Is my earthing or bonding correct?

[Whibley]

Hi, I also have a question re: earthing water mains. My house is old (newly bought by me) and needs a rewire. Earthed to fuse board but not the watermains. I had it booked in but my elderly cat has become ill - I can't put him in a cattery and no family nearby to support.

How dangerous is this? Could i just remove the fuse for the kitchen so there is no electricity in there? Am I still ok in the bathroom?

 

[EFLImpudence]

I haven't read the thread


Kitchen sinks do not need earthing.

The incoming water main supply - if metal - should be bonded (joined) to the electrical installation because it is earthed by the ground.
Is the pipe metal and is there a green and yellow cable attached to the pipe where it enters the house?


I hope your cat gets better very soon.

 

[Taylortwocities]

I haven’t read it either. As EFLI says, maybe your water main is not metal. If it’s plastic then it doesn’t need bonding.

 

[Whibley]

The fuse board is the original 1950s. There was a beige wire which ran from this outside but it didn’t lead to the main fuse board.

 

[Jurassicspark]

Have a look upstream/downstream of that pipe. There must be a at least a 10mm earth wire going to the fuseboard.

 

[Whibley]

Would you see it physically attached to the fuse board

 

[Jurassicspark]

Would you see it physically attached to the fuse board

You would see it entering the fuseboard.
Send a picture of your fuseboard (stand a bit back so all wires can be identified.)

 

[Whibley]

so the fuse board is really old, the only thing I can see going into it is a grey thick wire which the electricians said must be for the electric shower. I can see something similar running outside the house but it doesn't come into the kitchen. The only thing that did come in was a beige wire which sat on top of the pipe, held by a plastic tie. The ends were loose but closed, I actually didn't realise what this was so i removed it, but that could have led outside to connect with the thicker grey wire? The original wire was plastic cable but inside I can see the green/yellow wires.

 

[EFLImpudence]

This isn't getting anywhere.

Whibley: The only way you can determine if things (bonding) are as they should be is to get an electrician to inspect it.

Please answer: Is your water supply pipe outside metal or plastic?

How dangerous is this?

Bonding is to protect people who happen to be touching two different metal parts (i.e. a metal light fitting and a tap) at the same time and at the very moment a fault occurs in the electrical supply. At other times it makes no difference.

Could i just remove the fuse for the kitchen so there is no electricity in there?

No.

Am I still ok in the bathroom?

If people have been until now then - yes.

Not possible to tell from the internet.

 

[JohnD]

Have a look upstream/downstream of that pipe. There must be a at least a 10mm earth wire going to the fuseboard.

Should, but might not be.

 

[JohnD]

You would see it entering the fuseboard.
Send a picture of your fuseboard (stand a bit back so all wires can be identified.)

It might be attached to an earth block ( not in the Consumer Unit, or fuse board if there is one). I note the presence of green and yellow cable and bonding straps, which are encouraging.

 

[Whibley]

….yeah I removed it (!) the part on top was just sat on top of the pipe. It wasn’t fixed. How does the wire leading outside attach? Is it screwed / fixed to the wires in the photo? I know this is going round the houses a bit - I’ve had a quote and all, just wondering how dangerous it is.

 

[JohnD]

The fuse board is the original 1950s.

Possible but unlikely. Post some pics.

 

[flameport]

The fuse board is the original 1950s.

If that is true, the installation is unsafe and should be disconnected immediately.

 

[JohnW2]

If that is true, the installation is unsafe and should be disconnected immediately.

Less safe than in was ~70 years ago (or at any time during the ensuing ~70 years)? ... If so, what aspect of the 'fuse board' do you envisage will have deteriorated such as to result in it "becoming unsafe"?