Individuals often feel relaxed and safe when living in buildings with effective earthing systems. Such systems are vital in ensuring that the occupants and electronics are protected from electrical surges. This is achieved by providing a safe path for the huge currents emanating from lightning and over-voltage. Thus, the lightning earthing systems require regular ground testing. This aims at ensuring that the earth resistance is low and checks the functionality of the systems.
Before technological advancement, the end-user embraced the use of test instruments and probes. They are used to first inject a current into the earth soil that lied in between the test electrode and control probe. This was ensured by taking measurements on voltage drop that was caused by the soil up to a set point. Then the experts would use Ohm Law to make computation that will determine the fall or rise in earth resistance.
With the development of new instrumentation, the test procedure was standardized by the use of two modern approaches. They were introduced by making slight modifications so as to deal with special situations that needed fine-tuning. It also aimed at improving the productivity and functionality of earthing systems. However, both methods deploy similar instrumentation which has undergone a steady improvement to enhance safety, convenience, accuracy, and ease of operations.
One of the approaches is the fall-of-potential test method. It is carried out by complete isolation of the lightning earthing system from the power supply. It also demands the end-user to remove all the conductors that extend past the extremes of the earthing system being tested. The method is highly embraced when testing larger grounding systems. It also performs well in small field electrodes. However, it is associated with lots of drawbacks due to its lengthy procedures.
Additionally, the other approach is the induced frequency test. It is effective in that it can be performed when the power is still on. It requires the power utility to be connected to the earthing system under test. The test is accurate for small electrodes since it reads the frequencies in the kilohertz range. The range used assume elongated conductors as inductive chokes and thus do not reflect readings for the entire grounding system.
In order to generate viable data schedule for a ground test, the technicians should make use of the right procedure and effective apparatus should be employed. This increases the accuracy of findings as well as making the test to be subtler and swift. Other factors should be maintained accordingly to enhance the results. Some factors such as heavy rainfall reduce the resistance of soils than it would be under normal situations.
Moreover, with technological advancement, a refined procedure has been invented to produce more convincing and accurate results. They are computerized and thus, do not necessarily need further analysis and calculations. In addition, they do not also need one to de-energize or isolate any conductor from the grounding system being tested.
Therefore, the testing procedure has gradually evolved in stages with emphasis on improving accuracy and ease of use. This has also been enhanced by advancement in instrumentation used when conducting the tests. It is a crucial task that helps in improving the functionality of earthing systems.
Before technological advancement, the end-user embraced the use of test instruments and probes. They are used to first inject a current into the earth soil that lied in between the test electrode and control probe. This was ensured by taking measurements on voltage drop that was caused by the soil up to a set point. Then the experts would use Ohm Law to make computation that will determine the fall or rise in earth resistance.
With the development of new instrumentation, the test procedure was standardized by the use of two modern approaches. They were introduced by making slight modifications so as to deal with special situations that needed fine-tuning. It also aimed at improving the productivity and functionality of earthing systems. However, both methods deploy similar instrumentation which has undergone a steady improvement to enhance safety, convenience, accuracy, and ease of operations.
One of the approaches is the fall-of-potential test method. It is carried out by complete isolation of the lightning earthing system from the power supply. It also demands the end-user to remove all the conductors that extend past the extremes of the earthing system being tested. The method is highly embraced when testing larger grounding systems. It also performs well in small field electrodes. However, it is associated with lots of drawbacks due to its lengthy procedures.
Additionally, the other approach is the induced frequency test. It is effective in that it can be performed when the power is still on. It requires the power utility to be connected to the earthing system under test. The test is accurate for small electrodes since it reads the frequencies in the kilohertz range. The range used assume elongated conductors as inductive chokes and thus do not reflect readings for the entire grounding system.
In order to generate viable data schedule for a ground test, the technicians should make use of the right procedure and effective apparatus should be employed. This increases the accuracy of findings as well as making the test to be subtler and swift. Other factors should be maintained accordingly to enhance the results. Some factors such as heavy rainfall reduce the resistance of soils than it would be under normal situations.
Moreover, with technological advancement, a refined procedure has been invented to produce more convincing and accurate results. They are computerized and thus, do not necessarily need further analysis and calculations. In addition, they do not also need one to de-energize or isolate any conductor from the grounding system being tested.
Therefore, the testing procedure has gradually evolved in stages with emphasis on improving accuracy and ease of use. This has also been enhanced by advancement in instrumentation used when conducting the tests. It is a crucial task that helps in improving the functionality of earthing systems.
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You can find an overview of the advantages you get when you use professional electrical ground testing services at http://www.sgsgrounding.net/services today.
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