[Elecraft] Being ESD Safe

[Fred (FL)]

",,,,,,,,,, Connect to the House Mains" (connection
thru one's 110VAC outlet)

Problem, or potential problems with this "ground (thru
a resistor) connection" - it assumes some electrician
didn't mess up and not connect that plug's ground.
It is common home electical "code" - that one should
not count on having a continuous or present ground
connection, at every plug in a home.  Some may be
mis-wired, some may be open, some may have been
wired wrong, some may have opened over time.

To exasterbate (sp?) the safety problem further -
almost every home in the U.S. can have a different
connection to earth ground - be it a 6 foot copper rod
at outlet box, or they relied on the 8 foot
copper-plated rod at the nearest transformer pole, or
some other "ground" connection somewhere that power
company's felt should be operable.  Your home's ground
therefore - could actually be .14 VAC, etc.

Medical experts say it only takes milliamp currents,
thru one's heart - to kill a person.

Some so-called ground connections, can actually be
several volts above or below "zero volts".  Ala -
old homes, and facilities.

FOR THESE REASONS - It appears strongly recommend
every ham, with a ham station, should install one or
more local copper ground rods near their shack, and
use them accordingly.  "earth grounds"

Electricians are only human - I took their license
code course a couple years back in 2001.  I'm an EE,
but if there is a licensed electrician on this list -
possibly they could educate us all on this one!

Question really is:  HOW DOES ONE ENSURE HIS HOME, and
SHACK PLUGS - actually are connected to ZERO
VOLT REAL GROUND, AS CODE SAYS THEY SHOULD BE?

Fred, N3CSY, NY


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