TT earth cable small and god knows where the rod is

[Diver233]

Just started to test a TT system, so found the earth and thought that cannot be it for the size of the house. (See pic). So tested the Ze and got 94 so less than a 100 but I thought I’d check the connections to the earth rod. Cannot find it anywhere. I can see a new main electric feed has been put in at some point because the old one is still there.
So my question to the more knowledgable is, how long ago was a 2.5mm cable for a TT earth allowed and also should the installers of the new main (aprox 2005) into the building have picked that up ? At that point.
Turns out around that time the garage where the inlet is was connected to the house and I’m guessing they concreted over the earth rod.

 

[Top Cat]

I am Olllllllllllld and we didn't use a black earth wire in 1900 and frozen to death! so it was probably a DIY install!
Mind you it could have been me when i had no green and yellow, or just green as it was in the 'good old days'!

 

[Diver233]

I only go as far back as the 16th, but it has surprised me when the New main cable was installed it wasn’t changed then.

 

[buzzlightyear]

I only go as far back as the 16th

try the 17th century .

 

[Deleted member 26818]

2.5mm2 currently the minimum CSA allowed.
So any time since about 1900 to present day.
As for the colour black, again any time from about 1900 to about 1966.

 

[Top Cat]

I started when the 14th edition was out and believe me, we didn't give a sh*t!

 

[Diver233]

Top Cat love the honesty

 

[TJ Anderson]

2.5mm min if not buried and protected against corrosion and mechanical damage.

You need to locate that earth electrode

 

[Diver233]

Going to put a new electrode in with new cable, hoping to lower the reading a bit.

 

[davesparks]

I suspect it would have originally had a VOELCB which that black earth would have connected in to.

 

[Sparky Pat]

Agree with davesparks, I believe black was an accepted colour for an earth wire back in the distant past.

 

[davesparks]

I am Olllllllllllld and we didn't use a black earth wire in 1900 and frozen to death! so it was probably a DIY install!
Mind you it could have been me when i had no green and yellow, or just green as it was in the 'good old days'!

How old are these old days? If you go back far enough you'll find that green was once a phase colour.

 

[bill01803]

My fathers house had a water bonding wire dating back to when the house was build in 1936 which was a red VIR 7/044

 

[FatAlan]

Save yourself some digging and check with DNO to see if they can give you a PME connection.

 

[Taylortwocities]

but it has surprised me when the New main cable was installed it wasn’t changed then.

Not suprising. As it is a TT, the earth connection is the responsibility of the customer, not the DNO.

2.5mm min if not buried and protected against corrosion and mechanical damage.

You need to locate that earth electrode

Yes. That electrode needs finding. Its a screwed termination, so should be accessible. (Its probably under the floor of that new extension!).

And a small weedy cable to the earth electrode isnt suprising. After all, its only required to carry enough current to trip the RCD.

Save yourself some digging and check with DNO to see if they can give you a PME connection.

Absolutely!!