earth spike connection box

[thekingiam]

bought a earth spike connection box and just knocking the last bit of spike in and i have obliterated the bottom of the box!! they charged me about a fiver for this at my local shop and as far as i can see it's just a doubled up pvc conduit box with a do not remove label on it was just wondering are thes boxes a scank could i use an ordinary box and swap the label over?

 

[telectrix]

hope you,ve used a decen rod and not one of those hatpins from CEF.

 

[thekingiam]

not sayin...

- - - Updated - - -

not from cef though

 

[thekingiam]

3/8 wilts

 

[thekingiam]

bought it the other day got home realise and it wasn't extendable went back this morning guy said hardly anyone buys 5/8 unless they can't get a good enough reading, thought i would knock it in and see what results i get.

 

[ackbarthestar]

I did tell you lot that all the wholesalers supply 'hat pins and twiggs' as standard.

Yes a plastic conduit stop-end fits perfectly for the top part. You might have two problems fitting the bottom part since I haven't seen plastic loop in conduit boxes.

 

[thekingiam]

as it's the bottom thats gone another 5 er down the swanny...

 

[StuSpiers]

Screwfix actually does a great range of rods and accessories - good prices too.

Not used their earth pit, it looks the part but is plastic so .........


All wholesaler spikes and boxes/pits are gash.

 

[Engineer54]

The black boxes that the OP has purchased are totally useless, apart from anything else they stand proud of the ground , so you have less rod in the ground doing any useful work!! These boxes are also prone to physical damage, because they stand proud of the ground...

There is only one type of earth rod connection box that should be used and that is the Flush to ground type. Many manufactures make them, they can be all concrete or heavy duty plastic. In my opinion the best of these are made and supplied by Furse....

 

[thekingiam]

nice to know ive bought a pile of crap lol..it wont stand proud of the ground as i am going to sink it into concrete drive flush and fill it with stuff.

 

[thekingiam]

anyone used these crap boxes before? there are 4 cut outs below what are thes for?

 

[Engineer54]

nice to know ive bought a pile of crap lol..it wont stand proud of the ground as i am going to sink it into concrete drive flush and fill it with stuff.

You've driven a rod where the concrete drive is?? How long do you expect that flimsy plastic box to last with cars driving over it?? Your using a box that is not designed to be installed in concrete.

How is this rod going to receive enough rainwater to keep the ground it's been driven in moist?? At least with a proprietary flush earth pit installed in concrete, it will allow water to pass through the cover, it also allows conductive enhancement chemicals to be applied as and when needed... Oh, and the last thing you would want to do is fill an earth pit with ''Stuff''!!! You only need to protect the cable to rod connection, and that's easily achievable by wrapping the connection with amalgamating tape!!

Time to re-think your design i think!!

 

[alarm man]

you need a proper earth pit ,plus i would have driven the rod in first,then dig around so your pit is flush,sounds like you havnt really lost a lot of money on it,so just start again with a concrete or hd plastic one..and a bigger rod or two..:wink5:

 

[Dcf]

Fitted a furse one last week.33quid &vat from Cef of the top of my head.expensive but good stuff as is most furse stuff.fit and forget stuff is what you want really

 

[thekingiam]

thanks guys for your knowledge, if the box is not designed for this type of installation i will replace with appropriate one. i have no choice but to go into concrete drive as the property is totally enclosed in tarmac and concrete drive. i have luckily hit a part not far from incoming supply that only has about 6 inch of concrete and removed it .Is located about on the wall entering back garden so for someone to drive over it would mean death by car crash any ways.
run out of money as i priced it for elecsa reg and just realised my multimeter needs re calibrating!!!

 

[thekingiam]

just found a cef local give them ago.

 

[thekingiam]

please be patient with me guys i didn't want to go into domestics at all, but working with my father for years working on ships and docks a bit of this and that, easy stuff really! i really appreciate all the help i can get and i have never ever worked on tt system a ship is permanently earthed unless docked.

 

[ackbarthestar]

That's interesting. Were you involved in adjusting the relative electro-potential when parked next to another boat ?

 

[thekingiam]

not really,lol... i worked for different companies contracted to work abroard, as you obviously know your lamen worker can't understand different colour and connection types,

 

[thekingiam]

if any one is interested in working for contracters abroad and your living in wales try either inter marine or cardif craftsmen, also known as something i can't remember. i will say they usually use regulars or recomendations from people they know but eventualy they will be stuck.
the job is long hours very little pay.although you do go abroad for a bit and me and my brother had loads of fun.. shame my father retired ish

 

[Engineer54]

thanks guys for your knowledge, if the box is not designed for this type of installation i will replace with appropriate one. i have no choice but to go into concrete drive as the property is totally enclosed in tarmac and concrete drive. i have luckily hit a part not far from incoming supply that only has about 6 inch of concrete and removed it .Is located about on the wall entering back garden so for someone to drive over it would mean death by car crash any ways.
run out of money as i priced it for elecsa reg and just realised my multimeter needs re calibrating!!!

You shouldn't really be locating your earth rod in this area either, as this is where the all the builders rubble will be!! Builders rubble doesn't make for the best contact between soil and rod, ...it can also bend or stop the rod dead, long before you get down to any decent depth!!! Always best to go around 1.5 to 2m from any external house walls....

 

[Rockingit]

54.... you got any GOOD news for the poor bloke??

 

[StuSpiers]

It's raining alot......

Good Ra readings galore.

lol