To use the gas boiler safely, it must be grounded in accordance with current regulations. Commissioning the unit is allowed only after the execution of the acceptance certificate. All data on preparatory measures taken are included in such documentation.
Why do you need to ground the gas boiler? Is it possible to do without it? What does the refusal to perform such work lead to? We will try to answer these and other questions in the material presented.
What is grounding for?
Obviously, a gas boiler does not belong to the category of electrical appliances. However, during operation, he collects statics on his metal plating. Over time, this becomes the cause of the formation of a strong field, which can render cells that are designed to control the boiler unusable. Most often, the electronic board suffers from this, which is responsible for adjusting the functions of the unit.
To understand why the gas boiler needs to be earthed, it is enough to imagine its scheme. The device is mounted on the floor or mounted on a wall that does not conduct electric current. The pipes here are made of propylene.
It is clear that the accumulated static electricity tends to go somewhere. Therefore, for him there is no other option than to close on a radiator. As a result, water, which is a coolant, begins to conduct current. As soon as severe cold sets in, and the boiler has an elevated temperature, the water ceases to cope with the removal of the increased charge. In this case, the operation of the boiler becomes unsafe.
The reason for the shutdown of boilers that operate without grounding
What is grounding for? Everything is quite simple. The static charge that accumulates on the metal elements of the unit creates a magnetic field. The latter affects the electronic circuit of the boiler, in which a kind of confusion occurs. The boards lose a signal, the equipment starts displaying erroneous data that does not correspond to the real, obvious state of affairs. The user's attempts to change the situation by adjusting the settings only cause additional difficulties.
About loop resistance
Before grounding the boiler, it is necessary to measure the resistance. The characteristic will depend on the type of unit available, as well as on the nature of the soil. So, on clay soil, the measurement of resistance should give a value that does not exceed 10 ohms. When the boiler is grounded on sandy soil, the maximum allowable resistance is an indicator of not more than 50 Ohms.
How to properly ground the gas boiler?
The work is carried out in the following sequence:
- A meter from the wall of the structure in which the gas boiler is installed, marking is carried out on the ground. It should be in the shape of an equilateral triangle with an edge of 2 meters.
- According to the plan, a trench is dug in the ground. Its depth should be about 50 cm.
- At the tops of the triangular depression, pits are drilled. Grounding conductors are driven into here, which are steel corners.
- Further, the installed elements for grounding are connected by strips of metal.
- The next step is to attach the manufactured circuit to the base of the house by welding. To do this, use metal rods.
At the end of external work on the site, it is necessary to connect the ground to the power board. For these purposes, a copper conductor is used. The indicated element is fixed on one side to the base of the building with bolted connections. On the other hand, the conductor is brought to zero on the shield.
In fact, the above operations can be greatly facilitated. To do this, it is enough to purchase a ready-made factory modular kit specifically designed for grounding a gas boiler.
Eventually
So we found out why the gas boiler needs grounding, how it is carried out. In the end, it is worth noting only that after the completion of all activities, you must call the wizard, who will carry out commissioning. In order to legally commission a gas boiler, it is necessary to notify the safety inspector who will register the unit and issue the owner permission to use it.