Chester00

Hi,
I'm new to the site. Does anyone out there know much about earthing in rural houses? I don't do much resi work let alone in the country and have only been in the industry 10 yrs.
I need to replace an old (1920's) DB in Australia and here's the interesting problem...there is a large bare cable bonded to the in-coming Neutral which disappears down the wall toward the DB (I thought this was a specific "in-the-country" earthing system), however, it doesn't come out in the DB . Anyhow, I am wondering how this kind or earthing system SHOULD be configured and whether, if I simply put an earth stake in, it will effect this system.
Any advice?

Jlarson

Could it go to the rebar in the foundation? If the house is built like that, that is.

__________________
The best never stop learning.

Chester00

It's not built on a slab but but there is no room to get underneath as it is buit so low to the ground. Maybe it bonds to a water pipe and then to the board...there is a straggly little bare wire coming into the board with some solder on it but the sizing didn't look right to be the main earth... I should go and read my AS book...it is just so, er, open to interpretation that it doesn't help half the time and doesn't give info on old systems.

kbsparky

Do they still utilise skeleton systems in Australia? I never saw one until I spent a fortnight in outback Queensland several years ago ....

__________________
-KB

Life is uncertain -- eat dessert first!

Chester00

Skeleton systems??

The house was wired in the old rubber/material insulated cabling and it was all run in metal conduits...most things including power outlets weren't earthed and someone had definately been "their own handy work"...not cool...

Chester00

Oh, there were some bare earthing conductors running about the roof which were very sparcely connected to stuff.

CraigV

Lightning rod system?