Testing an Earth rod, with wait for it..

[dw3101]

I've had to bang a rod in as a temporary earth at a mates house, due to the lack of an earth connection from YEDL at the moment. To get a rough idea of the impediance I measured it using my loop tester.. Whats an acceptable value doing it this way? Im getting 0.63 at the moment, and the ground is nice and damp and didnt shift the value.. - Please remember its temporary - Until they come out.. so I dont particuarly want to mess around with multiple rods.

Shame as the lead water pipe reads 0.36! Nor do I want to rely on this as is currently done, as you know how these temporary measures go..

David

 

[bernardgreen]

I've had to bang a rod in as a temporary earth at a mates house, due to the lack of an earth connection from YEDL at the moment. To get a rough idea of the impediance I measured it using my loop tester.. Whats an acceptable value doing it this way? Im getting 0.63 at the moment, and the ground is nice and damp and didnt shift the value.. - Please remember its temporary - Until they come out.. so I dont particuarly want to mess around with multiple rods.

Shame as the lead water pipe reads 0.36! Nor do I want to rely on this as is currently done, as you know how these temporary measures go..

David

Just out of curiosity what was the loop ?. One probe of the meter on the earth rod obviously but where did you put the other probe to complete the circuit to the ground.

 

[dw3101]

The meter isnt that advanced!

David

 

[bernardgreen]

Just out of curiosity what was the loop ?. One probe of the meter on the earth rod obviously but where did you put the other probe to complete the circuit to the ground.

The meter isnt that advanced!

David

If it is a meter that can make a resistance reading with just one probe then it is so far advanced it is ahead of Star Trek and Doctor Who's sonic screwdriver.

All meters have to have at least two probes to make a circuit......

 

[davelx]

I'd guess he's doing an EFLI measurement between L & E at the CU isolator. But I may be guessing wrongly, of course.

 

[securespark]

0.63 for a rod is f in good!!

 

[Lectrician]

Too good TBH - Suspect parallel paths, or the rod is banged in very close to the Lead pipe

 

[securespark]

Can I hear a faint trickle?

 

[mst]

Can anyone smell gas?

 

[ELZ4742]

main bonding should be disconnected first before the rod is tested to give a true reading

 

[securespark]

And that reading must not be more than 200Ohms. And you must have 30mA RCD protection if you cannot guarantee disconnection times will be met without one.

 

[RF Lighting]

And that reading must not be more than 200Ohms.

Or 100 ohms if you are an NICEIC contractor

 

[ricicle]

And you must have 30mA RCD protection if you cannot guarantee disconnection times will be met without one.

Only on the socket circuits.
100mA for 5s disconnect ccts
(sorry I,m on the 2391 this week)

 

[securespark]

Yes, but there's nothing wrong in temporarily giving the whole supply 30mA protection, rather than two RCD's.

 

[Lectrician]

main bonding should be disconnected first before the rod is tested to give a true reading

Not just main bonding - EVERYTHING! Test to the cable to rod ONLY - take it out of the earth bar, or drop the link that are in decent DB's.