07/18/2018
I have been on a few calls recently, so I thought I might share some helpful information.
Your typical electrical system consists of 2 hot (ungrounded) conductors and 1 grounded conductor, when you get it from the power company. We add to this a grounding electrode system like a concrete encased electrode, ground rods, metal underground water pipe, and a few others, I have never used. This system is bonded to the grounded service conductor, making a solid return path for the loads in the electrical system. If for some reason the grounded conductor from the power co. Is lost, if you have a good electrode system, you may not even know it is gone. If however you don’t have a good electrode, if you loose your grounded conductor from the power company, then you have many potential risks associated with the loss, not the least being electrocution. This would happen if you became the electrode by being grounded yourself, and touching something that should gave been grounded and there was a load looking for a place to go to ground. Another potential problem is that it puts all the circuits in series and the unbalanced voltage could be as high as 240 volts on a 120 volt outlet or device. This could result in the device being ruined, or literally burning up, and is a fire hazard.
If you have flickering lights, lights that get dim, then bright, vacuums that run fast, or slow, have your electrical checked. You can loose the grounded conductor from your box to outlets also.
I have had several calls and this is what I’m seeing, be safe out there.