Electrical Wiring and Grounding?

[Ziggy Stardust 23]

I stopped by Citi Hardware to guy 3 wire Romex (hot, neutral, ground) for a small wiring project but was told by the salesman there that 3 wire is not available in RP. When I asked how grounding was performed in RP the salesman told me that grounding was usually not done here.  So, if that is true, how have you who have done wiring installed a ground?  Do you just run an additional wire along with the Romex for a ground? Also, the shortest grounding spike that Citi Hardware had was 10 feet in length.  In my location that would penetrate the water table.  I do not know enough about wiring and grounding to know if that is an issue.  Is the grounding spike in the water table an issue?  If yes, how deep should a spike go to be effective? Thanks for your input.

[colemanlee 21,437]

I just run a separate third wire...so far havent had to drive a spike, just used the one driven for the phone system...seemed to work...food for thought, if your cable tv is snowy, use same ground for cable system....I would not worry about driving a ten foot rod into the water table, I doubt it would make a difference, you cant find three wire here also....

[Mikala 14,383]

 

 

Is the grounding spike in the water table an issue? If yes, how deep should a spike go to be effective? Thanks for your input.

 

Driving the stake into the water table isn't an issue, but you can also slant the stake so that it doesn't go into the water table. Either way, should be a good deep ground. Ground stakes sold in Hawaii are 8 feet long.

 

I would run a separate ground wire.

[Woolf 8,550]

Ziggy are you in VECO supply area ?

 

Read this thread

http://www.livingincebuforums.com/topic/59693-electric-power-220v-vs-110v/

 

Pole transformer diagrams

http://www.livingincebuforums.com/topic/59693-electric-power-220v-vs-110v/?p=761265

[lopburi3 601]

Here in Thailand 3 wire was not common until last few years but if you look it could be found.  I suspect it is also available in Philippines at larger shops that sell to contractors.  But yes you can use a single wire for ground if you have to do so.  As for long ground they are designed to be long to get deep into moist earth (so no problem with hitting water level - the ground is designed to trip your breaker without killing you rather than electrify anything).  

[Ziggy Stardust 23]

Thanks for all the useful information. 

[thebob 18,260]

Hunt downtown I've bought "twin and earth" cable there.

[SkyMan 23,707]

3 wire Romex (hot, neutral, ground) for a small wiring project

If you have VECO power you don't have a neutral either, you have two hot 110v lines on opposite phases.  You'll have to run a separate wire from the pole to get a neutral.

 

Are you sure you need a ground?

Edited June 22, 2015 by SkyMan

[lopburi3 601]

You should always have a ground as it helps to provide a good path to ground (without you being the path) and then a quick trip of fuse or circuit breaker.  Much better that this happens when the fault occurs rather than when you touch that 'hot' metal chassis - and only a ground is going to do that. 

[SkyMan 23,707]

The vast majority of RP homes don't have a ground.

[RogerDat 3,478]

Greetings! They use this here. it is placed before the main CB, its like a gfi for the whole house.

 

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[Woolf 8,550]

You should always have a ground as it helps to provide a good path to ground (without you being the path) and then a quick trip of fuse or circuit breaker.  Much better that this happens when the fault occurs rather than when you touch that 'hot' metal chassis - and only a ground is going to do that. 

 

I the VECO supply area the grounded neutral is not going to the house

there are 2 hots  110/120 volts to ground

If you make your own ground you will be lucky that it will be 10 ohms

If you have a short in your equipment from one the phases to chassis

it will be 110/120 volt at the chassis

 

Ground at 10 ohms and a voltage of 120 will be 12 amps

and your circuit breaker is ?

 

If all your outlets are grounded, you will have 110/120 volt

at all equipment connected

 

Do not use the ground that the phone company use

it is  not good, almost the same as putting a gound stick in a flower pot

[lopburi3 601]

This is not DC current - any ground will trip a circuit breaker - even the odd nail in the wall - much better to have any ground than none at all.

 

As for RCD that is also used by most people here in Thailand and does not require a ground reference to operate.  But even when working you will take a painful hit before it trips if you are the path to ground.  Much better to have that real path to ground take care of that and use the RCD as extra protection (and I highly believe in using them - have used here in Bangkok since the 1970's.

[loy 250]

I the VECO supply area the grounded neutral is not going to the house

there are 2 hots  110/120 volts to ground

If you make your own ground you will be lucky that it will be 10 ohms

If you have a short in your equipment from one the phases to chassis

it will be 110/120 volt at the chassis

 

Ground at 10 ohms and a voltage of 120 will be 12 amps

and your circuit breaker is ?

 

If all your outlets are grounded, you will have 110/120 volt

at all equipment connected

 

Do not use the ground that the phone company use

it is  not good, almost the same as putting a gound stick in a flower pot

In my area we have Nuvelco electric co. They use the two wire system . One leg is hot and the other is ground. Can never get 110/120 from ground to any of the two wires. We had a third ground wire installed to all of our outlets. This eliminate nuisance mini shocking when holding on to any appliance when standing barefooted. Also good protection for equiptment and human. Somewhat different from what is mentioned above. 

[Woolf 8,550]

This is not DC current - any ground will trip a circuit breaker - even the odd nail in the wall -

 

No!!     any ground will NOT trip the breaker the current will

 

May calculation is valid for AC or DC

 

What do you know about electricity ? 

 

I have not been able to find a RCD in cebu

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residual-current_device

In my area we have Nuvelco electric co. They use the two wire system . One leg is hot and the other is ground. Can never get 110/120 from ground to any of the two wires. We had a third ground wire installed to all of our outlets. This eliminate nuisance mini shocking when holding on to any appliance when standing barefooted. Also good protection for equiptment and human. Somewhat different from what is mentioned above. 

 

Did you notice I said VECO area ?

Edited June 14, 2015 by Woolf