Importance of ground wire in reflector

Lord Dangly Bits

Lord Dangly Bits

Well-Known Member
I know a pretty good amount about wiring, and to me that grounded wire to his reflector is a waste of time, unless you then grounded the reflector. Only thing a ground wire is good for is to keep you from getting shocked, and with out the reflector being grounded then that wire is not grounded either.
 
T

TheTokingKing

Active Member
Lord Dangly Bits said:
I know a pretty good amount about wiring, and to me that grounded wire to his reflector is a waste of time, unless you then grounded the reflector. Only thing a ground wire is good for is to keep you from getting shocked, and with out the reflector being grounded then that wire is not grounded either.
Click to expand...
HOWEVER! If the wire grounding the reflector is connected to the EARTH GROUND(green usually) then is is NOT a waste of time.
 
Lord Dangly Bits

Lord Dangly Bits

Well-Known Member
That is where I mentioned the reflector would have to be grounded. But that is stupid. Just take the grounding wire from the socket and ground it. Houses used to not have grounded sockets. Some older houses still do not. Depending on what state you live in determines how they ground the houses electrical. In Washington State they imbed a 6 foot copper rod into the ground, then ground the breaker box, then all the wireing in the house is grounded to the breaker box. In Nevada the run 30 feet of 3/4" copper wireing within the foundation footing. As I said, if not grounded, and it shorts out, you could get shocked. but most likely it would just throw the breaker first. If you have three prong plugs in your house then just get three strand wireing and ground the light socket to the houses electrical. The round prong on the plug is the ground.
 
D

Dirty Harry

Well-Known Member
SinSimian said:
Please elaborate, TTK.
Click to expand...
OK, when electricity is being used in a metal container or metal hood, there is a possibility electricity can "leak" onto the metal. It could be cause by broken wire insulation or moisture. Lets say the hot wire (Black) insulation wears due to vibration or the metal cuts into it. That makes the metal energized but the circuit is not complete as it has no way to ground. Your lights work so whats the problem? If you touch the energized metal you can become the ground path. Electricity will flow from the metal THROUGH YOU to ground and you will get a shock up to the full current of the circuit.
If the metal was grounded when that fault happens, it would cause the breaker to pop as it is a short. If it is "leaking" electricity such as from dampness, the ground will dissipate it harmlessly and no shock.
That being said, a ground fixture is not grounded unless the other end of the wire is actually connected to ground.
Since indoor growing involves water and electricity, YOU WANT THINGS GROUNDED.
I lived in an apartment that did not have 3 hole grounded outlets, only the hot and neutral. It also had radiator steam heat. I put in an air conditioner in the window during the summer and broke off the ground part of the plug to make it fit the outlet...
If I touched the air conditioner and radiator at the same time, I got one hell of a shock. It was 90 volts on my voltage meter from metal case to radiator. I connected a wire from the AC to the radiator and no more shocks.
GROUNDED IS GOOD! GROUNDING IS YOUR FRIEND!
 
Lord Dangly Bits

Lord Dangly Bits

Well-Known Member
Dirty Harry said:
OK, when electricity is being used in a metal container or metal hood, there is a possibility electricity can "leak" onto the metal. It could be cause by broken wire insulation or moisture. Lets say the hot wire (Black) insulation wears due to vibration or the metal cuts into it. That makes the metal energized but the circuit is not complete as it has no way to ground. Your lights work so whats the problem? If you touch the energized metal you can become the ground path. Electricity will flow from the metal THROUGH YOU to ground and you will get a shock up to the full current of the circuit.
If the metal was grounded when that fault happens, it would cause the breaker to pop as it is a short. If it is "leaking" electricity such as from dampness, the ground will dissipate it harmlessly and no shock.
That being said, a ground fixture is not grounded unless the other end of the wire is actually connected to ground.
Since indoor growing involves water and electricity, YOU WANT THINGS GROUNDED.
I lived in an apartment that did not have 3 hole grounded outlets, only the hot and neutral. It also had radiator steam heat. I put in an air conditioner in the window during the summer and broke off the ground part of the plug to make it fit the outlet...
If I touched the air conditioner and radiator at the same time, I got one hell of a shock. It was 90 volts on my voltage meter from metal case to radiator. I connected a wire from the AC to the radiator and no more shocks.
GROUNDED IS GOOD! GROUNDING IS YOUR FRIEND!
Click to expand...

Well explained. Now how many more people have to give this advice before it is taken?
 
D

Dirty Harry

Well-Known Member
Lord Dangly Bits said:
Well explained. Now how many more people have to give this advice before it is taken?
Click to expand...
One good jolt will do it, if it doesn't kill them. My apartment story when I learned that lesson was during a hot night. I got out of bed to crank up the AC. I don't wear anything when I sleep. While I was touching the AC, a body part near and dear to be touched the radiator..it was not a pleasant experience.
 
Lord Dangly Bits

Lord Dangly Bits

Well-Known Member
Dirty Harry said:
One good jolt will do it, if it doesn't kill them. My apartment story when I learned that lesson was during a hot night. I got out of bed to crank up the AC. I don't wear anything when I sleep. While I was touching the AC, a body part near and dear to be touched the radiator..it was not a pleasant experience.
Click to expand...

HAHAHAHA!!!! That is as bad as when I shut mine in a dresser. DOH!!!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top