TINGLES TO DEATH - THE STORY OF AUSTRALIA'S OUTDATED EARTHING SYSTEM

FROM TINGLES TO DEATH - THE DANGERS OF AUSTRALIA'S OUTDATED EARTHING SYSTEM.

Safety is a top priority in any electrical installation, and earthing systems play a crucial role in providing a safe pathway for electrical current in the event of a fault. However, it's important to be aware that voltages present on the earthing system can cause tingles or even death on earthed parts of a building. In this blog post, we'll explore the sources of earth leakage, the risks associated with DC leaked voltages, and the potential solutions to improve safety in electrical installations.

Parasitic capacitance from earthed appliances, faulty electrical systems, or electronic circuits with components like capacitors connected to earth can all cause voltages to leak to the earthing system. Both DC and AC voltages can be present on the earthing system, but DC is more dangerous in terms of electrocution. Inverters used in renewable energy sources are a significant source of DC leakage, and this highlights the importance of monitoring and protection systems in these installations.

Under certain circumstances, such as a break in a neighbour's earthing system with an earthed solar inverter, deadly DC voltage can be present on your system. This raises questions about whether the Multiple Earthed Neutral (M.E.N.) system, the legacy earthing system in Australia, is outdated due to the increasing use of electronic devices.

If you feel a tingle on your taps or have concerns about your earthing system, it's crucial to get equipment checked by a qualified electrician. In addition, moving to Class 2 equipment, which is double-insulated, could be a viable solution for some installations. It's also worth considering direct earth voltage rise monitoring or protection systems to reduce the risk of electrical shock.

Conclusion

Earthing systems are crucial for safe electrical installations, but it's important to be aware of the potential risks associated with earth leakage. DC voltages are more dangerous in terms of electrocution, and this is a particular concern in installations that use inverters for renewable energy sources. If you have concerns about your earthing system or feel a tingle on your taps, it's important to get equipment checked by a qualified electrician. Moving to Class 2 equipment or implementing direct earth voltage rise monitoring or protection systems are potential solutions to improve safety in electrical installations. The ongoing review of earthing systems should be a high priority for the Australian Government to keep our earthing system up-to-date with the move to the electronic devices, inverter based generation and EV charging.