earthing a metal junction box?

[Keith Clement]

my father recently bought a house and it has an ancient consumer unit fitted, next to the unit is a metal junction box which all the cables pass into and they are joined what i assume is the original wiring, all i can assume is that the consumer unit has been moved over and so the wires have been extended, now the question is, should the metal junction box be earthed?

and, if so how should it be done?

the junction box is about 6" square 2" deep, screwed to the plasterboard in a cupboard, the "Original" cables come through the back of it and the new ones come out through compression glands

 

[123]

Can you post some photo's of this?

 

[davesparks]

Yes metal junction boxes should be connected to earth.
Have you looked inside the box to see is it is connected to earth? If DIN rail connectors have been used then the earth connection may have automatically been made via the earth connectors on the rail.

 

[Squid]

Drill a hole in the box attach cable.

 

[telectrix]

Drill a hole in the box attach cable.

that looks too close to the "drill a hole in my head, attach an electrode" i know i'm insane anyway.

 

[DPG]

As above, can you post pictures of the junction box with lid on and lid off? Obviously taking care when the lid is off.

 

[MDJ]

my father recently bought a house and it has an ancient consumer unit fitted, next to the unit is a metal junction box which all the cables pass into and they are joined what i assume is the original wiring, all i can assume is that the consumer unit has been moved over and so the wires have been extended, now the question is, should the metal junction box be earthed?

and, if so how should it be done?

the junction box is about 6" square 2" deep, screwed to the plasterboard in a cupboard, the "Original" cables come through the back of it and the new ones come out through compression glands

It seems as though you have done some serious investigations so far, I am wondering why?
Serious question, are you in the trade or just curious?

 

[Squid]

that looks too close to the "drill a hole in my head, attach an electrode" i know i'm insane anyway.

Wetherspoons must have beer on offer today........... ;o)))))

 

[Richard Burns]

If you have a din rail in the box that is connected electrically to the box and it is not currently earthed then you could easily earth the box by using an earth terminal block and connecting the terminal to earth.
Alternatively you could connect an earth bar into the box, and connect an earth cable, so long as it was making good electrical connection, but this might require removing the box from the wall.
Probably easier to screw an earth terminal into the side of the box and run your earth connection from there, or you could just use a nut bolt and washers for your terminal!

 

[pirate]

I followed the link to earth terminal, above, and the adverts said "you may also need..."
1.a double socket
2. a bulkhead light
3. a storage heater
4. some 2.5 t&e...
might have been a good plan to suggest getting some of that wire with the green/yellow insulation...
and now I am going to be bombarded with adverts on my sidebar, dammit! When will I learn? GRR..

 

[Squid]

I followed the link to earth terminal, above, and the adverts said "you may also need..."
1.a double socket
2. a bulkhead light
3. a storage heater
4. some 2.5 t&e...
might have been a good plan to suggest getting some of that wire with the green/yellow insulation...
and now I am going to be bombarded with adverts on my sidebar, dammit! When will I learn? GRR..

It'll be ------ and Penis Enlargements next.........

 

[Spoon]

It'll be ------ and Penis Enlargements next.........

Are you talking about @pirate ads or yours???

 

[Richard Burns]

I followed the link to earth terminal, above, and the adverts said "you may also need..."
1.a double socket
2. a bulkhead light
3. a storage heater
4. some 2.5 t&e...
might have been a good plan to suggest getting some of that wire with the green/yellow insulation...
and now I am going to be bombarded with adverts on my sidebar, dammit! When will I learn? GRR..

Never click on links, you never know what deranged idiot has posted them!

 

[Squid]

Are you talking about @pirate ads or yours???

Pirates, when I go to fancy dress parties I go dressed as a petrol station fuel dispensing pump and just sling mine over my shoulder ;o)))) If I took ------ I could go as a fire station pole.

 

[pirate]

Given I am a pirate, when I go to a fancy dress party, I dress as an ordinary bloke...
so I often overhear
"Who's that wan**r in the corner?"