To Earth or Not to Earth?!

[simonsk]

I am working on some water features that consist of acrylic containers full of water. There are some LED lamps that sit underneath the feature. The lamps are 230VAC and powered from an isolating transformer.

The isolating transformer is situated in the ceiling void above the water feature. The only thing that joins the features to the panel is the cable from the isolating transformer.

The control panel is earthed.

Should I earth the features or not (considering there is no supply to the feature that is referenced to ground).

Thanks

 

[slavag]

Is remaind me only:
To be or not to be
,;-)

 

[itsmoked]

My 'guess' is you've created a "separately derived source". So normally you must pick a side and ground it.

This is just like a control panel where you get some high voltage in and transform it down to 24VAC for whatever. In that case you need to pick a side to call neutral and ground it,(bond it), to the ground. Meanwhile the ground becomes your safety ground and should never again connect to the neutral.

Now your case is a little special so maybe this is wrong. They don't ground stuff in operating suites I am led to believe.

Lets see what others come up with.

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.-

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[OperaHouse]

If you have committed to using LEDs and a transformer, why power the LEDs with 230VAC? It is just bad design to use that voltage around conductive liquid. Don't design in safety issues.

 

[VEBill]

How about Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI)?

 

[waross]

Ground any metal parts of your "Water feature". This should be done to code standard. This will protect persons in the event that your led system develops a fault.
This is one issue; protection by grounding exposed metal parts.
The second issue is system grounding, You have not given us enough information for a good answer.
The system may or may not have to be grounded depending on several factors.
If left ungrounded, you may have to provide an approved ground monitor or an approved Ground Fault Interrupting device. Grounding is usually cheaper but possibly not safer.
respectfully