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NWfall08 Jowett PDF
NWfall08 Jowett PDF
Tech Tips
by Jeff Jowett
Megger
T
he testing of grounding electrodes…grids, meshes, and the like…is most The grounding electrode typically is
often considered in terms of a resistance test. That is to say, the resistance carrying only noise, but must be able
to accommodate worst case conditions
of the surrounding environment to current flow to some arbitrary or of high current flow when called on
carefully plotted point typically referred to as remote earth or infinite earth. The line during an event. Therefore, to test
ground grid is intended to serve the dual purpose of carrying currents into the grid integrity, the tester must be able
to produce high current. A grid tester
earth without exceeding the operating tolerances of any protected equipment works similarly to a ground tester in
while assuring that personnel in the vicinity are not exposed to electric shock as that it supplies current and measures
would result from excessive step or touch potentials. Resistance tests indicate voltage drop across the test item. In
this case, the test item is the grid,
the overall capability of the grid in this regard: its electrical relationship to its
whereas in a ground test, it includes
environment. But there remains the question of the internal condition of the the surrounding soil. It is dissimilar in
grid itself. that the grid tester typically employs
an industry standard of 300 amperes,
Out of sight, out of mind? Buried under ground, the grounding electrode
whereas a ground tester operates on
doesn’t call attention by mere visual inspection, which is the first step in most
the milliampere level. Rather than
electrical maintenance. Though they may seem inert, grounding electrodes are
calculating and displaying resistance,
subject to their own unique set of stresses, just like other electrical equipment.
the grid tester evaluates the change in
Fault clearance and lightning protection can severely damage a grid or mesh,
current flow.
separating individual elements, interrupting continuity, and introducing high
Test equipment consists of a vari-
resistance across bonds. But in the meantime, the electrode may have cleared the
able current source requiring on the
fault perfectly well, leaving no obvious indication that it has been compromised.
order of a 10.5 kVA capability, oper-
A subsequent event may not be afforded the same level of protection.
ated from a 50 ampere, 240 Vac source.
Furthermore, a less dramatic but more persistent force of deterioration is
Test leads can range anywhere from
the incessant process of corrosion and weather. Freezing and expansion exert
10 to 100 feet of 2/0 welding cable. A
pressures that can break apart a grid. Ironically, the best grounding soils are also
reference ground is first established,
the most corrosive. Low resistivity soil that facilitates the flow of fault current
preferably a transformer neutral. The
also promotes electrolytic current that eats away at the metallic structure of a
leads are connected, one to the test
grounding electrode. Use of dissimilar metals hastens the process. Rods have been
ground and the other to the reference
known to last as little as two years, with typically a risk of at least some corrosion
ground below any bonding connec-
effects being present after four.1 A standard ground resistance test just looks at
tions (Fig. 1). The tester is then ener-
voltage drop across the surrounding soil and gives no measure of the physical
gized and adjusted to pass 300 amperes
condition of the electrode itself.
via the reference ground through the
grid under test for a duration of three
minutes.
Figure 2 Figure 3
Measurements before Test Hook-Up Measurement before Test Hook-Up
1. Current in transformer neutral (reference) = 82 amperes 1. Current in transformer neutral (reference) = 82 amperes
2. Current in the post ground wire = 6 amperes 2. Current in frame ground = none
3. Distance between reference ground and post ground = 15 feet 3. Distance between reference ground and frame ground = 100 feet
4. Voltage drop in test leads with 300 amperes = 7.5 volts 4. Voltage drop of the test leads with 300 amperes = 7.5 volts
Measurements after Test Hook-Up and with 300 Amperes Flowing Measurement after Test Hook-Up and with 300 Amperes Flowing
in the Test Circuit (i.e., test set meter reading) in the Test Circuit (i.e., test set meter reading)
1. Current flow in reference ground to grid = 270 amperes 1. Current flow in reference ground to grid = 270 amperes
2. Current flow in reference ground to T(X) = 50 amperes 2. Current flow in reference ground to T(X) = 50 amperes
3. Current flow from grid to post ground = 280 amperes 3. Current in frame ground from grid = 2.5 amperes
4. Current flow from the structure to post ground = 1 ampere 4. Current flow in frame ground from the structure = 280 amperes
5. Voltage reading at the test set meter = 7.9 volts 5. Voltage reading at the test set meter = 15.6 volts
formula can be used to get an approximation of voltage a faulty current path, the work of excavation and repair is
drop, bearing in mind that manufacturer’s specifications markedly reduced.
are always preferable:
1
Lyncole XIT Grounding
V = (2 x I x L x R)/1000 where, Electrical Equipment Testing and Maintenance, A. S. Gill, Prentice
I = test current Hall
L = length
Jeffrey R. Jowett is Senior Applications Engineer for Megger in Valley
R = resistance per 1000 feet Forge, Pennsylvania, serving the manufacturing lines of Biddle®, Meg-
ger®, and Multi-Amp® for electrical test and measurement instrumenta-
Specific code requirements are not in effect, but stan- tion. He holds a BS in Biology and Chemistry from Ursinus College.
He was employed for 22 years with James G. Biddle Co. which became
dards exist that provide guidelines for grid testing. Notably, Biddle Instruments and is now Megger.
NFPA70E-1983, Part I, Chapter 2, Section F, Item 4 out-
lines low-impedance continuity, and Part III, Chapter I,
Section B, Item 1 calls for continuous maintenance. OSHA
has adopted this as a safety requirement, and IEEE 81
references testing of grid structure. By this method, each
ground connection around a substation or other facility can
be tested. Faults are not precisely pinpointed, but by isolating