Questions about grounding

Dale

What the other guys said is certainly true. I'll add that the ground is compared to the service entrance ground which is or should be to driven ground rods. The way I look at it the service technician makes sure there is a complete low resistance electrical connection from the sensor all the way back to the entrance panel ground buss. Most modern equipment has a ground screw that connects the sheet metal to the sensor by way of the metal connections, it never hurts to run separate wires from the sensor back to that screw and older slightly rusty cabinates are sometimes not so good a conductor. Then the ground screw must be connected to the panel, if a copper wire is correctly run to the boiler, with no splices on it's own circuit then this works, with old conduit or bx a separate green outside copper wire is often run from the panel to the boiler or furnace ground. You can wire tie this wire to the outside of the conduit as it is a supplementary ground not the design ground. section 250 of the national electric code is the IMHO most difficult to understand so you are in good company about grounds.

Ken C.

On newer boilers or furnaces with flame sensors and electronic control modules, I've read that improper grounding can cause erratic operation. Therefore, it's important to check grounding before condemning an expensive control module.
However, the information I've read doesn't say what consitutes proper grounding, or how to test for proper grounding. Could you folks please enlighten me?
Thanks
Ken

Bill Nye

ground

Simply means to hook the green ground wire ground terminal screw in the junction box on the equipment. Most all new appliances have some green screw under which they want you to secure the equipment grounding wire.

The older BX does not have a ground wire. That little piece of aluminum wire is a bonding strip. The newer MC cable has a ground wire. The wire is supposed to go back to the main panel equipment ground.

I have worked in many older homes where there is no ground wire. Everything after 1970's pretty much had ground wires or is supposed to.

You want to check for polarity also. Black is Hot to L1 or B1 and white is neutral or L2. I am not an electrician only a burner tech so this is only as I understand it. Hope it helps

Unknown

ANY electronic componant,,,

that is not properly grounded is subject to "stray current", "ghost flow" or worse yet "phase or ground fault". Damage or simple erratic operatoin can and will make your clients cold on Christmas eve. By bonding the case to an earth ground, this potential energy wich can cause any number of failures is routed dirrectly to earth ground since this is the path of least resistance for the electrons to travel. If you think about it, it's kind of like the way a differential bypass works.

Electrons are like wild childeren. If not guided in the right dirrection, all hell can break loose. Groundlyness is next to Godlieness. GROUND EVERYTHING. Especially hot water controls.

Read Carol Fey's Quick & Basic Electricity if you're out in the field fiddeling around with burners & stuff. Wires ain't pipes ya know. Newer boilers or furnaces with flame sensors and electronic control modules deserve carefull attention be paid before commissioning.

Gary

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Unknown

ANY electronic componant,,,

that is not properly grounded is subject to "stray current", "ghost flow" or worse yet "phase or ground fault". Damage or simple erratic operatoin can and will make your clients cold on Christmas eve. By bonding the case to an earth ground, this potential energy wich can cause any number of failures is routed dirrectly to earth ground since this is the path of least resistance for the electrons to travel. If you think about it, it's kind of like the way a differential bypass works.

Electrons are like wild childeren. If not guided in the right dirrection, all hell can break loose. Groundlyness is next to Godlieness. GROUND EVERYTHING. Especially hot water controls.

Read Carol Fey's Quick & Basic Electricity if you're out in the field fiddeling around with burners & stuff. Wires ain't pipes ya know. Newer boilers or furnaces with flame sensors and electronic control modules deserve carefull attention be paid before commissioning.

Gary

*To catch up with me in real time, use AOL's Instant Messanger. My user name is: Radiantfloors
Add me to your buddy list. I've got a bunch of Wallies on my list.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Unknown

I have a manual

Troubleshooting Electric Ignition Systems whic goes over this in detail. In fact we are running a Christmas Special until Dec. 31 on three manuals which cover the entire process of controls on gas systems today.

In addition to the one just mentioned:

Integrated Furnace Controls

Integrated Boiler Controls

All three for $100 we pay shipping and handling. We have had to do a second printing on these and now have three sets left.

I know this will help you considerably with your questions on grounding and other related problems with these systems.