Earth "potential" is by definition zero.
Do you mean that "floating" pipes can carry no current?
Earth to Plastic Pipe?! (Photo Attached)
- Thread starter brooky_agb
- Start date
Earth "potential" is by definition zero.
Do you mean that "floating" pipes can carry no current?
I'll try to explain a bit better
earth potential is "referenced" zero, in reality you could also call it 230vac if you reference it to line (live) as it is connected to the neutral at the star point of the transformer, or at the service head in the case of PME supplies, This is why you will read 230vac between live and earth with your meter
to receive an electric shock you have to touch between two areas of potential difference to complete the circuit
ie between line and neutral or line and earth
how severe the shock is depends on how much current will flow through you which is down to resistance, if you are insulated from earth for example standing on a rubber mat and you touch a bare conductor with one hand then you will not receive a shock now step off the mat and it depends how good the insulation (resistance ) of your shoes are ,or touch a metal pipe and it depends on the what the resistance of the pipe to earth is
now for your second question the water in the plastic pipe will carry current down to earth but it will be at a higher resistance then it would be if you actually bonded the pipe (longer the plastic pipe more the resistance)............more resistance equals less current flow so safer
basically if the pipe is already "earthy" ie an "extraneous conductive part" then it needs to be equipotentially bonded if its plastic or seperated from earth by plastic then it doesn't
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