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RayK · Jan 21, 2008, 12:01 PM

An additio has been added to an older home. In the process the long ground wire has been coiled up and laid by the copper ground rod. So, the one end is not connected to anything. I'm gettng a lot of static on the radios... can I connect this wire to any nearby pipe, etc.

Your advise will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. RayK

Stratmando · Jan 21, 2008, 12:30 PM

The ground wire should connect to ground rod. If they are disconnected there is a possibility of a difference of potential(a shock potential). Measure voltage between ground and ground wire. What kind of radio? Portable AM, Home FM?
See if you can determine the source of noise, Motor? Does it remain constant, or increase in speed?

ballengerb1 · Jan 21, 2008, 12:55 PM

"the long ground wire has been coiled up and layed by the copper ground rod." Ray, is this an old ground wire that got disconnected and is the copper rod laying on the ground or is it driven into the ground?

rtw_travel · Jan 21, 2008, 01:13 PM

Actually, is there any grounding wire currently connected to your main panel?

Stratmando · Jan 21, 2008, 02:14 PM

Rather than give me a red mark, can you answer anyone. The red mark indicated what I told you is wrong?
Anyone with less than 10 post should not touch the red button.

RayK · Jan 21, 2008, 02:24 PM

This house, built in 1960, has since had an addition put on. Since then one end of the ground wire has been disconnected. ONE END IS STILL CONNECTED TO THE GROUND ROD. To reduce radio static, can I just connect the loose end to a water pipe and be okay? The coiled ground cable, attached to the ground rod below the meter box, is about 24 feet long which makes me think that it was removed from a water pipe which is about 20 feet away. The g-wire was probably removed from that water pipe during construction and never replaced.

Without taking the meter box cover off, and I really wouldn't know what to look for, and since nothing was disturbed at the meter box, I'm guessing that the ground wire is still there (in the meter box behind the stucco wall.) From the outside, except for the connection and the coil of wire to the ground rod, there is no other wire visible.

I have a radio in every room. All pickup static, the one in the kitchen radio gets worse by turning on the fluroescent lights.
Any suggestions?

Thanks, RayK

ballengerb1 · Jan 21, 2008, 03:34 PM

Yep, Ray I'm sure you are new here but you only give someone a rating like that if they are factually incorrect. We are trying to help you and must visualize how your wiring and ground rod is connected. Please read all the posts and answer the questions the best you can.

ballengerb1 · Jan 21, 2008, 03:37 PM

I just read your other post and have a slightly better picture now. During the addition someone disconnected the ground wire from your panel and just dumped the old wire in a coil by the grounding rod. Was that done by an electrcian and did he possible give you a new ground via a water pipe or something?

Stratmando · Jan 21, 2008, 03:58 PM

Hey thanks Ballanger, Also when he gets ground with meter intact, THEN ground Cable, Sat, and Phone to this, to keep at same potential.

ballengerb1 · Jan 21, 2008, 04:06 PM

No problem, I'm sure Ray just didn't understand the system and felt he lead you in the wrong direction. You do great work so just keep it up. TK isn't here all that much lately because he is in hig demand and rightfully so. You guys are way ahead of me, I count myself lucking when I do a remodel and everything works the first time.

ballengerb1 · Jan 21, 2008, 04:12 PM

Ray, I know that you are new. This is your 3rd post but its all the same question, you can just return to your original post and keep adding onto it like a string. There are several poster on your number 2 post who asked you a question, namely me. Please go back there we are waiting to figure out who/how that ground came to be disconnected. Those light transformers are your likely culprits.

Curlyben · Jan 21, 2008, 04:18 PM

>Two Threads merged<

tkrussell · Jan 22, 2008, 03:31 AM

I suggest that an electrician be called in, as this is too fuzzy as to what is there, what was disconnected, and what is needed to be done to correct the issue.

There is a huge possibility that the original grounding was not done correctly.

Simply connecting the ground wire to a water line may or may not correct the issue, as there are certain conditions that a water line is used for grounding.

Some photos would help us here determine what you have.