Earth rod

[westy8139]

Is it okay to fit a 16mm earth wire to a galv rod without an earth pit or mechanical protection? I think I read in the regs it was ok, as long as 16mm?
Help appreciated

 

[Marvo]

If the rod is above ground level and is located somewhere mechanical damage or tampering isn't going to occur then I'd say it was fine but generally with domestic installations I'd suggest a proper earth pit would be a better solution.

Just out of interest have you just installed the galv rod or was it existing?

 

[westy8139]

Just installed marvo

 

[MDJ]

Is it okay to fit a 16mm earth wire to a galv rod without an earth pit or mechanical protection? I think I read in the regs it was ok, as long as 16mm?
Help appreciated

Galv? sure it isn't copper? how long and how thick lol, otherwise yes as marvo

 

[Marvo]

Yeah, that was where I was heading...why galv?

 

[loplug]

my understanding is that the cable could be 4mm and does not require protection unless burried but the connection between the cable and rod must be protected against corrosion

 

[nickblake]

you can get small covers for the top of the rod this is normally a conduit box that's larger in depth than normal and has a printed label on the top safety electrical connection , what i do is attach a stuffing gland to bring out the earth cable looks neat

 

[Marvo]

my understanding is that the cable could be 4mm and does not require protection unless burried but the connection between the cable and rod must be protected against corrosion

4mm might be a bit shy depending on the supply size.........

 

[MDJ]

my understanding is that the cable could be 4mm and does not require protection unless burried but the connection between the cable and rod must be protected against corrosion

oh dear. Reg book page 159 table 54.1 :nonod:

 

[nickblake]

Here's a pic

 

[MDJ]

Here's a pic View attachment 22095

nick have you seen the 4x4 green plastic boxes mate which sit above the rods? much more room and easier to fit than those things, apart from a genuine pit the green boxes are the best way forward.

 

[Engineer54]

To be totally honest i wouldn't give a thankyou for one of these plastic jokes, either the round or the square variety. There are perfectly good earth rod pits out there on the market that have been proved suitably for service over many years!! How long does anyone here, really expect these cheap and nasty soft plastic things to last??

 

[Engineer54]

4mm might be a bit shy depending on the supply size.........

Not if you've only got a 200 ohm Ra for the huge effort of driving in a short thin twig!!

 

[sparks1234]

Those conduit boxes are awful and rarely look good either

 

[MDJ]

Totally agree with ENG about earth pits, he is right about the silly plastic boxes as well, however if you do use a silly plastic box these are better than the even sillier round ones