Connecting the earth?

[Pulpo]

My circuit breaker box is internal.

It has 6 circuit breakers plus main power switch and safety switch.

How should the earth wire be connected for each circuit breaker?

I have the main earth wire connected to the neutral bus bar [no problems].

Each earth wire for the circuit breakers are connected to the main earth wire by revealing a section of the main earth bare.

So about 60mm back from the bus bar the insulation is removed for around 30mm on the earth wire.

They are connected with glue, not solder.

Off course all the wires are covered with insulation tape.

Is this standard installation?

Yes the sparkie who installed it said its normal, now I'm in the bush its not that easy to have someone check someone elses work.

Thanks

Pulpo

[Redgy]

They are connected with glue, not solder.



:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: Solder them.

[bennylaird]

Is the glue a conductive solder type epoxy?

[Barry_White]

All the earths should really be either soldered to the main earth or connected to a bolt either with solderless lugs or crimped lugs to which the main earth should be connected to.

[Pulse]

I'm sure it sounds normal, technically, though the MEN link is what connects form the main neutral bar to the neutral bar. The main neutral can be a soldered connection also.

Cheers
Pulse

[Auld Bassoon]

Glue! Get the soldering iron out, smartish!

[ozwinner]

Glue! Get the soldering iron out, smartish!

Dont they make some conductive glue now adays though??
Also, wont solder melt if the wires get hot?

Al :confused:

[Rusty]

But, the Earth is, like, interconnected, man..you know, the web of life and...

Oh.

Peace,
Rusty.

[Jon]

I am not a sparky but I am fairly sure that protective earths (which is what is used for power cabling) must not be soldered but be a mechanical joint/compression/friction joint. As ozwinner said, if there is a fault and the wires get hot, you don't want the solder to melt and joint fail.
There must be a sparky out there who answer this properly.....

Jon

[Zed]

glue and/or solder are insufficient.

use stainless steel bolts or copper with well fitted nut and bolt connections. A "positive", permanent and non corrosive connection is required especially if you are exposed to the elements.

do not fark about with earths - rules and regs are quite stringent expecially as earth leakage and trip fuses rely on good earths to protect you (and your famil) from being zapped.

get a sparkie to redo the work and claim the bill back from the guy who "Glued" <scoff!!> the original connections.

friggin butchers! if the work is substadard you should report the bastard!! Glue my @rse!

[Redgy]

I
There must be a sparky out there who answer this properly.....


Maybe with some of the sparky bashing that comes at times the sparkys are not interested...oh they charge to much, they never turn up, they have a closed shop, why do I need to get a sparky to do this, how friggin hard is it blah blah blah

Climbing down from soapbox now :)

Here it is from AS/NZS3000:2000

Rule 5.6.4.1

In every electrical installation a main earthing terminal/connection or bar shall be provided at the main switchboard and the following conductors shall be connected to it:

a) Main earthing conductor
b) MEN Link
c) Protective earthing conductors
d) Functional earthing conductors if required
e) Equipotential earthing conductors

NOTE: A main earthing terminal/connection may be a soldered connection.

So there it is nothing about glueing conductors.

Melting point of solder is about 180C, domestic cable insulation about 75C (V75 rated) so your cable is more likely to burn you house down than any solder connection. Hopefully if you've wired it yourself I can be close enough to cook some marshmellows.:D

Cheers
Reg

[bennylaird]

Listen to Zed, don't monkey around with earths.

[ozwinner]

Glue my @rse!

Grunt!!
Where are you going with that glue gun??:eek: :D

Al :p

[Barry_White]

This is out of AS3000.

I told you this earlier now do you believe me.

[bennylaird]

Grunt!!
Where are you going with that glue gun??:eek: :D

Al :p

Careful I don't think that's really a glue gun and definately not glue.................:D :D :D

[Jon]

AS/NZS 3000:2000 Clause 3.7.2.10

Where soldering is used for the jointing or connection of earthing
conductors, the earthing conductors shall be retained in position by
acceptable means independently of the solder.

this is from the current regs

Jon

[Barry_White]

AS/NZS 3000:2000 Clause 3.7.2.10

Where soldering is used for the jointing or connection of earthing
conductors, the earthing conductors shall be retained in position by
acceptable means independently of the solder.

this is from the current regs

Jon

Although my copy is fairly old (1983) it also says that. Posted further back in the thread.