Errroneous Earthing.

ISTR a picture circulation a few years ago of an earth rod placed in a large plant pot full of earth !

It must work then!

Not as bad an erroneous earthing as a metal bodied lamp found in a cellar near here a few years ago - the house being wire as loop through rose, but without earth, and the metal light fitting having no insulated  looped-live  terminal but a very convenient terminal screw in the body the spare red wires had been duly connected to the body of the lamp. Presumably by someone with no concept at all of what they were actually doing.  I'd like to think it was not anyone claiming to be an electrician.

It presumably worked as a light for many years for the original owner, and only after a few years more when the new house owner wanted to change the bulb and got bitten by it, did I get involved…   It then developed a ceiling rose alongside on the day, and soon after got a feed cable with a CPC as part of a rewiring.

Mike.

I see our forum colleague Crossy responding very sensibly further down in that Thailand Flower pot thread. 

I'm surprised his tester reads as low as 1700 ohms in a flowerpot to be honest, but it is good to know someone measured it to debunk it.

Mike

I have seen quite commonly two way switching installed in a combination of T&E and PVc/PVC singles where the T&E cpc is left floating because it's fed by a single without CPC and supplies a single without cpc.  Generally installed by ‘electricians’  and often with brass switches.  It all looks fine visually at the switches until you test it or measure the voltage on switch plate to a proper earth with a modern high impedance instrument.  I suspect these guys were on auto pilot and the lower scope of testing in those days didn't pick up the problems.

mapj1: 
 

I see our forum colleague Crossy responding very sensibly further down in that Thailand Flower pot thread. 

I'm surprised his tester reads as low as 1700 ohms in a flowerpot to be honest, but it is good to know someone measured it to debunk it.

Mike

If it was there a long time the roots have probably found their way down into the earth through cracks in paving etc and that will help reading substantially.

Damn, I've been found out!

When we moved in to that condo and decided that RCDs might be a good addition I discovered that all three airconditioners were running between L & E suggesting that we had TN-S or TNC-S. A fact borne out by the very sensible loop via the balcony railing. So in reality the earthed steelwork was only inches below the balcony surface.

Now we have our house (since 2012) the roof steel actually measures better than our 2.4m rod! We are on Bangkok clay and 16m driven piles, the steel whilst not actually intentionally bonded does go all the way into the piles.

We had a direct lightning hit to the roof a few years back. Total damage was two ridge tiles, a lump out of Madam's solid teak ($$$) barge boards and the LNB of the satellite receiver.

Happy Loy Krathong to all, no floating on the river this year (again), the swimming pool will have to do.

Happy Loi Krathong Crossy, what a lovely tradition.

Z.

mapj1: 
 

I see our forum colleague Crossy responding very sensibly further down in that Thailand Flower pot thread. 

I'm surprised his tester reads as low as 1700 ohms in a flowerpot to be honest, but it is good to know someone measured it to debunk it.

Mike

The earth may be improved by digging into it some well rotted compost, or animal dung. ?