Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!rutgers!mcnc!unccvax!dya
From: dya@unccvax.uncc.edu (York David Anthony @ WRPL Wadesboro, NC)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Need help grounding an old electrical outlet
Message-ID: <2607@unccvax.uncc.edu>
Date: 10 Aug 90 14:43:39 GMT
References: <1990Aug8.213846.20482@zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu>
Organization: University of NC at Charlotte
Lines: 34

In article <1990Aug8.213846.20482@zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu>, rubin@function.mps.ohio-state.edu (Karl Rubin) writes:
> Can I connect the ground wire to the neutral wire?


	No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. NEUTRAL IS NOT
GROUND. 

	The whole point of a safety ground are 1) to place the
chassis of the equipment at the bonding potential of local
earth (e.g. water pipe) 2) to prevent RFI/EMI from being a hassle
(sometimes a problem where mutiple feeds have large inductive
loads on some of them) and 3) TO SAFELY CONDUCT A FAULT CURRENT
FROM THE MAINS TO THE CHASSIS OF THE EQUIPMENT LONG ENOUGH
SO THAT PROTECTION DEVICES CAN OPEN THE CIRCUIT.

	The proper way to do this is to have a licensed electrician
rewire the outlet PROPERLY for Class I use. Period.

	I almost lost my wife this way because some asshole
installed 3-wire outlets and depended on the metallic armour
in my aincent house to conduct the fault current.  The frame
of the refrigerator rose to line potential when the defrost
heater shorted to its frame.  Can you say "let go potential"
Sure. I knew you could.
	
	Even if the neutral were to short to the equipment 
chassis, there is almost always a potential between neutral
and ground because of the resistance in the neutral circuit.

	Screw the computer. It's your life we're talking about,
man.

York David Anthony
WRPL (FM) Wadesboro, NC