Why do you need to ground the bathtub and how to do it

The bath is where people need to relax. Therefore it should be comfortable and safe. An important safety factor is voltage protection. You will be safer if you ground your bathtub. Let's figure out together why to do this.

Why does the bath need to be grounded?

As we know from physics, electricity always goes where there is the least resistance. A closed circuit is required for current to flow. If you take “0” with one hand and the phase with the other, the body becomes a conductor of electric charge. In this case, the current will flow directly through most organs, including the heart.

Important! Even a second exposure to electricity is dangerous, as it can cause arrhythmia or stop the functioning of vital organs.

Grounding allows you to create a potential difference, which will ensure safe interaction with electrical devices. Due to superconductivity, the current will go directly to the “ground” and not through the human body.

A modern apartment has many electrical devices. Therefore, some devices, especially faulty ones, can create voltage on the housing. This is dangerous because metal (especially wet) is an excellent conductor.

In one bathroom alone there are often up to five electrical appliances, the surface of which may be energized. An ordinary hairdryer or washing machine becomes a source of danger.

Poorly insulated outlets or extension cords are unsafe. There should be a grounding connection in every bathroom, especially if there is an outlet in the same place.

Reference. In Soviet times, the work was carried out using steel pipes. However, modern plastic equipment does not allow this. Therefore, many apartments or entrances have special circuits.

How to ground different types of bathtubs

Depending on the type of bath and the material from which it is made, the procedure must be carried out differently.

How the material affects the work

• Cast iron and steel are excellent conductors, so such bathtubs must be grounded. To do this, in some (especially older) models, a hole was drilled on the leg. A special jumper is inserted there, and a wire runs from it. Modern cast iron bathtubs have a special petal from which you need to run the cable.
• Acrylic objects are not conductors, but they can accumulate static voltage.
• Many models have steel legs or a frame, which must be secured. To do this, a couple of turns of stranded wire are enough, which is then run onto a steel pipe or into the “ground”.

What you need for work

Attention! To avoid accidents, remember to insulate all contacting surfaces and wires.

For electrical work you will need the following set:

• The wire.
• Wrench, screwdriver for fastening cables.
• Multimeter for measuring phase and voltage.
• Flashlight, protective equipment.

If the bathtub is old and does not have special clamps, you may need a drill or drill.

Important! Each tool must have a dielectric handle.You should make sure that there is insulation, otherwise there is a risk of electric shock during connection.

It is also necessary to take care of personal safety equipment (rubber gloves). You need to work only on a dry surface.

Completing of the work

For safety, each entrance has a grounding circuit, which can be connected to in the electrical panel.

Important! The wire cross-section must be at least 6 mm.

• The connection between the bath and the ground loop is made through a potential equalization box. It should be kept in a dry place, out of reach of children.
• The cable should be connected first to the metal surface of the bath, and the other end to the equalization box. After this, the box is connected to the ground loop with a separate wire.

Important! Each device must be grounded separately. Series grounding is dangerous. Each wire must go separately from the device or bath to the potential equalization box.

You can also secure your bathroom through the general grounding of your apartment or house.

Useful tips

• You can connect the wire through a leg, a special clamp, or through a self-drilled hole (if the bath is too old).
• It is recommended to ground not only the bathtub, but also other appliances, for example, a washing machine or sink. (This is especially important if the housing is in direct contact with electronic devices.)
• For greater safety, you can use a residual current device (RCD). Usually it is installed in each room and in the event of a short circuit it de-energizes it.
• For greater safety and convenience of grounding, it is better to use special terminals. They are insulated, which will protect both during connection and during disconnection of wires.
• If there are no terminals, it is better to cover the connection points with electrical tape or another dielectric.