Grounding Dust Collector

[BIRD]

So I have this really nice Grizzly 2hp dust collector. Got the 4" black plastic tubing (can't afford the really nice metal kind) and ground wire. Accord to Grizzly, ground wire should run INSIDE the plastic tubing... ok so I did that. Didn't seem to have a problem until, I used some white pine to make a couple of benches. At some point between using the planner, or joiner things got really clogged (and I have a two stage separator). I pulled all the ground wire out and just ran it on the OUTSIDE... to make a long question short .... is it ok to just have ground wire wrapped around the outside???? (and yes the ground wire runs to a good ground)

 

[Bernhard]

It is actually not necessary to ground small dust collectors. Running PVC pipe is perfectly fine w/o ground. Static discharge will make an impact if you run an industrial dust collection system; i.e. much greater than 20 hp with much higher velocities than a 2 hp unit can produce.
There was also an article in FWW about the same issue; the author also concluded that static discharge is a non-issue in the small shop.

Hope this helps. If you really interested, I'll dig out the article.

Bernhard

 

[BIRD]

Oh that is great news to me ..:eusa_danc. Because I worried I might blow myself up, not running the ground inside. Thank you so much !!!

 

[Steve D]

No worries Liz. The plastic will give you a shock like walking on carpet in the winter but it isn't going to explode. Running the wire on the outside will keep you from getting those little zaps.

 

[Ozzie-x]

Ditto the above comments. There has not been any documented cases of home dust collector explosions due to static. Being the engineering type that I am, I knew the mechanical guys design elaborate grounding systems for these big industrial collection systems we've done in the past. So when I installed the dust collector in my shop, I was worried about static, fire/explosion hazards, etc. Cut-to-the-chase version is that there's no hazard and like Bernhard said, the velocities, HP, etc are so low that the hazard is not created. I had an article written by an engineer at MIT that thoroughly addressed the subject and dispelled the myths. I don't have any static grounding on my system, and the only downside is that I experience static charge on some of the metal clamps.

 

[McRabbet]

Liz,

Let me add some advice on the subject of static electricity and the ducting that you are using. First, for a full discussion of PVC piping and static electricity, check out this link for an article by an MIT scientist. Though long, it covers the subject very well -- bottom line, forget the ground wires.

Second, you need to minimize the amount of "... 4" black tubing" that you are using and make 6" PVC pipe (thin wall with flared bell ends, called Sanitary and Drain pipe) your primary ducting. You can find 4" S&D pipe at Lowe's or the BORG for about $7 per 10' length, but for 6", you will need to check plumbing suppliers. 6" carries much more air with less drag and you can reduce to 4" after blast gates with a short reducer and length of black tubing. Here is a link to a definitive discussion of ducting for dust collection, found on Bill Pentz's web site.

While a little overwhelming, these sites provide very good information.

Hope this helps.

Rob