Changes are coming, what do you all think

[Lip.82]

Just wondered what you all think about one of the changes to the regs.
Having to install an earth rod when changing a consumer unit.

 

[kingeri]

Perhaps he meant a lot of houses have a good effective connection to Earth already through their bonded pipework?

 

[Darkwood]

I was refering to using a ground rod NOT bonding !

I assume you mean that plastic pipes are creating natural installation isolation from earth and nolonger providing a parallel path so it is more so essential to ensure the earth rod if used gives a good reading... you comment was somewhat ambiguous hence my reply

 

[telectrix]

 

[Taylortwocities]

And if it's a 10th floor flat, what then?

How many electric cars need to climb 10 floors to be recharged?

 

[1Justin]

Is that one (earth electrode) proposed to be a necessary upgrade prior to alterations, or (I thought..) only for new build?

 

[Wilko]

Potential Customer has asked me to put a power socket on the outside wall of his garage, what's it for I ask conversationally "its to charge up my hybrid"... PME, so IET Code of practice recommends min 2 by 2.4m rods. Plus get it back to MET. I wish I'd just shut up.

 

[1Justin]

Potential Customer has asked me to put a power socket on the outside wall of his garage, what's it for I ask conversationally "its to charge up my hybrid"... PME, so IET Code of practice recommends min 2 by 2.4m rods. Plus get it back to MET. I wish I'd just shut up.

I more or less had to refuse exactly that request recently. It's going to get more common, and especially with hybrids which only need small charge off 13A socket, hard to draw a line against the regs.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

There’s a number of issues I have with this particular proposal.
1, This proposal is supposedly in case of a supply Neutral fault, which the DNO’s have a Statutory requirement to maintain and protect consumers if such faults do occur.
Why is the IET proposing another Non Statutory Regulation to offset a breach of Statutory requirements?
2, In the event of any such fault occurring, the installation Earth will effectively become the Neutral.
Is this acceptable?
Are the present Installation Earthing and bonding CSA requirements sufficient?
3, In situations where it is not practicable to install Earth electrodes and perhaps even in situations where it is practicable, should upfront RCD protection also be provided so as to disconnect the supply in the event of a supply Neutral fault?

 

[telectrix]

 

[1Justin]

3, In situations where it is not practicable to install Earth electrodes and perhaps even in situations where it is practicable, should upfront RCD protection also be provided so as to disconnect the supply in the event of a supply Neutral fault?

.
& This would need to be before MET then wouldn't it? - Thus the property of DNO ?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

.
& This would need to be before MET then wouldn't it? - Thus the property of DNO ?

No it would not be the property of the DNO, just as an upfront RCD for a TT Installation would not be the property of the DNO.

 

[Wilko]

Agree - If the neutral is lost surely we should isolate the installation not add rods so it can carry on in a busted condition ?

 

[telectrix]

IETLTP.that is translated...
IET lost the plot.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Agree - If the neutral is lost surely we should isolate the installation not add rods so it can carry on in a busted condition ?

At present if there were a supply Neutral fault, the bonding and extraneous metal pipework would become the Neutral.
This proposal has been introduced as so much of the gas and water supply network has been changed to plastic.

 

[1Justin]

No it would not be the property of the DNO, just as an upfront RCD for a TT Installation would not be the property of the DNO.

.
I don't see that. Image attached. Surely in PME case, an RCD would need to be before the head so as to be able to pick up on return N current not running in PME N ? - It could still look balanced in the tails.