Connection to Earth Spike

Leave it alone,because if things start going iffy with electrics he/she will start blaming you. And lets be honest if there hasn't been any problems since it was done that way then things are best left alone.

The moral of the story is... If its working don't meddle

George coughed up some electrons that declared:

How would anyone know it's working? Until it's too late...

And then how would you feel, having known about it? An earth that is not connected properly can only be improved. If you *know* somthing is wrong and you can improve it then you have a moral duty to do so. If you are not sure what is right or are not sure how to improve it then I agree, you have a moral duty not to meddle (but to take all steps to advise and warn).

Before that quip holds you'd have to test the earth to make sure it *is* working. Not just leave it until a fault makes it essential to protect from injury or death - after all that's its purpose.

No, moral duty extends no further than warning. If the owner chooses to ignore the warning, it's their choice. If ignoring the warning is a wider danger (e.g. shop, business premises etc), then you have to consider informing a relevant authority.

Thanks for all the input. On balance I will do the necessary to make a better connection between the earth cable and the spike. I'd rather it not be me or my wife (or anyone else to be honest) to find out the hard way that it's dangerous at the moment! I assume that it's best to switch off the incoming power (at the "CU"s) before doing this. David.

You need a clamp designed for the purpose, and it ought to be in a suitable terminal cover. See the TLC page Dave P linked to.

You ought to test the earth loop impedance as well and make sure the RCDs are operating correctly.