Thread: How to fit earth wire to PVC ducting

Most of the internet says bare wire, run through the inside of all the pipes and grounded at each end is the way to go.

This guy reckons that grounding PVC is a load of rubbish (because maths and physics and stuff): http://home.comcast.net/~rodec/woodw.../DC_myths.html WARNING: LOTS of words

Download the Mythbusters episode on pvc and dust extractors before you spend the time and effort on your project.

Heres the summary

mythbustersresults.com/episode20

Anyone that has studied electrical charges in a bit of detail will agree that its a waste of time in terms of inside.

If you are getting zapped from the static buildup on the outside (which is where any charge generated on the inside goes) the you might want to try and earth a few spots along the pipe. From what I have heard this does not work all that well all the time either.

Thanks for the replies,
Sounds like you have just saved me a job. I have had PVC piping on machines for many years and never had it earthed but had heard it should be because the static could cause a fire, certainly sounds as though this is a furfey. One of the guys in our wood work group offered me some earth wire that he had so I thought I should take up the offer but now it looks as though I should save myself the effort.
regards Rod.

The only thing a wire running down the middle of the PVC will do is restrict air flow.

I asked this same question a little while back, and the responses saved me the effort.

I was getting zapped after machining quantities of timber, so now I call one of my sons out to help. Once we are done, I get him to close the blast gate and Z A P ! ... he cops it and I don't !

Problem solved !

Q.E.D.