jenevers Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 Just been talking to a boater who said nothing on his steel narrowboats is earthed! His argument being every electrical item is plastic and some only have pos and neg cables anyway. Why is he still alive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 I've heard of the flat earth society, perhaps hes setting up an offshoot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jeavons Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 Yikes! Assuming he has 3-pin sockets on his boat, I wonder if this means he hasn't wired up the earth pins on any of them. Also means he has no earth leakage protection if he plugs a faulty power tool in. Guy's a nutter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenevers Posted May 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 2 minutes ago, Stephen Jeavons said: Yikes! Assuming he has 3-pin sockets on his boat, I wonder if this means he hasn't wired up the earth pins on any of them. Also means he has no earth leakage protection if he plugs a faulty power tool in. Guy's a nutter Yes he has 3 pin sockets and earth wiring in the circuit but I his Genny and Inverter aren’t earthed. He said the Genny came out of a road vehicle so wasn’t connected to the chassis!?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 Does he ever use shore power? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jeavons Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 That's clever (not). An item with a fault (framing the live) will make the frames of every other plugged-in appliance live e.g. a microwave oven, iron, electric kettle. Some of these items have exposed steel. Sounds like a nasty accident waiting to happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 I had a long winded argument with a bloke who used to post on here years ago. He said much the same; that no earth was needed on the boat. You simply can't help some people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BargeeSpud Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 I wonder if the guy's house, if he has one, is earthed? Jesus H, you wouldn't want him working on your electrics would you, far quenelle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 Imagine if the hull went live and somebody stepped onto an earth; another boat maybe. I can't believe that people even argue the case for not earthing a boat when mains potential is present. I expect they are trying to avoid corrosion, but there are safer ways! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 Phew - when I reached title "No Earth" I feared the worst! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jeavons Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 Please provide the name of the boat so we can all give it a VERY wide birth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taslim Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 9 minutes ago, Stephen Jeavons said: Please provide the name of the boat so we can all give it a VERY wide birth No. Not not he has a desireable boat. Befreind him & wait.? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveller Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 (edited) I agree with all that has been said, but many do not use shore power and just rely on a generator which is not earthed. Others do sort of use shore power to run the odd drill etc but run off what is no more than an extension cable (hopefully with a trip in the circuit). That leaves all the onboard 12 volt stuff which presumably is not earthed and this might be what is behind the thinking? This ignores the potential for a live short to the boat's shell and I guess therein lies the problem? But I am no spark! Edited May 20, 2019 by Traveller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickent Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 3 hours ago, matty40s said: I've heard of the flat earth society, perhaps hes setting up an offshoot Bloody hell, when I saw the thread title, I thought we had no where to live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murflynn Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 Darwin will kick in one day, hopefully before progeny are produced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenevers Posted May 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 9 hours ago, WotEver said: Does he ever use shore power? No. I think he’s 100% solar/Genny. Why , would that make a difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenevers Posted May 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 8 hours ago, catweasel said: I had a long winded argument with a bloke who used to post on here years ago. He said much the same; that no earth was needed on the boat. You simply can't help some people. Is he still alive?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 8 hours ago, catweasel said: Imagine if the hull went live and somebody stepped onto an earth; another boat maybe. I can't believe that people even argue the case for not earthing a boat when mains potential is present. I expect they are trying to avoid corrosion, but there are safer ways! Yes I knew a kiwi bloke on a boat who claimed to be an electrician who refused to bond his AC earth to his hull on the basis that he didn't want to create galvanic corrosion. He just said all his cables were insulated. I always use the power tool example. In the old days when electric drills were made of cast metal they were earthed with a bond to the metal casing. These days the casings are plastic and the tools are double insulated, but you'd have to be mad to bring mains cables into a steel box without earthing it. I don't suppose floating the steel box on water makes much difference to the scenario apart from the danger to anything that happens to be in the water nearby if the hull goes live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenevers Posted May 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 7 minutes ago, blackrose said: you'd have to be mad to bring mains cables into a steel box without earthing it. But he isn’t bringing mains cables into a steel box (if by that you mean a landline)as he’s completely solar and Genny powered from what he says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
system 4-50 Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 Gibbo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jeavons Posted May 21, 2019 Report Share Posted May 21, 2019 12 hours ago, jenevers said: But he isn’t bringing mains cables into a steel box (if by that you mean a landline)as he’s completely solar and Genny powered from what he says. But the Genny is producing 240V isn't it? Same as being on mains so the risks are surely the same. Doesn't matter where the power is generated, 240V is 240V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 21, 2019 Report Share Posted May 21, 2019 13 hours ago, jenevers said: Is he still alive?? Well he doesn't post anymore as far as I am aware........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted May 21, 2019 Report Share Posted May 21, 2019 14 hours ago, jenevers said: No. I think he’s 100% solar/Genny. Why , would that make a difference? Yes, but I’m not going to get into what would inevitably become an argument on here about floating voltages. 1 hour ago, Stephen Jeavons said: But the Genny is producing 240V isn't it? Same as being on mains so the risks are surely the same. Doesn't matter where the power is generated, 240V is 240V 240V relative to what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jeavons Posted May 21, 2019 Report Share Posted May 21, 2019 OK, I see where you're coming from. As we haven't seen how the wiring was done on "that" boat, it's pointless to speculate on the potential (no pun intended) risks. I would still use an earth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted May 21, 2019 Report Share Posted May 21, 2019 6 minutes ago, Stephen Jeavons said: I would still use an earth. Me too. But it’s not necessarily “The sky is falling” disaster that some have suggested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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