[AT] grounds/shower

Howard Weeks weeksh at wildblue.net
Mon Dec 17 15:52:11 PST 2007


Any of you ever run into a situation where the neutral lead between 
the transformer and the house was open?  

Causes some very interesting problems.

Howard in GA

On 16 Dec 2007 at 21:57, CEE VILL wrote:

> 
> You were pretty lucky to get that jab when you did, Charlie, in order to know about the problem. It is probably lucky you were not sitting in a tub full of water when you touched the faucet. The sequence of events almost sounds like the insurance commercial on TV a few years back with something falling down the stairs, etc.  It sure was thoughtful of you to allow a path for the current trapped in the supply side to the drain side.  (grin). That surely demonstrates where the thinking for that small part of the NEC comes from.
> 
> Connections to ground rods should be periodically checked as well.  Over time they can loosen and corrode.  I have seen the clamp just sitting on the rod without being fastened at all. The entire system must have been working only from the power company ground, or the fact it was a steel building.   
> 
> We had a situation at work once where not enough supply was available to an entire shop area.  Machine motors were overheating and breakers were tripping.  Maintenance decided the wiring was not heavy enough.  The solution was going to be to transform the current from 220 to 440, then transform it back to 220 at that area.  I suggested someone was not seeing the whole picture, because the wiring was satisfactory for 10 years or more with just as many machines.  Another company was brought in to check it out.  Guess what?  Poor connection at the ground stakes.  Hats off to Farmer on this one.  Check the grounds, check the grounds, check the grounds.  That plant area is still up and running now with the same wiring.
> 
> Thanks for your story.  It makes us stop and think about the situations that can occur.
> 
> Charlie
> 
> 



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