Neutral wire - connect to body of element? RIMS system (EE)

[Kbar]

I am in process of setting up my 1500W RIMS system. I am assuming, since I have all stainless fittings and the immersion water heater element I am using is threaded into them (metal to metal contact), that I can hook the green neutral wire up to any fitting in the system to insure I have a good earth ground in the event of element failure (read; short). Goal is to keep me protected.

Any thoughts on how to do this? How people have done this?

Thanks!

PS I believe this is how your home water heater element is wired. The water heater metal case is connected to the element via the threads of the element and is then connected to the earth (green wire) connection.

[codewritinfool]

I think you mis-spoke.

Green is not neutral. Green is ground. White is not ground. White is neutral.

Ground should be connected to the chassis. Neutral should not be used as a ground. It is used as a return path.

I am not an electrician.

[Kbar]

Yes. Thanks. ground = green. That is the basis of my question. connect ground, for safety reasons to the metal system of fittings that make up the RIMS circuit. Thanks!

[bigdan]

If everything is stainless you can hook the green ground to any of the fittings. and that will work. The only problem would be figuring out how to bond the wire to the fitting. You could use a grounding clamp used for grounding to water lines.

[ajdelange]

Doesn't the heater element have an earth/ground screw (dull metalic color with hexagonal head)?

Additional protection, and a good idea is an ELCB/GFI circuit breaker in the circuit. If this is a 110V hookup you can buy GFI outlets ant any home supply center. If it's 220 then the breaker will have to go in the panel. You would have to get that from an electrical supply house and they are expensive.

Inline GFI breakers are found in the cords of some pieces of equipment but I wouldn't know where to get them. Try McMaster Carr or Grainger.

[Kbar]

Thanks guys. AJ, only two terminals on the water heater element, Neutral and Hot. I wish they had a ground terminal, life would be easier. I truly believe the water heater chassis is the ground, so as Bigdan said, I need to simple ground to any of the fittings. Thanks!

[foomench]

I tapped a ground screw into the big hex head of the heating element, and then tested with an ohmmeter that everything was as intended. I can probably dig up pictures or take new ones if you want.

[Kbar]

Sounds like a plan. I have a lot of 'meat' in the large 1-1/2" to 1" reducer, on the front face, to do so. Thanks!