How do I ground an electrical appliance (dryer)?

Question

I work in Korea and am installing a drying machine at home. In Korea I have to use a transformer to convert 220v to 110v to use most of my American-made appliances.

The thing is, I'm not confident that everything is grounded - I feel a "hum" / vibration on the appliances (washer, microwave) when I touch them (the "hum" is not there when the transformer is off). I'm concerned that if I hook up a gas dryer that there is a possibility of "leaked" electricity to spark the supplied gas. I think that the water piping system (which I probably would've used for grounding) is mostly PVC.

1. Is the electrical "hum" something I should worry about?
2. What's the best way to ground my dryer and other appliances?

Thanks for your help.

P.S. I need to mention that I live on the 5th floor of an apartment complex.

Answer 1

Obviously the first two responders didn't read your description very carefully!

If the water pipe is PVC, and you're in an apartment building, you'll need to find out if the electrical supply has a ground wire that is ACTUALLY grounded. There are inexepensive LED testers out there that will indicate a properly wired connection, although I prefer to use a test light that draws some current (50 to 100W bulb) and plug one test lead into the hot side and the other into the ground receptacle on the outlet to prove to myself that the ground is capable of sinking a fault and hopefully tripping the breaker. The cheap LED testers would probably light up even if there was a poor (i.e. resistive) ground.

If the 220 V outlet is grounded, THAT'S where you'll need to connect your ground. As one responder suggested, a wire from the metal dryer cabinet connected to ground should keep you safe. However, on something like a washer or dryer, where there's potential for movement, I would use a braided ground "strap" or other stranded wire ground - the most innocuous vibration can cause a wire to oscillate and break, leaving you unprotected.

Answer 2

While the 3rd answer appears to be accurate and complete, if it were me, I'd bite the freakin' bullet and get a licensed Korean electrician (or appliance tech) to hook up your ground. Ask some of your neighbors, fellow workers if they can recommend someone...and try to get a ball-park idea from them, ahead of time, of what it might cost and the ins-and-outs of dealing with Korean service providers. I say that because in Switzerland, for example, the electric utility does all of that kind of work...you can't even buy an extension cord there: they have to add an outlet instead!

Answer 3

YA WAS THERE IN 1957, [Army, ]
buy a steel or best yet copper rod 6 to 8 ft long, drive it into the ground and attach a ground from appliance,s to it,
best ground around,

Answer 4

i would run a 12 ga wire from the rear of the dryer to your water conection to your washer, make sure they are good and tight conections, that should stop the staic ele, from makeing the buzzing, and stop the little shocks you are getting, remember, if you stand in a wet spot and touch something that is not grounded right, could get you killed . be safe. ground real good.....