Is it possible or advisable to use a lake as a ground?

[tom1356]

I'm thinking of upgrading my ground when I put in dedicated circuits.

 

[gootee]

Why? What kind of circuits? Where are the circuits located? What size lake?

- Tom Gootee

http://www.fullnet.com/~tomg/index.html

 

[Hartono]

"Is it possible or advisable to use a lake as a ground?"

If you want to install lightning rod on your boat, yes.

 

[Hartono]

By the way, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to install lightning rod in boat

 

[tom1356]

I was going to run dedicated electrical lines for my stereo. I've read about improving the ground by burying a copper mesh covered in salt to get the best possible ground. I was wondering if I couldn't get the same or even better results by running the ground right into the lake. It's a pretty big lake.

 

[Hartono]

Is that on a boat or lakehouse ?

 

[gootee]

I think that, usually, in a stereo, the earth ground is basically only used for electrical safety (i.e. to make sure the case etc never has AC Mains voltage on it), and the internal "audio ground" is usually either not connected to it at all or is at least partially isolated from it. So I don't think it would usually affect the sound, at all, to have a better earth ground. But "your mileage may vary".

- Tom Gootee

http://www.fullnet.com/~tomg/index.html

 

[Speedskater]

Just how close to your house is the lake?
Water by itself is not a good ground, but the lake bed would be a great ground. A long ground wire will defeat any advantage though.

 

[Ron E]

IF you want a REALLY good ground, do what builders do:
Make a nice deep concrete encased electrode (or several in a grid), or bury a ring of #2 or bigger bare copper wire all the way around your house.

 

[tom1356]

The lake is about fifty feet away from the electrical breaker box.

 

[Speedskater]

On second thought, a nearby lightning strike could generate lots and lots of volts in your ground system.

 

[XEAGLEKEEPER]

Chances are that, depending on the lakes water level, you are already grounded to the areas water table including the lake.

 

[tom1356]

Thanks to all who responded.
I have decided to abandon the idea.

 

[XEAGLEKEEPER]

Chances are that, depending on the lakes water level, you are already grounded to the areas water table including the lake.

Through the copper grounding rod at the base of the pole and other poles in your area or even possibly the cold water pipes,unless they used PVC.

 

[sivan_and]

I had a "brilliant" suggestion from a friend 25 years ago about a perfect ground system ie Water supply pipe..the pipe was galvanised iron running hundreds of kilometers underground....but had to abandon the idea.. the neutral to pipe earth potential was found to be 90 volts at times...somebody else was also using this technique and thats how the shock came on the pipes !!

 

[McKiltie]

Tom, can I say that earthing is not something you should play about with unless you really understand what you are doing and the possible consequences of your actions. Death is a possibility.

If you want a really good understanding of earthing for Audio I would direct you to this paper:- Understanding, Finding, and Eliminating Ground Loops in Audio and Video systems. It is written by Bill Whitlock, president of Jansen Transformers Inc. I head Bill deliver this paper a few weeks ago to the IET (IEE) in Glasgow, Scotland. It really was excellent and most informative...

Hope this is of interest and helps keep you and yours safe.

Ref:
A generic version of the student handouts from Mr. Whitlock's seminars
http://www.jensentransformers.com/an/generic seminar.pdf

 

[es44]

I was going to run dedicated electrical lines for my stereo. I've read about improving the ground by burying a copper mesh covered in salt to get the best possible ground. I was wondering if I couldn't get the same or even better results by running the ground right into the lake. It's a pretty big lake.

There's some truth in what you are saying. Though not for grounding power lines.

It's commonly used by Ham radio operators to improve the "counterweight" for their antenna systems. Gives a lot better propagation.

Best regards
Ebbe

 

[Speedskater]

Bill Whitlock is the authority on all things related to grounding.

Ebbe, I think the word you were looking for is "counterpoise".
But a counterpoise is:
A system of wires or other conductors, elevated above and insulated from ground, forming a lower system of conductors of an antenna.

 

[tomtt]

ben duncan, has also wrote about grounding

these people say -

· Copy of 'Get down to Earth'

(source article, published in Jan 2000 Hi-Fi News & Record Review ) - supplied free on request.


http://www.britishaudio.co.uk/EHENFLY1.htm


775

 

[es44]

Bill Whitlock is the authority on all things related to grounding.

Ebbe, I think the word you were looking for is "counterpoise".
But a counterpoise is:
A system of wires or other conductors, elevated above and insulated from ground, forming a lower system of conductors of an antenna.

I believe you are right. My English isn't that good, so i was lazy, and translated the Danish word directly.
I just recognised the system with copper wires dug to the ground for (electrical) earthing of large antennas. It is said, that it is a good idea to put salt around the net of wires. Ofcourse it's a must with moist soil too.

best regards
Ebbe