[sdiy] Home Wiring question?

[J. Larry Hendry]

> ----Original Message-----
> From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> Anyways, the moral of the story is... just use your volt meter and find a
reliable ground source as a reference :)
> Dave Magnuson

I good story and good advice Dave.  Here are some tips that will help you
with code issues.  Warning, these vary slightly from state to state.
Disclaimer - Much of this does not apply to service outside the USA.  This
is not professional advice.  I only give that in person following complete
inspection.

One and only one ground rod.  It is supposed to be located as close as
possible to the point where the service enters your home (i.e. right at the
meter base).  Any other grounds (especially water pipe ground should be
removed.  If you have any cable TV, or phone equipment that has been
grounded to water pipes over the years, or have some other type of ground
connection, disconnect and run to them with a separate wire directly to your
ground rod.

You have a single connection from the ground rod to the service entrance.
Some states specify the neutral bar inside the meter box.  Others allow the
neutral bar inside the main service panel.  Electrically, they are the same
(better be). Usually a minimum wire size is specified. Inside the main panel
may be better, since pulling the meter to do that work inside the meter base
often requires a follow up inspection which you may not pass considering the
other wiring.  Old stuff is "grand-fathered" as OK until you make an
improvement.  Then, you are open to potential demands to bring it all up to
code.

The utility does not supply a ground,  They supply a neutral only.  Contrary
to popular belief the neutral and earth ground do have to be bonded
together.  However, that MUST be in ONE place only.  See aforementioned
locations.

When wiring to your outlets, the most common error is reversal of the hot
and neutral.  You may have that on one of the outlets you described.  SO,
when you plug things into different outlets, you have a potential difference
between the two.  So check small short slot is always hot, taller one is
always neutral.  NEVER connect ground and neutral together AT the outlet.
That completely ruins all grounding.  Of course, in many 2 wire systems,
that is how unskilled wiring people accomplished ground.  They just
connected it to neutral.

So, if the wiring from your box to the outlets is only 2 wire, replace it
with 3 wire.

Larry Hendry