In general, you want the safety ground wired such that it does not have
to be disturbed to replace any other components, and protected from
loosening, etc. So direct connection to a welded ground stud, with a
locking device (washer or nut) is ideal. Other (functional) ground wires
can be stacked on the same stud, but must go on TOP of the safety ground
locking device.

Any construction which does not provide a single-function, dedicated
safety ground should be carefully evaluated and generally requires
specific buy-in from test houses/Notified Bodies.

If the terminal block you mention is considered a component that could
fail and need replacing, then the reliability of the safety ground
depends on the workmanship of repairmen, who seldom have or use
high-current ground impedance testers.

 ----------
From: GOEDDERZ, JIM
To: 'PSnetPost'
Subject: Reliably grounded
List-Post: [email protected]
Date: Thursday, October 09, 1997 2:27PM


I would like to get an industry statement on what constitutes reliable
Protective Earth Grounding.

I reference IEC950, Par. 2.5, which states that "Accessible conductive
parts ...shall be reliably connected to a protective earthing terminal
within the equipment."

Some safety agencies allow connection of the PE through a terminal
block, and others require that the PE connection be made directly,
before connecting to any component (including a terminal block).

Can I get some response on what has been allowed, or required, in your
designs?

James Goedderz
[email protected]

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