grounding compressor

[Bergo]

Just wanted ot know if I should solder a ground wire to my compressor housing. in it's previous case, the case was grounded, and the condenser touched the case, and therefore the compressor was grounded through the copper. would it be advisable to jsut solder a ground wire to the compressor housing or something? I only have two conductors running to the compressor (AC power)

[aussie_guy00000]

Umm, what do you have it mounted to?. Usually the bolts holding it down will contact with the metal case at some point, not to mention the wiring should have an earth in there somewhere, which should be......umm...earthed :D

[n00b 0f l337]

Yeah but if you have a wood case or the like, I just wire a ground to a compressor moutning leg.

[wdrzal]

unless you have a 3 conductor plug you have nothing to ground too. A ground is a "extra" netrual(white wire) in reality for safety. If for some reason you loose the neurtral,the ground takes its place.

[Bergo]

unless you have a 3 conductor plug you have nothing to ground too. A ground is a "extra" netrual(white wire) in reality for safety. If for some reason you loose the neurtral,the ground takes its place.

sorry, should have worded that a bit differently, I have a 3 conductor plug, the compressor only have two terminals. the ground (third white wire) was run to a bolt in the pervious case (this compressor is out of a coca-cola drink chiller, 1/4hp tecumseh) should I solder the ground (white/neutral) wire to the compressor housing, or does someone have a better idea? The compressor is attatched to the case in such a way that it does not contact, I have rubber vibration dapeners so the compressor isn't really "bolted" to the case, as the bolts only touch the rubber.

[jinu117]

Hmmm bergo? Use the green (ground) wire from 3 conductor to compressor feet. The only place electricity is somewhat attached is the compressor itself :P You should be fine.
In computer cases, the case acts as ground often as there are many components added in, etc->especially psu grounding itself to case and some mobo with some metallic mount might. But in case of compressor, we are only really worried about the shell. (now, I've heard of people grounding evap to earth to remove some noises.... not sure if it works... some old benchers used to swear by it)

[Bergo]

thanks for the replies guys, got it all working correctly. the chiller was using white for both neutral and ground, I hacked apart a broken extension cord so I now have three different colored wire (so I can distinguish between ground and neutral) and I"ll have it soldered to the compressor housing (on the "leg") the other units I've played with had been grounded through the chasis, but this one i"m using rubber feet for vibration dapening so I needed to solder the gorund somewhere.