alanonline
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I have a live ground throughout the house. Is this dangerous and what are the possible causes? Thank you for your time.
Discuss Live ground wire throughout the house in the DIY Electrical Advice area at ElectriciansForums.net
You're going to have to define 'live' and ground for us to advise. Are you saying that you are getting shocks from things like taps and sinks? Or do you mean that there is a Green and Yellow cable running around?I have a live ground throughout the house. Is this dangerous and what are the possible causes? Thank you for your time.
Surely if it lights up it must mean that a current is passing through it?A neon screwdriver is a wholly unreliable means of indication
OK Thank you again for your time.Firstly, please stop using a Neon screwdriver tester! They are NOT safe and don't comply with the regulations for electrical testers (GS38). The reason for this is simply that they rely on YOUR OWN BODY to complete a circuit - if they fail, they can't be relied on to 'fail safe' in which case it would be electrically no different to you poking any old bit of conductive metal into a socket (or a knife in the toaster... etc).
Secondly, without going into too much detail about how they work, it's very easy to make a Neon glow with very little voltage and current so it's not an accurate test and proper testing gear may get an entirely different reading.
However.... you will need to get an Electrician in to get this checked and confirmed.
Surely if it lights up it must mean that a current is passing through it?
It's not a simple subject but the trigger voltage of a neon can be as low as 30v with a current draw of microamps. They can literally react to what we call induced voltages which is where if you have conductors in parallel alongside each other (as in, two standard twin and earth cables laying in the same run) because of the principles of electromagnetism you induce a 'phantom' voltage from one that is energised into one that isn't.Surely if it lights up it must mean that a current is passing through it?
That being said, a properly connected ground wire should not have enough voltage induced into it to be lighting up anything in most cases.It's not a simple subject but the trigger voltage of a neon can be as low as 30v with a current draw of microamps. They can literally react to what we call induced voltages which is where if you have conductors in parallel alongside each other (as in, two standard twin and earth cables laying in the same run) because of the principles of electromagnetism you induce a 'phantom' voltage from one that is energised into one that isn't.
But the whole point is stop poking the damn thing anywhere other than in the bin.
Absolutely - see my last point on my first post!That being said, a properly connected ground wire should not have enough voltage induced into it to be lighting up anything in most cases.
it is entirely possible that by using an incorrect and potentially unsafe method of testing the original poster may have uncovered a bigger fault in the installation (such as a missing earth to the property.
I would highly recommend that you employ an electrician for a quick safety check of the earthing arrangements.
I would expect an answer within half an hour on site as to the integrity of the earthing system.
Reply to Live ground wire throughout the house in the DIY Electrical Advice area at ElectriciansForums.net
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