How to Fix Electrical Wiring in the Home With Electrical Ground Problem
For most of the world, electricity is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity of our busy lives. It is more than just a way to stay connected to each other, it provides light, warmth, and convenience.
That’s why you need the number of a good local electrician to hand, if you develop an issue you’ll want it to be resolved as quickly as possible.Â
The Electrical Ground
This is an essential part of any electrical installation. If there is a fault in the system it allows the electrical current to harmlessly pass into the ground instead of potentially giving you a nasty shock.
Unfortunately, it is common for older installations to have inadequate earth installations. This is something that should be rectified as quickly as possible.
Step 1 – Locate the Earth Rod
Every home should have a rod, usually copper, driven into the ground outside their home. This connects to the main earth point in your home and keeps you and your family safe.
You’ll need to locate this rod and then check the quality of the connection. There should be one thick earth cable connected to the rod, make sure the connection is good and no corrosion has taken place.
You may need to tighten the connection clamp.
Step 2 – Check Home Connections
Once you’ve established the rod and clamp are secure you’ll need to check the cable, specifically any joins in the cable or any breaks.Â
These will need to be rectified.Â
Don’t forget that this wire should never go through the water service access route, it needs to be in its own groove.
Once you’ve checked this can continue checking all the connection points for your earth cable. It should terminate at your meter and individual cables for each of your circuits will connect to the earth cable. If any of these are lose you could have electrical ground issues.
Don’t forget that when dealing with electricity it is essential to turn the power off before you start working, the last thing you want is an electrical shock!
Once you’ve finished with your repairs you can turn the power back on, although it remains advisable to have your installation checked by a qualified professional.
It is also important to remember that all metal water pipes should also be earthed, for your own safety. Visually check them if possible, an earth for plastic pipes is not necessary.
Extra Points To Remember
Electrical wiring issues are not always related to your earth. It is possible that old wires are disintegrating and connecting with each other. These have the potential to give you a nasty shock, even if your home is correctly earthed.
To avoid this it is important to check the connections for all appliances on a regular basis. If the wiring in your home is old you may want to consider changing it for a more modern material, this is a great step towards improving the safety at home for you and your family.
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