Electrical Question: Grounding my equipment rack...

[Dom]

Currently, my equipment is grounded to the water main. I'm relocating the rack to a location where the ground does not reach.

As an alternative to running a ground from the main to the new location, can I ground the rack to a local outlet? If yes, please explain how.

Thank you.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Hi - can you explain a bit more?

What exactly are you trying to ground other than cord and plug equipment?

 

[Dom]

Hi - can you explain a bit more?

What exactly are you trying to ground other than cord and plug equipment?

So I'm using a metal equipment rack with rack-mounted components. I grounded the rack to the main, grounding all of the equipment in the rack.

Rather than run a new ground, I thought I could ground to the outlet. I mean, if we can ground a tank using a grounding probe to an outlet, why not anything else?

 

[BeanAnimal]

Short answer - not code (you are not bound by it anyway), but will be fine for your purpose.

Longer answer - In the sense of "server racks" and other infrastructure that is to be "grounded" (not cord and plug utilization equipment). The ground needs to be bonded to the buildings grounding system. This typically means a bare conductor (or double insulated... but let's ignore that) running back to the main panel bonding point. It can't be "unplugged" and is at the same potential as the building's electrical bond.

In your case, the ground is a bit of overkill in the sense that it is not required and there is little safety hazard to begin with. There may be some benefit to it providing some interference shielding. The "ground" if tied to a receptacle can be "unplugged" but this is not an issue in your situation and you are not bound by "code" anyway. That said, if any of you "rack" stuff is rack mount with a metal case, then that will likely suffice to bond the rack to ground through the equipment case anyway.

 

[IceNein]

As someone who was an electronics technician in the Navy, and also is an amateur radio enthusiast, I agree with @BeanAnimal . If you are extra concerned about you and your animals electrical safety, you could install a GFCI outlet.

 

[Dom]

As someone who was an electronics technician in the Navy, and also is an amateur radio enthusiast, I agree with @BeanAnimal . If you are extra concerned about you and your animals electrical safety, you could install a GFCI outlet.

I do have GFCI installed.

I installed a breaker and grounded the rack because the bottom shelf has a pair of deep cycle batteries to power my pumps in the event of a power outage.

 

[Dom]

Short answer - not code (you are not bound by it anyway), but will be fine for your purpose.

Longer answer - In the sense of "server racks" and other infrastructure that is to be "grounded" (not cord and plug utilization equipment). The ground needs to be bonded to the buildings grounding system. This typically means a bare conductor (or double insulated... but let's ignore that) running back to the main panel bonding point. It can't be "unplugged" and is at the same potential as the building's electrical bond.

In your case, the ground is a bit of overkill in the sense that it is not required and there is little safety hazard to begin with. There may be some benefit to it providing some interference shielding. The "ground" if tied to a receptacle can be "unplugged" but this is not an issue in your situation and you are not bound by "code" anyway. That said, if any of you "rack" stuff is rack mount with a metal case, then that will likely suffice to bond the rack to ground through the equipment case anyway.

So my OCD will not permit me to sleep without this being "code".

Is it acceptable to extent the current ground so that it reaches the new location in the room?

 

[BeanAnimal]

So my OCD will not permit me to sleep without this being "code".

Is it acceptable to extent the current ground so that it reaches the new location in the room?

To "code" no - unbroken bonding conductor. But, don't worry about the "code". This is not electrical infrastructure, switch gear, etc. and does not fall under it. According to "code" your permanent extension cords are not allowed either. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

The NEC does not apply to end users using stuff... it (in the simplest explanation) applies to the infrastructure of the electrical system.

So extend the ground if you wish or connect to the ECG in the local receptacle or the metal case of a piece of equipment in the rack. Even a wire under the cover plate screw would be fine.