SANS codes.

[Dave A]

I suspect metal roofs are supposed to be bonded to earth i.t.o. the regulations - and for good reason.

[Jacques#1]

I've got some work to do on the premises, but will only go back once the builders do their thing. The entire roof and ceiling is metal. I do not believe the earth is joined with the neutral at all anywhere close to the premises at least, it looks like a TT system (can never tell as you don't know if council used the armouring as earth......which is allowed if the impedance is low enough.....but from a visual perspective....TT). I went to council and they said that if I don;t come right, they'll come join the N+E at the pole.

The E to N voltage was the first thing I tested in the house, to make sure E is not Live all of a sudden, and touching a SO may be the last thing I touch.

What I did see, thought it was strange at the time, but pondering over it the last few days: "the main cable runs up the wall and a 10mm earth runs back down to a spike about 50cm from the house".....wrapped around the earth was a small 2.5mm earth wire - bare - all the down and also joined. What I think they did: the council supply runs up the wall, where the armouring is earthed and runs back down. From the DB a 2.5mm wire runs down the earth wire, and is connected to the spike. "Potentially", if this is true, that thin 2.5mm earthing the entire house, and being so damn flimsy, could have broken off by the last guy that walked through the roof?

[Jacques#1]

This though...still leaves me with the question, if my hypothesis is correct....why all the strikes on a floating earth???

[Jacques#1]

Sory Andy, you were asking about the meter....it sits about 10 cm from the db on the wall, with a CB with open ends next to it (main), luckily they put is around 2.2m, so a normal person would not accidentally bump the exposed main feeder!!!!!!!!