BJ

Big John

07/01/2005 12:53 AM

What is Best Method for Grounding PVC Pipe

I will be installing my dust collection system soon. It will all be
6" PVC pipe. It will only get used about 1 weekend per month.

I would like to find out who has had the best luck grounding similar
systems.

It seems that some run a copper wire only inside the pipe, some run a
copper wire in and outside the pipe, and some have run aluminum foil
tape on the inside of the pipe.

I seriously doubt dust explosions. Having personally seen these type
tests done at the NFPA lab in the northeast it would be incredibly
difficult to have this happen in a typical home shop.

I desire the grounding to just keep from getting shocked.

What seems to work, and what hasn't worked well?

I am interested to hear only from first hand experience.

Thanks, John


This topic has 13 replies

KC

Kevin Craig

in reply to Big John on 07/01/2005 12:53 AM

06/01/2005 8:03 PM

In article <[email protected]>,
Phillip Hallam-Baker <[email protected]> wrote:

> You are not likely to be very successful in grounding PVC pipe since
> PVC is an insulator.

But it makes one helluva capacitor for static electricity, which is
what he's concerned with.

Kevin

ll

loutent

in reply to Big John on 07/01/2005 12:53 AM

06/01/2005 8:43 PM

Hi John,

Here's what worked for me for the last 5+ years. I went
through the "should I, shouldn't I" routine too, and in the
end, I did it because it was silly not to (cost, maybe $20).

At each junction (elbow, wye, etc) I drilled a 1/8 hole
in the pipe. I drew the (non-insulated) 22 g wire through
each pipe and out each drilled hole. I drew each end taught
and affixed with a split-shot on the outside of the pipe so the
wire would not sag inside & cause clogs.

I joined the wires across each junction with a wire nut.

I grounded the entire system to a copper cold water
pipe that happened to be right next to my dust collector
in the basement. Then I attached it to the collector itself.

I'm not an electrician, but so far, so good. I am retired and
use the system 3-4 times each week (usually several hours
a week total "on" time).

I did read up on it a little, but just used what I thought was
some common sense.

Lou

In article <[email protected]>, Big John
<[email protected]> wrote:

> I will be installing my dust collection system soon. It will all be
> 6" PVC pipe. It will only get used about 1 weekend per month.
>
> I would like to find out who has had the best luck grounding similar
> systems.
>
> It seems that some run a copper wire only inside the pipe, some run a
> copper wire in and outside the pipe, and some have run aluminum foil
> tape on the inside of the pipe.
>
> I seriously doubt dust explosions. Having personally seen these type
> tests done at the NFPA lab in the northeast it would be incredibly
> difficult to have this happen in a typical home shop.
>
> I desire the grounding to just keep from getting shocked.
>
> What seems to work, and what hasn't worked well?
>
> I am interested to hear only from first hand experience.
>
> Thanks, John

PH

"Phillip Hallam-Baker"

in reply to Big John on 07/01/2005 12:53 AM

06/01/2005 5:30 PM

You are not likely to be very successful in grounding PVC pipe since
PVC is an insulator.

You could run tape inside the pipe but that won't do much good either
since the air is still a pretty good insulator.

PH

"Phillip Hallam-Baker"

in reply to Big John on 07/01/2005 12:53 AM

06/01/2005 7:10 PM

>But it makes one helluva capacitor for static electricity, which is
>what he's concerned with.

And how do you think that adding a second plate to the capacitor is
going to change matters?

The only way you are going to affect the charge on the particles is if
the ground actually touches them. Thats not going to happen without a
serious interference in the air flow.

RS

"Roger Shoaf"

in reply to Big John on 07/01/2005 12:53 AM

10/01/2005 8:54 AM


"Phisherman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
Anyone know about a paint
> that adheres to PVC and conducts electricity?

Here is some:

http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/silvaspray.html

You can then go whole hog and electroplate the plastic.

--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.

LL

LRod

in reply to Big John on 07/01/2005 12:53 AM

07/01/2005 4:30 AM

On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 00:53:59 GMT, Big John <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I desire the grounding to just keep from getting shocked.

What do you do with your dog and kids during the winter?

Do the same thing with your DC.

- -
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

Bb

Bruce

in reply to Big John on 07/01/2005 12:53 AM

07/01/2005 6:03 PM

On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 17:53:59 -0700, Big John wrote
(in article <[email protected]>):

> I will be installing my dust collection system soon. It will all be
> 6" PVC pipe. It will only get used about 1 weekend per month.
>
> I would like to find out who has had the best luck grounding similar
> systems.
>
> It seems that some run a copper wire only inside the pipe, some run a
> copper wire in and outside the pipe, and some have run aluminum foil
> tape on the inside of the pipe.
>
> I seriously doubt dust explosions. Having personally seen these type
> tests done at the NFPA lab in the northeast it would be incredibly
> difficult to have this happen in a typical home shop.
>
> I desire the grounding to just keep from getting shocked.
>
> What seems to work, and what hasn't worked well?
>
> I am interested to hear only from first hand experience.
>
> Thanks, John

Somewhere (bills site?) I read that a business was having the same problems
and wire didn't really do any good. What worked was a strip of the metal tape
along the inside of the pipe and a strip on the outside, joined together
(grounded) by running a sheet metal screw through both layers of tape every
10 feet or so.

YMMV -Bruce

BJ

"Bullwinkle J. Moose"

in reply to Big John on 07/01/2005 12:53 AM

07/01/2005 3:15 AM

OH NO!!!!

"Big John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I will be installing my dust collection system soon. It will all be
> 6" PVC pipe. It will only get used about 1 weekend per month.
>
> I would like to find out who has had the best luck grounding similar
> systems.
>
> It seems that some run a copper wire only inside the pipe, some run a
> copper wire in and outside the pipe, and some have run aluminum foil
> tape on the inside of the pipe.
>
> I seriously doubt dust explosions. Having personally seen these type
> tests done at the NFPA lab in the northeast it would be incredibly
> difficult to have this happen in a typical home shop.
>
> I desire the grounding to just keep from getting shocked.
>
> What seems to work, and what hasn't worked well?
>
> I am interested to hear only from first hand experience.
>
> Thanks, John

BT

Bill Thomas

in reply to Big John on 07/01/2005 12:53 AM

07/01/2005 6:35 PM

Greetings,

My dust pipe from the lathe clogged up due to the shavings catching
on the internal ground wire. I removed the wire and have had not
static problems. Static from the pipe itself will not bother you
since the charge can not move. (For the same reason, 120V in
house wiring does not bother you. The insulation keeps the
charge from flowing through you.) If you do have static problems,
ground the pipe surfaces you will actually touch. In your case,
put the grounding on the outside of the pipe where you might touch
it. This assumes you do not live where you get yourself
a static charge by walking across the carpet in winter. In that
case, talk to your local friends and experts about what they
actually do. If static really causes you problems, investigate
the anti-static information used for manufacturing and repairing
electronic equipment.

Sincerely,
Bill Thomas

Big John wrote:
> I will be installing my dust collection system soon. It will all be
> 6" PVC pipe. It will only get used about 1 weekend per month.
>
> I would like to find out who has had the best luck grounding similar
> systems.
>
> It seems that some run a copper wire only inside the pipe, some run a
> copper wire in and outside the pipe, and some have run aluminum foil
> tape on the inside of the pipe.
>
> I seriously doubt dust explosions. Having personally seen these type
> tests done at the NFPA lab in the northeast it would be incredibly
> difficult to have this happen in a typical home shop.
>
> I desire the grounding to just keep from getting shocked.
>
> What seems to work, and what hasn't worked well?
>
> I am interested to hear only from first hand experience.
>
> Thanks, John

Jm

"J"

in reply to Big John on 07/01/2005 12:53 AM

06/01/2005 5:16 PM

Save the aluminum foil for your hat.

-j

"Big John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I will be installing my dust collection system soon. It will all be
> 6" PVC pipe. It will only get used about 1 weekend per month.
>
> I would like to find out who has had the best luck grounding similar
> systems.
>
> It seems that some run a copper wire only inside the pipe, some run a
> copper wire in and outside the pipe, and some have run aluminum foil
> tape on the inside of the pipe.
>
> I seriously doubt dust explosions. Having personally seen these type
> tests done at the NFPA lab in the northeast it would be incredibly
> difficult to have this happen in a typical home shop.
>
> I desire the grounding to just keep from getting shocked.
>
> What seems to work, and what hasn't worked well?
>
> I am interested to hear only from first hand experience.
>
> Thanks, John

Pn

Phisherman

in reply to Big John on 07/01/2005 12:53 AM

08/01/2005 3:55 AM

On Fri, 7 Jan 2005 18:03:27 -0700, Bruce <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 17:53:59 -0700, Big John wrote
>(in article <[email protected]>):
>
>> I will be installing my dust collection system soon. It will all be
>> 6" PVC pipe. It will only get used about 1 weekend per month.
>>
>> I would like to find out who has had the best luck grounding similar
>> systems.
>>
>> It seems that some run a copper wire only inside the pipe, some run a
>> copper wire in and outside the pipe, and some have run aluminum foil
>> tape on the inside of the pipe.
>>
>> I seriously doubt dust explosions. Having personally seen these type
>> tests done at the NFPA lab in the northeast it would be incredibly
>> difficult to have this happen in a typical home shop.
>>
>> I desire the grounding to just keep from getting shocked.
>>
>> What seems to work, and what hasn't worked well?
>>
>> I am interested to hear only from first hand experience.
>>
>> Thanks, John
>
>Somewhere (bills site?) I read that a business was having the same problems
>and wire didn't really do any good. What worked was a strip of the metal tape
>along the inside of the pipe and a strip on the outside, joined together
>(grounded) by running a sheet metal screw through both layers of tape every
>10 feet or so.
>
>YMMV -Bruce

Bill (http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/Ducting.cfm) used 6"
PVC and used 2" wide metal tape. Installing the tape might not be an
issue with 6" PVC but I want to use 4" PVC. Anyone know about a paint
that adheres to PVC and conducts electricity?

gG

in reply to Phisherman on 08/01/2005 3:55 AM

08/01/2005 4:37 AM

>. Anyone know about a paint
>that adheres to PVC and conducts electricity?

You might be able to find some copper bottom paint.

Pg

Patriarch

in reply to Big John on 07/01/2005 12:53 AM

07/01/2005 12:01 AM

Big John <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> I will be installing my dust collection system soon. It will all be
> 6" PVC pipe. It will only get used about 1 weekend per month.
>
> I would like to find out who has had the best luck grounding similar
> systems.
>
> It seems that some run a copper wire only inside the pipe, some run a
> copper wire in and outside the pipe, and some have run aluminum foil
> tape on the inside of the pipe.
>
> I seriously doubt dust explosions. Having personally seen these type
> tests done at the NFPA lab in the northeast it would be incredibly
> difficult to have this happen in a typical home shop.
>
> I desire the grounding to just keep from getting shocked.
>
> What seems to work, and what hasn't worked well?
>
> I am interested to hear only from first hand experience.
>
> Thanks, John

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.woodworking/msg/fbf227e350673fea


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