I am sure there have been many reported wirings of old houses.
I am gradually rewiring an old house (log cabin). I think the original wiring must have been done by the seat-of-the-pants of whoever was doing the wiring -- different people at different times.
Most of the circuits are two-wire. There is no separation in the main fuse panel between neutrals and a few safety grounds.
I am finding multiple connections between neutrals and safety-grounds and "earth" grounds, for example...
fuse panel neutral to meter base neutral to ground rod (3/4" EMT);
garbage disposal neutral to cold water pipe under sink;
hot water heater (10 A @240 VAC) safety-ground to cold water pipe;
bathroom junction box neutral to well (2" pipe perhaps 20-25 feet into the earth).
Is it dangerous to have multiple earth-grounds throughout the house? Or is it just screwy and not to code?
My understanding is that in the main panel (and only there) the neutral bar should be bonded to the safety-ground bar; that the safety-ground should be connected to a ground rod; and that there may also be a connection to a well or cold water pipe.
Is this correct?
Can the ground rod be connected either to the main panel or to the meter base?
I am planning on replacing the fuse panel with a 100A or 200A breaker panel. How long should the ground rod be? What diameter? Any alternatives to a copper rod? What guage for the safety ground to the panel?
Thanks for your help,
Daneel
I am gradually rewiring an old house (log cabin). I think the original wiring must have been done by the seat-of-the-pants of whoever was doing the wiring -- different people at different times.
Most of the circuits are two-wire. There is no separation in the main fuse panel between neutrals and a few safety grounds.
I am finding multiple connections between neutrals and safety-grounds and "earth" grounds, for example...
fuse panel neutral to meter base neutral to ground rod (3/4" EMT);
garbage disposal neutral to cold water pipe under sink;
hot water heater (10 A @240 VAC) safety-ground to cold water pipe;
bathroom junction box neutral to well (2" pipe perhaps 20-25 feet into the earth).
Is it dangerous to have multiple earth-grounds throughout the house? Or is it just screwy and not to code?
My understanding is that in the main panel (and only there) the neutral bar should be bonded to the safety-ground bar; that the safety-ground should be connected to a ground rod; and that there may also be a connection to a well or cold water pipe.
Is this correct?
Can the ground rod be connected either to the main panel or to the meter base?
I am planning on replacing the fuse panel with a 100A or 200A breaker panel. How long should the ground rod be? What diameter? Any alternatives to a copper rod? What guage for the safety ground to the panel?
Thanks for your help,
Daneel