Earthing out

[LilMae]

Over Christmas bulbs started blowing left right and centre, now most of our lighting fixtures with more than one bulb are running on one or none, the recessed lighting in the kitchen and bathroom are also popping.
Spoke to a builder mate who said it sounded like we were 'earthing out', the house was built in 1987 so relatively modern. We're going to have to get someone in soon - but what is 'earthing out' and is it expensive to fix - our boiler needed fixing a week before Xmas at £250 and money's getting tight.

 

[1john]

Ask the builder what he means by "earthing out" as I too would love to know.

 

[ericmark]

Call your electricity supplier and complain. I hope I am wrong but you may have a bad connection on neutral. Don't leave anything plugged in unattended until checked. Likely not in your house but in street are any of your neighbours having problems?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Just for fun I thought that I would google "earthing out".

There is a wonderful article on electricity basics at

http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/electrics/electricity-how-it-works-2.html

Dear DIYer, please do not consider this a reference piece. The very first sentence sets the tone:

The thing to remember is that the earth (ground we stand on) is an even better conductor of electricity than the wires used for transporting it around the house.

Can't think why we don't all have TT supplies then........

 

[bernardgreen]

The thing to remember is that the earth (ground we stand on) is an even better conductor of electricity than the wires used for transporting it around the house.

Can't think why we don't all have TT supplies then........

Why not have a single live wire to the house and use an earth return for all power. How much copper would that save.

Kettle a bit slow boiling ? Just nip out and water the earth rod.

 

[ericmark]

Hope this is not another ring v radial debate?
The guy could possibly be losing the neutral bond to transformer which could mean he is getting up to 400 volt instead to 230 volt this is far too serous to change this post into a debate on what "earthing out" means.

We hope I am wrong and the neutral is sound but what is being considered is our supply is normally either single phase 460 volt or three phase 400 volt and it is either split into two or three and each house gets a line and neutral supply and as long as the neutral is connected then each house gets 230 volt.

However if that neutral becomes disconnected or a bad connection then while each house draws same load we still get 230 volt. But as one house reduces their load then the voltage will go up. And this is the worry.

As to earth connections with a PME or TN-C-S supply earth and neutral can share the same cable so losing the neutral can make is very dangerous. But no earth fault as such can cause a bulb to blow. It's the neutral fault which causes that.

I hope the daft debate has not stopped you getting someone out. It is possible your boiler problem is connected to the lighting problem and since you say asking builder I assume on a building site so quite possible that a JCB or like has hit a cable and broken the neutral.

Since neutral and earth are connected the ground will act as a conductor and to some extent limit the voltage fluctuations. But as commented ground it not that good of a connection. Well the ground is it's the connection we make to the ground that isn't that good.

But we are not going to find out what is wrong by just asking questions. Anyway far too dangerous. You need to either contact the DNO or an electrician ASAP.