I notice a lot of people uses 1.5 and 2.5 surfix on geysersI know the answer to this, based on the amps and distance I can do this.. Also the cost of the cable is less
My question is just if bonding and earthing requires at least 2.5 earth conductor is the geyser then leggily earthed and bonded or do I miss something somewhere?
I prefer, at least, a 4mm conductor for geysers and aircons. Depending on the stove's requirements I use 4mm or 6mm
Greetings and enjoy your weekend
My thought process is the geyser can be a 1.5mm² earth for earthing purposes, however the pipes need to be bonded with a 2.5mm² so if the roof is bonded then a short 2.5mm² to geyser pipes (hot and cold ) is ok.
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Use copper Earth strap between hot and cold water pipes for earth bonding
I am currently busy with the unit standard assessment and this presentation came up on the subject earth/ bonding of geysers see below slides of correct procedureOriginally Posted by Thys LOW Elektries
I notice a lot of people uses 1.5 and 2.5 surfix on geysers
I prefer, at least, a 4mm conductor for geysers and aircons. Depending on the stove's requirements I use 4mm or 6mm
Greetings and enjoy your weekend
Sorry i see the slides are not very clear but basically hot and cold water pipes needs to be bonded as close to geyser as possible even the geyser flange needs to be bonded to cold water pipe with bamba straps using brass bolts and nuts. Then 2.5mm green/yellow or bare copper conductor back to db main earth bar. Wiring needs to be dedicated with earth leakage protection and curcuit breaker and double pole isolator close to geyser flange. 2.5mm Surfix or flat twin+earth the earth conductor must not be used for main earth of geyser the earth conductor is not 2.5mm. Bathroom zoning was also part of this presentation,ip ratings and electrical installations in bathrooms very interesting.I am currently busy with the unit standard assessment and this presentation came up on the subject earth/ bonding of geysers see below slides of correct procedure
Hi
Couple of points that I would tend to disagree with
I don't agree that strap needs to be used and back my statement up with with Note 2 under 6.13 as pasted belowhot and cold water pipes needs to be bonded as close to geyser as possible even the geyser flange needs to be bonded to cold water pipe with bamba straps using brass bolts and nuts Then 2.5mm green/yellow or bare copper conductor back to db main earth bar.
6.13 Bonding
NOTE 1 The aim of bonding is to bring all the bonded parts to the same electrical
potential.
NOTE 2 No external conductor is required if compliance with the requirements for
continuity can be proved by the test in 8.6.2.
Agree that a dedicated circuit but more than one geyser can be on the circuitWiring needs to be dedicated with earth leakage protection and curcuit breaker
6.16.2.2 Dedicated circuits shall be provided for water heaters and there may
be more than one water heater on each circuit.
6.16.1.4 The disconnecting device shall be positioneddouble pole isolator close to geyser flange.
a) within 1,5 m from the appliance,
No where in the regulations is there a statement that says you may not use a wire size less than 2,5sqmm to earth a geyser2.5mm Surfix or flat twin+earth the earth conductor must not be used for main earth of geyser the earth conductor is not 2.5mm.
To bond a geyser yes - but if the geyser is bonded due to the copper pipes been bonded elsewhere and the readings being OK , then I should be able to earth the geyser with less than 2,5sqmm
Back to the topic, something to think about, what if the mains water pipe is PVC/plastic or a piece of the copper pipe is replaced with polycop using brass coupling and elbows etc?
If all pipes are pvc then the geyser needs to be bonded as per 6.16.2 - Then that is where the grey area of Twin & earth not having a full 2,5sqmm earth will come in.
6.13.2.2 Hot and cold water systems
Where the hot water system includes electric components and the water pipes
are of conducting material, hot and cold water systems shall be bonded
together and also be bonded to the earth continuity conductor system
6.16.2 Water heaters
NOTE Water heaters include geysers, instantaneous water heaters including units for
boiling water, heat pumps, solar systems, induction water heaters and the like (see also
6.16.1). electrode water heaters, steam generators and boilers are not included (refer
to 6.16.7)
6.16.2.1 All water heaters shall be bonded in accordance with 6.13 and a.c.
supply circuits shall be protected by earth leakage protection with IΔn not
exceeding 30 mA.
NOTE To mitigate nuisance earth leakage tripping, an additional earth leakage may
be provided.
This is what I enjoy about this forum, we all have our opinions, then we have the regs. I don't always agree with everything in the regs, but they are there as a guideline to a legal document, at the end of the day if you ever end up in the front of a court room, the judge, prosecutor and lawyers have no interest in peoples options, you will be judged on the facts according to the SANS document, like it or not.
No matter how thick your CV or large your portfolio, there is always space for improvement, one of the reasons I still visit this site.
I believe these threads help create awareness and would encourage more people to interact, voice your opinion right or wrong, so long as you walk away with a clearer understanding of the regulations, you are one step closer to improving the industry as a whole.
Dave A (22-May-22)
GCE learn something .Look at the person's credentials who did this presentation!!!?
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