no main earth

[martinsayer81]

hi guys

just wondering what the process is when my only means of earth is the metal gas pipe!! i have a TN-S system, the main earth is bolted to a metal box that houses the incoming live and neutral, but i cant get a ze reading from it, its only when i connect to my bonding conducter that i can get a ze of 0.27Ohms.

do i call my electricity supplier (southern electric)? will they come and rectify the fault or tell me to fit an earth electrode? if they come out, would it cost me - as its the distributers supply that is at fault, should it be their responsibility?

hope that all made sense!! lol

 

[Zorro]

To do a Ze correctly you have to disconnect the Earthing conductor from the MET and test between the incoming Line and EC this is because of parallel paths, but you are saying you have no Earthing condutor at the MET?

 

[martinsayer81]

yeah i did the test how it should be done and got an open circuit reading!! ive checked the conductor itself for breaks but its fine

 

[telectrix]

get on to DNO, ask them for a service head upgrade. this should be FOC as these old cast heads should be replaced.

 

[Guitarist]

It is not a TN-S system if there is no earth at all. Sounds more like an old TT with the pipe as your earthing. As tel says, speak to the DNO, as at the very least the head should be upgraded. They are not obliged to give you an earth if one doesn't exist, and may well tell you to install an electrode, but more than likely they will change it to PME for you FOC.

 

[DurhamSparky]

Suggest ring DNO report old equiptment that needs to be upgraded, inform them that you also cant get a earth path reading on there earth,

inform customer your installing a earth rod for safety reasons.

hopefully DNO change head and install TNS or PME connection for you