House Earth

[gorilla]

Just wanting to get some opinions about a Earth issue.

Now I'm only a student just now so not that sure about the regulations and that when it comes to electrics.

Basically a family friend was supposed to be getting a new central heating system installed on Friday by Scottish Gas, but the job couldn't be done because the house wasn't Earthed, the electrician that was there said he couldn't sort that and the electric board would need to come out to sort it.

Now I find this kind of strange as I thought that in the UK a house always has an Earth Connection and also if one had to be installed an Electrician could do it.

So since there was no Earth her new central heating system wasn't installed and won't be done for at least three weeks.

I was just wanting to know about Earthing a property (I'm not doing it Scottish Power are coming out to do it) and what is the standard thing to do if an earth isn't found.

 

[johnnyb]

Do you mean the 10mm ,s to gas meter and incoming water, or do you mean there is no earth in the property as a whole?
If its the gas and water bonds don,t get the board to do it, it will cost the earth, beg the pun but it would, you put em in be a lot cheaper for yer freind.

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

this is strange obviouly there should be an earth in one of 3 common ways, tn-s the earth is taken off the sheath of the main incoming cable, tnc-s the earth is taken from the neutral connection of the main cut out fuses or tt where a copper stake is driven into the ground. the 1st 2 ways are easy to spot. i suspect either the main cable sheath is broken underground (have only seen this once in 20 yrs) or the stake connection has come off or is damadged tnc-s is unlkley to be damadged

 

[gorilla]

From what I have been told the whole house has no earth. Now I find this strange as I thought it would be earthed some way.

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

if you get a chance have a look at the mains coming in and see if anything looks like my previous description if the whole house has no earth the electricity board would surely fix this asap if not even quicker(same day )

 

[gorilla]

if you get a chance have a look at the mains coming in and see if anything looks like my previous description if the whole house has no earth the electricity board would surely fix this asap if not even quicker(same day )

I'm not able to have a look at it, but the electricity board isn't in a hurry they said it could be a week before they come to sort it.

I'm not dealing with it either it is her family that is but, from what has been said about it I'm beginning to think that they didn't want to do the job on Friday. It is just annoying me though as I thought most homes would be earthed in some way, not heard of any not being earthed.

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

really if the whole house has no earth it is seriously dangerous im sure the elec board wouldnt leave it

 

[mrbluesky]

A common problem in older properties where the earth used to be the gas and water pipes, now that most of these are now plastic some houses have been left with no earth.
The electricity board will either change to TNCS or put a clamp on the incoming cable sheath

 

[gorilla]

really if the whole house has no earth it is seriously dangerous im sure the elec board wouldnt leave it

Well from what I am told they will be out next week.

This whole thing just doesn't add up and well from what I remember the last time I was doing a few things for her I'm sure there is an Earth point somewhere around the meter. I am also sure that the gas meter is earthed as well as the water supply.

It is just looking odd and from what has been said here you all have confirmed basically what I thought, that the company brought in to do the central heating is just not wanting to do the job.

 

[Spudnik]

Have you connected your EFLI tester to find out if there is actually an earth coming from somewhere?