I was reading this article at:
I have a couple of questions regarding this. I'll ask my question after quoting the portion my question is related to.
- "A further earth wire leads off to the water service and, in the case of more modern homes now, a separate earth stake driven into the ground."
Why does a earth wire lead off to the water service? What has water service got to do with earth wire? Also, what exactly is meant by water service here? Could someone please help me in visualizing? Is it like they expose the earth wire to stored water?
- "Taking the case where no earth stake exists, if the main neutral conductor coming into the house is interrupted (and often can be for a variety of reasons) then the only return path for electrical continuity is the earthing system, down through the water service, out into the street and back up through EVERYBODY'S water service / earth system."
How does the earth wire act as the return path. Let us take a room heater for example. The live wire would be connected to one end of the heating element and the neutral wire would be connected to the other end of the element. The earth wire would perhaps be connected to any metal in the body of the heater to ensure that in case the live wire comes in touch with the body of the heater, it doesn't induce an electric shock to the user who happens to touch the body. So, the earth wire is not connected to the heating element at all.
So, if the neutral wire is broken, there is absolutely no return path. How does the earth wire become the return path in this case?
- "How do I know a water service is live? Standard procedure (for those who follow rules and procedures - idiots don't) is to first connect, by way of proper earth clamp, an insulated earth wire of standard 4 mm size to the water service as it emerges from the water main. This cable is then run out to the meter box for connection to the neutral link."
What is "water main"? Where exactly is the earth wire connected at the water service's end?
A final question about this Usenet group. Is this the right place to ask these questions? Why posting is no longer allowed in sci.electronics?