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Davey101
IMHO it seems a bad idea to use ladder rack as an earthing conductor. Supposing a factory uses this method, then in a few years time I am asked to alter the ladder for some reason. I cut the rack, and maybe put a bit of 6/10mm earth onto the now electrically seperate ladder rack, perhaps taking it from a local trunking, or tray. How does that affect the earth to the incoming services?! You'd have to put a warning sticker every meter or so. Worse still if a non electrician removes a bit of ladder which is redundant after a cable has been re-routed.
Add to this the fact that there is a lot of joints (which are often only semi tight)- doesnt seem like a good idea.
For the original question- I dont know about a technical answer, but surely you would have to at least put warning stickers or labels at both ends of the swa cable stating something like the already used 'main earth connection-do not remove'. Also, what happens if the board becomes redundant, you might remove the SWA from the main panel, but leave the board in place to be removed later. You wouldnt realise what earths were connected until later (the label solution may help prevent this). Agree about the jointing issue-how many banjo's have you seen not properly tighthened over the years?
I agree that you perhaps shouldn't have to run multiple earths to different services though.
Add to this the fact that there is a lot of joints (which are often only semi tight)- doesnt seem like a good idea.
For the original question- I dont know about a technical answer, but surely you would have to at least put warning stickers or labels at both ends of the swa cable stating something like the already used 'main earth connection-do not remove'. Also, what happens if the board becomes redundant, you might remove the SWA from the main panel, but leave the board in place to be removed later. You wouldnt realise what earths were connected until later (the label solution may help prevent this). Agree about the jointing issue-how many banjo's have you seen not properly tighthened over the years?
I agree that you perhaps shouldn't have to run multiple earths to different services though.
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