Why you need proper earthing

When she started buying material for wiring her rentals, the first thing her electrician asked for were material for earthing. “I had never heard of it. The man asked for a copper rod worth Shs70,000, 50 kilogrammes of salt and two bags of charcoal dust,” Catherine Watera explains in amazement.

She says, she first refused to buy all the three items because no one had ever told her about them. “I thought the electrician wanted to dupe me. So I called my husband who was out of the country and he explained why I needed to buy what the electrician was asking for and that’s how I was able to buy all three items.

Rogers Egwang, an electrician, says electro earthing is where a good conductor of electricity is buried in the earth so as to provide a reliable conductive path for excessive power to the ground.

He explains that during construction, electro earthing is one of the important things when it comes to wiring of the house. However, some people think of it last and some others tend to do away with it ignoring the fact that it saves lives in times of excessive power from electricity and lightening.

“Earthing is done on every house to absorb electrical excesses and electrical shocks that are caused by electrical abnormalities that always cause fire in homes and other places that use electricity,” Egwang explains.

How to do earthing
Samuel Kizito, an electrical engineer, says during electro earthing, you start by digging a hole (earth pit). “This can be between four and six feet deep depending on the equipments used and the size of the house. However, the principle of measurements is greatly affected by the assumed soil conditions.”

He explains that dry land makes it hard for earthing to be carried out because earthing cannot be successful without moisture, for that reason, the pit must be located in an area where the soil has reasonable chances of having a little moisture. At times one can even position it at a point where some water can get into that pit, and if possible, earth plates or pipes should be located in areas near water taps or rain water pipes, not forgetting a mixture of wood charcoal powder, salt and sand, all in equal proportions of 50 kilograms must be filled in the earth pit around the earthing pipe or plate. The reason as to why one has to use coal, sand and salt is to keep the soil permanently wet because they hold water for some good time. Having done all that, you then fix the other equipments as required.

However, one must be very observant when it comes to positioning of the earth plate or pipe, when fixed this should be clear from all building foundations and a masonry enclosure should be made over the earth pit. Entrances, roads and pavements should be avoided during its location. In addition, all electrical appliances, switch boxes, meter boxes should be earthed as well.Peter Ssebaggala, an electrician emphasized the use of equipments containing copper. He says unlike steel and aluminium copper is a good conductor of electricity for that reason it is the most recommended.

Materials required for making a full earthing system and their cost.

Thunder arrester
This costs Shs220,000 and is usually positioned on top of an elevated structure which enables it to interface with the ground or earth which usually have strong electrical equipments that require a stable earthing system to reduce on the electrical short circuits. “Without a thunder arrester, the earthing system will be incomplete and it will be unable to perform its function. Thunder arrester’s basic role is to pave way through which excessive electric current can flow,” Kizito explains.

Connector
Olivia Masembe, a dealer in electrical appliances in Kiyembe, explains that a connector is another vital material when it comes to electro earthing because it connects the earthing rod and the thunder arrester. When current is excess, it directly takes it to the pit. An original one costs Shs40,000.

Copper mat
These differ in size and shape but they serve the same role and they are also referred to as copper bar, copper plate but the best is the copper bar because of its thickness. “A copper bar’s central role is to connect earth wires from the arrester. Therefore, it is a medium that absorbs excessive or runway electric currents,” the electrical engineer explains.

Pure copper earth rod
This costs Shs70,000 and it should be put in the earthing pit to enable it trap thunder.

Maintenance
Peter Ssebaggala of electro-Pal says like individuals go for medical checkups so is the earthing system. It has to be re-done and monitored closely every after a period of six to eight year for its assurance to perform its function.