NEW EHU BOLLARDS.

[Dustydog]

I discussed this issue with a retired spark mate.
He first experienced it years ago when they were connecting mains power to building site portacabins. People were getting”tingling “ whenever they touch metal cabinets inside the cabin.
He knew it was an earthing fault. Solution was a metal rod driven 2 metres into the ground, shingle is no good, and connecting it to the CU earth. Apparently he says this became standard practice.
He suggests I get a separate earth fitted at home .
What do you think or is it an over reaction🤔

 

[Ukdave2002]

I discussed this issue with a retired spark mate.
He first experienced it years ago when they were connecting mains power to building site portacabins. People were getting”tingling “ whenever they touch metal cabinets inside the cabin.
He knew it was an earthing fault. Solution was a metal rod driven 2 metres into the ground, shingle is no good, and connecting it to the CU earth. Apparently he says this became standard practice.
He suggests I get a separate earth fitted at home .
What do you think or is it an over reaction🤔

Its exactly what I have, an earthing ground rod will cost you less than £10 from Toolstation or Screwfix, I connect it to the van chassis with a jumper (starter) cable, because its quick to clamp on to the earth rod and caravan chassis. An electrician would want a more robust way of connecting the van to the rod, so my solution is not 100% up to spec! but its good enough for me as a visual check confirms its all connected.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/essentials-earth-rod-3-8-x-4-/28044

 

[Buckman]

Its exactly what I have, an earthing ground rod will cost you less than £10 from Toolstation or Screwfix, I connect it to the van chassis with a jumper (starter) cable, because its quick to clamp on to the earth rod and caravan chassis. An electrician would want a more robust way of connecting the van to the rod, so my solution is not 100% up to spec! but its good enough for me as a visual check confirms its all connected.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/essentials-earth-rod-3-8-x-4-/28044

The biggest issue with an earthing ground rod is hammering it into the ground which can be a bit challenging for some people. Done plenty when I was younger as it was mandatory if you erected an outside TV aerial. Probably why I am suffering with my wrists now.

 

[Ukdave2002]

The biggest issue with an earthing ground rod is hammering it into the ground which can be a bit challenging for some people. Done plenty when I was younger as it was mandatory if you erected an outside TV aerial. Probably why I am suffering with my wrists now.

If you have an SDS drill, there a re a couple of options, firstly you can get an attachment that enables you to use the drill in hammer only mode, the drill then does the work, or get a 1000mm long SDS bit that has a smaller diameter than the rod, drilling a "pilot" hole makes it easier to drive the rod in.

 

[Dustydog]

Its exactly what I have, an earthing ground rod will cost you less than £10 from Toolstation or Screwfix, I connect it to the van chassis with a jumper (starter) cable, because its quick to clamp on to the earth rod and caravan chassis. An electrician would want a more robust way of connecting the van to the rod, so my solution is not 100% up to spec! but its good enough for me as a visual check confirms its all connected.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/essentials-earth-rod-3-8-x-4-/28044

Why the caravan rather than the house CU? I was thinking of a more permanent fix rather than another cable out of the caravan?

 

[Buckman]

If you have an SDS drill, there a re a couple of options, firstly you can get an attachment that enables you to use the drill in hammer only mode, the drill then does the work, or get a 1000mm long SDS bit that has a smaller diameter than the rod, drilling a "pilot" hole makes it easier to drive the rod in.

A lot depends on the ground as sometimes you wonder if using a jack hammer would be better. Back in the seventies when TV first came to our country, there were no such luxuries and if there were, as mere mortals they probably would have been unaffordable. LOL!

 

[ProfJohnL]

Why the caravan rather than the house CU? I was thinking of a more permanent fix rather than another cable out of the caravan?

Grounding needs to be effective as close as possible to the point of use, so ideally at the caravan, or as a minimum at the point where you connect the the EHU to the house.

 

[Dustydog]

Grounding needs to be effective as close as possible to the point of use, so ideally at the caravan, or as a minimum at the point where you connect the the EHU to the house.

If I read everything correctly isn’t the potential N break at the Suppliers end before the house and caravan? An earth pole into the ground linked to the CU would presumably give “ double” protection , ie thenCU RCD and the Caravans RCD?
Just wondered 🤔