What a Great Week of Discovery

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What a Great Week of Discovery

I have spend the past 20 years researching and testing the concepts of what others have
written as it relates to Grounding. I have found that much of what I learned about
grounding is not really accurate, at least not in relationship to premises wiring within the
scope of the National Electrical Code.
This weekend I made lots of new discoveries based on some old historical papers that I
received. I think I found the origination of the 25 ohm resistance for a ground rod, why a
6 AWG wire is used for a ground rod, and about where this concept of zero reference
might have originated. By the way, the resistance of 8 AWG run seven miles at 25C is
24.64 ohms.
Click here to download [PDF 960KB ] "Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers", "EARTH WIRES OR THE EARTH AS AN ELECTRIC COMPLETER."
Oh yea, Thomas A. Edison was heavily involved with the telegraphic system (before the
light bulb), and he invented the fire alarm mechanism and signaling apparatus
http://invention.smithsonian.org/resources/fa_wu_container12.aspx.
Now the plot thickens the Telegraphic industry uses the earth as a return conductor
and Edison is involved in the Telegraphic industry. According to a good buddy of mine
(Don Zipse), when Thomas Alva Edison started his electric illuminating company and
began the electrical distribution system, he used the earth for the return conductor. This
uncontrolled flow of electric current over the earth resulted in shocking horses and his
employees as they dug along side of the underground distribution system. Horse pulled
traction companies' employees working on the tracks received electric shocks, especially
when separating the track joints.
In addition, based on original Ralph Lee (great engineer) writing, I figured out what the
Code means about 'stabilize system voltage to earth during normal operation [250.4(A)
(1)]. I'm so glad because nobody I know what this mean anyway. By the way it has to do
with electric utilities and ungrounded systems, with miles and miles of overhead
conductors, not premises wiring! So basically it's irrelevant.
Unrelated to all of this, but just important (at least to me), I also figured out how a ground
rod (earthing) could be used to reduce voltage on the metal case of a transformer that
were installed in the 1890's. So basically grounding (earthing) the case of a metal
transformer is just something we do based on conditions from over 100 years ago that
don't apply today.
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What a Great Week of Discovery

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Then in the middle of the night, I figured out how placing a ground wire (connected to a
ground rod) in a plastic animal water trough could be used to reduce voltage in the water
so that the animals would drink it!
But basically for today's grounding (earthing, such as driving a ground rod) still doesn't
do anything we (or at least I) thought it did to make anything safe in a home, establish a
zero reference, or any of the other myths we carry on (http://www.mikeholt.com/mhgvb).
I'm currently working on a new book that probably will be titled Grounding Theory and the
Real History of Grounding. It will be out in time for my Grounding versus Bonding
seminars this fall http://www.mikeholt.com/seminarnew.php?id=2005#October.
Oh what a great week of discovery.
God Bless,
Mike Holt
HELP: I need some help to understand the wiring of the telegraph system in the 1800's.
What voltage did they transmit? What was the local system voltage? What was a typical
distance of transmission? What was the transmission load (watts) required needed to
operate the telegraph? Do you know of any wiring diagrams?
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Mike's 2005 Grounding versus Bonding Seminar Schedule

October
TOPIC

LOCATION

SPONSOR

INFORMATION

th

Mike Holt
Enterprises, EC&M
Magazine & Leviton
Email Sarina Snow
Phone: (888) 6322633

[ Download Brochure ]
[ Preview Video ]
[ Seminar Details ]
[ Order Both Days ]

th

Mike Holt
Enterprises, EC&M
magazine & Leviton
Email Sarina Snow
Phone: (888) 6322633

[ Download Brochure ]
[ Preview Video ]
[ Seminar Details ]
[ Order Both Days ]

Boston, MA
Boston Convention
st
October 11
& Exhibition Center
Mike
415 Summer Street
Holt/EC&M/Leviton: (617) 954-2000
Grounding versus
Bonding

October 10 thru

Philadelphia, PA
Pennsylvania
th
October 19
Convention Center
Mike
1101 Arch St.
Holt/EC&M/Leviton: (215) 418-4700
Grounding versus
Bonding

October 18 thru

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What a Great Week of Discovery

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November
TOPIC

LOCATION

SPONSOR

INFORMATION

th

Seattle, WA
Mike Holt
Meydenbauer Center Enterprises, EC&M
th
November 10
magazine & Leviton
Mike
11100 NE 6th Street Email Sarina Snow
Holt/EC&M/Leviton: (425) 637-1020
Phone: (888) 632Grounding versus
2633
Bonding

[ Download Brochure ]
[ Preview Video ]
[ Seminar Details ]
[ Order Both Days ]

th
November 16 thru Chicago, IL
Midwest Conference
th
November 17
Center
Mike
401 W Lake St
Holt/EC&M/Leviton: Northlake, IL
Grounding versus
Outside Chicago - 7
Bonding
Miles from Ohare

[ Download Brochure ]
[ Preview Video ]
[ Seminar Details ]
[ Order Both Days ]

November 9 thru

Mike Holt
Enterprises, EC&M
magazine & Leviton
Email Sarina Snow
Phone: (888) 6322633

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