earthing

[noterom]

hi, while under the floor i noticed that the 2 main earthing wires from
meter cupboard in porch are just pushed into sandy ground,there is
a gas pipe ajacentfeeding the house,also a main water supply pipe
but that one is the blue polyproperlene type.should these wires be
earthed properly?if so how do i do it please?
noterom.u.k.

 

[securespark]

There needs to be a connection to the gas pipe and water mains, as long as they are metallic.

If the gas meter is outside, you can bond the gas pipe where it enters the property. If the water pipe is poly, bond the water main where it changes to copper. The water bonding should be attached after the internal stopcock, ie on the side feeding the house, not the side going off to the street.

 

[noterom]

hi,securespark thank you for your quick response,will sort that out now.
noterom.u.k.

 

[mapj1]

Use clamps like this...http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Earthing_Index/Earth_Clamps/index.html
as these have the legally required 'do not remove' warning notice built in.
regards M.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm more concerned about this:

hi, while under the floor i noticed that the 2 main earthing wires from
meter cupboard in porch are just pushed into sandy ground,

than the main bonding.

noterom - you need to sort out both - if you have no other main earth than a couple of cables pushed into the ground then this is not good.

You do not earth your system via gas or water mains - the bonding that they need is a separate issue.

 

[noterom]

hi ban all sheds, take your word for it. so what do i have to do?if i cannot connect to gas or water pipes,have looked at a few other houses
since,and they are,some bathroom showers are connected to water pipes.
so what must i do? noterom.u.k.

 

[darrel]

It is against regulations to bond your earth to underground water/gas pipes(incase they are poly) you should aquire a earth spike and locate it in a suitable position outside, connect your earth here.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

hi ban all sheds, take your word for it. so what do i have to do?

You have to sort out your earthing, i.e. the way in which your house's electrical installation is provided with an earth

if i cannot connect to gas or water pipes

Sorry - that's not quite what I meant. Your incoming gas and water pipes must not provide the earth, but they must be connected to it - this is known as the Main Equipotential Bonding

,

have looked at a few other houses
since,and they are,some bathroom showers are connected to water pipes.

Yup - that's the Supplementary Equipotential Bonding - again nothing to do with providing an earth connection

so what must i do? noterom.u.k.

An inspection by an electrician might not go amiss..

Can you post some photos of the earth wires from the CU? Are you sure that they are just pushed into the ground, and not connected to an earth rod?

 

[noterom]

hi, 1 wire fromsuppliers box before meter 1 wire from cu going to earth
block then 2 wire going under floor and stuck in ground.i think they
might have been connected to the gas and water pipes but when i put
polypipe in i got a plumber to connect to stop valve and check the water pressure to c/heating boiler. have just looked on screwfix site for a rod
£1-99 +£5-75 handling+packaging (i think not).so if i get a rod will it be
o-k to connect to it or not? noterom.u.k.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

hi, 1 wire fromsuppliers box before meter 1 wire from cu going to earth
block then 2 wire going under floor and stuck in ground.

Hang on - are you saying that there is an earth wire running from the service head to the earth block, and also one from the CU to the earth block?

 

[noterom]

hi, yes that is correct,the 2 earth wires come from meter cupboard
earth block. noterom.u.k.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

hi, yes that is correct,the 2 earth wires come from meter cupboard
earth block. noterom.u.k.

That's 2 wires.

hi, 1 wire fromsuppliers box before meter 1 wire from cu going to earth
block then 2 wire going under floor and stuck in ground

That's 4 wires.

Without a clear explanation, or a diagram, or a photo, I think we are all going to flounder here.