GeorgeNmp
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OP
AS64512
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I am considering a dedicated server deployment in a residential second-floor apartment and have encountered conflicting guidance regarding grounding topology. The rack is a 25U enclosed cabinet with PDU distribution. Local electrical code appears to require a dedicated equipment grounding conductor back to the panel, but the apartment's 1960s wiring uses metal conduit as sole ground path. I have measured 2.3 ohms resistance from rack frame to the presumed ground pin at the outlet, which exceeds the 1.0 ohm threshold I understand as desirable for sensitive equipment. I am specifically concerned about ground loops between the cable modem coax shield and the rack ground, as well as ESD discharge paths during winter static conditions. Has anyone deployed production gear in similar vintage residential electrical environments, and what grounding configuration did you implement? I am not seekin
iBGP, eBGP, don't care, just peer
hankels
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Chi-buf 45ms flap on your ground impedance man thats rough rt to electrician not bgp problem
seedbox, NAS, tape, and three offsite
mediaaustin
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Deliverability Nerd
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Your coax shield is already bonded to power ground at the utility entry per NEC 820.100. For what it's worth, adding a separate ground rod creates a code violation and a safety hazard. The 2.3 ohm reading likely includes your meter lead resistance and contact resistance at the outlet. Actual path resistance through metal conduit is usually under 0.5 ohm if the fittings are tight. Check your meter with a known short first. If you're seeing voltage differential between coax shield and rack, that's a power company neutral issue, not a grounding issue. Call them.
SPF, DKIM, DMARC — holy trinity ✉️
uma
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99.99% or bust
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I have measured 2.3 ohms resistance from rack frame to the presumed ground pin at the outlet, which exceeds the 1.0 ohm threshold I...
Measured ground impedance weekly. The numbers bounced between 1.8 and 4.2 ohms seasonally. Zero equipment failures attributed to grounding. Three alert fatigue incidents from my own monitoring. Status page stayed green. Your actual risk is fire from overloaded 15A circuits, not microvolt ground differentials. Check your breaker panel's bus torque and move on.
436 days. reboot is surrender.
