Shocking!!!

[kazdek]

when we moved into our house , the water pipes were lead, so we had those removed and had plastic pipes put in. However since we did it , we have noticed that we get small electric shocks from the taps(it feels like a buzzing through the fingers) and also from the metal surround around the hob, does anyone have an explanation as to why this is happening.?

[raysparx]

Hello kaz, you need to call in an electrician to check the wiring, it could be a slight fault to earth on the wiring or an appliance, get it checked out. asap, Ray

[Hard@it]

Sounds like you have removed the permanent earth connection from your copper pipework when you changed to plastic, which is a must !!! Hard@it

[kazdek]

i phrased the question wrongly. We have changed the lead pipe, from the main, into the house to plastic, which is connected to copper.So far up the copper pipework, we have connected the earth wire to they hot and cold Do i have to extend the earth to just under the mixer tap, and to where the plastic changes to copper. or am i mad???

[raysparx]

Kaz,is there an earth wire coming to the pipes or just a wire linking them together? it shouldn't matter that the sink top itself isn't bonded, but you also said you get a shock from around the hob,which makes me think,you probably haven't got an RCCB on your consumer unit, or have you? Ray

[pedderwo]

It sound to me that the lead incoming water pipe may have been providing the main path to earth now that it is removed there is no path for leakage current to go.

You should get this checked out because there may be no earth protection at all.

[kazdek]

there is a circuit breaker in the fuse box

[kazdek]

and there is an earth wire coming from out of the wall heading towards the fuse box . My dad turned the electric off and tested the earth and there 3-4 volts going through it.

[raysparx]

Kaz, It sounds as if you really should have your electrics, especially the earthing checked, you should have a 10mm green/yellow earth wire going onto the cold main water pipe,and then pipes should be cross bonded,under new regulations,it is illegal for you to do main or supplementary bonding of pipes in Kitchen or bathroom, you really should also have an RCCB controlling socket outlets,so have it checked if you are unsure, better safe than sorry, Ray

[kazdek]

thanks for your help, will get it checked out pronto,
how much would it cost to do the earthing?

[pedderwo]

It sounds like there is no main earth coming in to the property!

You can connecct as many earth cables as you like ito all the copper and metalwork in the house, this will be useless unless you have a connection to earth either via the supply authroity's supplied facility or via an earth electrode(s) into the ground, usually in rural locations.

[kazdek]

there is an earth spike at the side of the house, my dad tested that too and there were 3-4 volts going through it

[pedderwo]

Are you rural?

[pedderwo]

Is the ground very dry/rocky - non conductive?

[raysparx]

Kaz, if you do not have a main earth and are reliant on an electrode,the system is what is known as TT if this is the case you would normally have an RCCB between the meter and your consumer unit or in the unit itself,this helps eliminate the risk of shock, what you could try is to pour a bucket of water over the electrode (spike) that is in the ground even a couple of buckets and see if the shocks then disappear,or you could have a faulty appliance plugged in that is then leaking back to earth instead of tripping the MCB or RCCD, give it a go with the water, and let us know what happens, Ray

[kazdek]

we have a curcuit breaker in the fuse cupboard that works correctly, when you press the test button , the electric goes off

[kazdek]

the spike goes into the soil at the side of the house,we live in a small village

[raysparx]

Pour some water over the spike, it should help kaz,it can't do any harm, good luck, Ray

[kazdek]

will try that then, what exactly will it do?

[raysparx]

Kaz, I would think that the old lead water pipe coming in was giving you a good earth,since that has gone you are now relying on the earth rod,so if the ground is dry is not allways that brilliant,putting water over it will improve its contact to earth,and in your case,hopefully eliminating the shocks, pour a couple of buckets of water over it and see if it helps, cheers, Ray

[kazdek]

thanks x