Topband: RFI - and lots of it

[Keith Jillings (G3OIT)]

On 30/10/2015 19:49, Art Snapper wrote:

> At the risk of sounding redundant, be very careful when messing around with
> the bonding/grounding of the electrical panel.
> Over the years I have seen significant current on these circuits due to a
> wiring fault at the pole or on the drop to the house.

Indeed!   We used to own a cottage half way up a mountain in North 
Wales.  The incoming "earth" wire from the pole was at something like 
120 volts above ground (nominal voltage is 230).  We found out when my 
wife was cleaning the porch floor, standing outside the front door, and 
got a shock through the mop.

We thought we had a separate earth to a spike in the ground (we did, but 
it wasn't properly connected).   I poked that with an insulated 
screwdriver, there was a flash and a loud bang, and the house earth 
dropped to zero potential.  The lights in a house down the road went out.

Never did hear any more about that.


Keith