[sdiy] ESD grounding in USA

[Neil Johnson]

Seb,

> In the UK all metal piping is tied to the mains ground at the point where
> the pipes and mains come into the house, and also additional bonding straps
> are required in bathrooms, etc.  I'm sure this must also be the case in the
> US, otherwise you have a risk when mains wiring runs next to metal piping
> that the plumbing could become live.

Experience shows - never assume anything.  An ESD handling area is
only as good as the ESD tester says it is.

One house I lived in had been re-wired by the previous owner ... who
had carefully and consistently NOT connected the earth wire, and
randomly swapped live and neutral.  Needless to say once I found this
out I spent a merry weekend fixing _every_ socket in the place.

Neil
-- 
http://www.njohnson.co.uk