Grounding Portable Wash & Work Station: Options for Safe & Sound Use

  • Thread starter Thread starter brip
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Grounding
AI Thread Summary
A portable wash and work station has been designed for use in various locations, but grounding poses a challenge due to the lack of available ground in many places. The discussion highlights the importance of safety standards, particularly OSHA requirements, which complicate the use of GFCI outlets without a ground. Suggestions include using UL listed extension cords with GFCI protection, though this does not fully address safety concerns. The conversation emphasizes the need for compliance with regulations while exploring alternative solutions, such as battery-powered devices. The quest for a practical and safe grounding method continues amidst regulatory complexities.
brip
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
I designed and built a portable wash and work station for my friend who is in the beatifcation business. its a four foot long folding table with folding metal legs and has a small wash basin and one 120 volt GFI outlet that is pluged into the house power source. My quest is to ground this unit when often there is no ground available in 50% of the places she would take it?...I think what I`m looking for is a portable grounding that can be used. conventional wisdom is to run a wire and clamp to water line,but in this case that's not always an option. So is there a safe and sound way to ground this unit?
Any input wiil be greatly appreciated...Bri-p
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
brip said:
I designed and built a portable wash and work station for my friend who is in the beatifcation business. its a four foot long folding table with folding metal legs and has a small wash basin and one 120 volt GFI outlet that is pluged into the house power source. My quest is to ground this unit when often there is no ground available in 50% of the places she would take it?...I think what I`m looking for is a portable grounding that can be used. conventional wisdom is to run a wire and clamp to water line,but in this case that's not always an option. So is there a safe and sound way to ground this unit?
Any input wiil be greatly appreciated...Bri-p

The safe and sound method would be to remove the convenience GFCI protected receptacle from the table. Use a UL listed extension cord or other UL listed device having GFCI protection. This will not improve the overall safety considerations but limits personal liability.

A GFCI does not require a grounding conductor to function properly.


...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Geniere, thanks so much for interest and your right, but Osha states that a GFI without a ground is not safe and there lies the problem as my friend who would use this unit has a license and is reqiuerd to meet their standards of safety.
 
This is really a legal issue rather than a technical issue. I can think of several means to greatly reduce the shock risk to your friend and the customer. I can think of nothing that would satisfy the many, sometimes conflicting, regulations that exist. In truth I have only a rudimentary knowledge of hte NEC and almost no knowledge of OSHA standards. There may be some relief found in "tempory wiring" as specified by the NEC.

I'm at a loss except to suggest battery powered devices.

Ain't bureaucracy wonderful?


...
 
Thanks Geniere and I wiil keep looking for differnt sulutions within the NEC and maybe I will try and talk to somone at OSHA.
 

Thread 'Following up on the recent thread about Earth Resistance measurements'

I have recently moved into a new (rather ancient) house and had a few trips of my Residual Current breaker. I dug out my old Socket tester which tell me the three pins are correct. But then the Red warning light tells me my socket(s) fail the loop test. I never had this before but my last house had an overhead supply with no Earth from the company. The tester said "get this checked" and the man said the (high but not ridiculous) earth resistance was acceptable. I stuck a new copper earth...
View full post »
Thread 'Electromagnet magnetic field issue'

Thread 'Electromagnet magnetic field issue'

Hi Guys We are a bunch a mechanical engineers trying to build a simple electromagnet. Our design is based on a very similar magnet. However, our version is about 10 times less magnetic and we are wondering why. Our coil has exactly same length, same number of layers and turns. What is possibly wrong? PIN and bracket are made of iron and are in electrical contact, exactly like the reference design. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks. edit: even same wire diameter and coil was wounded by a...
View full post »
Thread 'Beauty of old electrical and measuring things, etc.'

Thread 'Beauty of old electrical and measuring things, etc.'

Even as a kid, I saw beauty in old devices. That made me want to understand how they worked. I had lots of old things that I keep and now reviving. Old things need to work to see the beauty. Here's what I've done so far. Two views of the gadgets shelves and my small work space: Here's a close up look at the meters, gauges and other measuring things: This is what I think of as surface-mount electrical components and wiring. The components are very old and shows how...
View full post »

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top