I'm looking at properties abroad anpeople saywatch out for places that haven't been earthed. Is there a gadget you can get?
2007-08-26 22:51:55 · 11 answers · asked by rogmor123 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Depends if it is an old property or new, if new and is in EU country it should be earthed by law and EU regualations, this should be a yellow and green heavy cable coming from main distribution board where fuses or Mini circuit breakers (MCB's) are and should be bolted by clamp to water pipe or gas pipe. Check sockets and switches to see if earth cable is installed behind plates. If a very old or rural property knowing what safety regulations they had which was mainly nothing you will have to install an earth cable as above and possibly rewire an earth cable to each outlet and switch. You can check if earth is connected by using a multimeter and setting it to continuity reading or resistance reading. Place one probe on earth connector on back of socket or switch and the other probe to a water pipe or gas pipe you may need a long piece of wire to reach pipe etc, you should get full deflection on meter if earthed if no reading or partial reading get sparks in.
DO ALL THE CHECKS WITH MAINS SWITCHED OFF good luck.
2007-08-27 01:29:24 · answer #1 · answered by weasel bat 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Nigel has the best answer so far, it depends on which country the property is in, and what type of earthing system is in use in the area. The UK uses 3 or 4 earthing systems, dependent on area and type of supply cable. Best to get in touch with a local installer for a proper test report. This is not a DIY job, expensive equipment and expertise is required.
2007-08-27 03:13:59 · answer #2 · answered by jayktee96 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Electricians use a Multi Function Tester to test all circuits including the earth. It is an expensive piece of equipment and you have to know how to use it and interpret the results.
There are diffent types of earthing depending what sort of supply you have (see link).
In addition there is main equipotential bonding and even supplementary bonding. But probably not the latter abroad.
In any event if if you are thinking of buying a property then it is best to get a written report with test results from a recommended qualified electrician.
2007-08-26 23:42:21 · answer #3 · answered by nigel t 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
bah, you dont need to ground your line. that "ground" dosnt even go to anything. Have you ever seen the inside of a circiut breaker? The ground wire just stays hanging in there. Everything in your house is already earthed. unless you have some kind of magic hovering ****. WARNING: If you actually take advise from me, it would be wise not to touch any metal cased electronics, while standing barefoot on a concrete floor. I learned that playing guitar in my friends basement.
2016-04-02 01:20:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would ask for the seller to supply you with an inspection report on this as well as the roof and plumbing. I am sure that these items and others would be included if you had it appraised.
2007-08-26 23:06:02 · answer #5 · answered by getrdone 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't know if the company still exists but - they used to be called Martindale Electronics - they made a plug that would determine if the circuits were correctly wired and earthed - it was a simple three pin plug that you plugged in to the normal socket - you would use abroad in conjunction with their supplies and a euro adapter plug.
Series of lights on the front would light up to show you the fault/s or if correctly wired
2007-08-26 22:57:52 · answer #6 · answered by jamand 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Yes there is a meter that does just that but for the life of me I can't remember what it is called . Ask an electrician he will know .
2007-08-26 22:58:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You find out by employing an electrician.
even if it isn't; Installing TT earthing wouldn't break the bank.
2007-08-26 22:57:28 · answer #8 · answered by Pauline 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The old fashioned way of testing for 'earth' was to connect one wire of a light bulb to the positive wire and touch the other wire to the suspected 'earth'. If the bulb lit, you'd found earth and therefore that particular pipe was earthed to the system - BUT I DON'T RECOMMEND IT NOWADAYS ! ! !
2007-08-26 23:55:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Nigel and jaytee are spot on, only jaytee likes to think he has knowledge of plumbing rather than electrics on occasion, though he has given wrong plumbing info on occasion, no offence,but he just doesn't have the knowledge of plumbing he thinks he has.
2007-08-27 06:06:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋