Re: why ground an alarm panel.

["Bob Worthy" <securinc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"autonut843" <hmjunk31415@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1133823870.190506.37580@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Hi,
> I was just answering a post for someone on another group regarding how
> to ground a CATV line and it got me thinking.  Ademco panels all have a
> screw that they want tied to earth ground.  I've never seen a
> residential install that had that wire attached.

If the system is inspected by an electrical official, they most likely will
require it to be grounded if there is provisions for a ground on the panel.
The NEC states that the metal box shall be grounded, at least. Some panels,
DSC for instance, provides hardware and instructions to ground both, the box
and the panel.

> Why have it?

Because it is required by manufactures specifications and the testing
labortory that approved the panel.

  why do
> it?

To protect the panel for surge damage

>why not do it?

Some think that if you don't do it, it will protect the panel from surges,
but the ground is only one avenue into the panel and is not the most likely
one. If it is connected to a good ground, it helps much more than it hurts.