's up against it on the outside....somewhere. The house is rather old. I know what the earth rods look like, having seen them on other people's houses. I have never seen anything remotely resembling one around or under my house, ever. The plumber couldn't find one either nor any evidence of there being or having been a connection to the water pipe. I think the clowns who built the place probably didn't bother, which would not surprise me considering other stupid things that have been discovered over the years. |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1381153 | 2014-08-08 09:49:00 | ........other stupid things that have been discovered over the years. like mine LOL |
tweak'e (69) | ||
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