Advance Grounding Solution Tips for Electrical Safety
In this age of technological development and evolution, one must reflect on
the provision of protection to these advanced and sophisticated
electrical/electronic devices. Owing to the complexity in the configuration of
the equipment and the wiring, safety comes as the primary demand to avoid
any electrical failure and any damages to life or property.
The most concerning factor for any electrical installation or network is the
properly designed earthing system which is a prerequisite for providing a
low resistance path for efficient and satisfactory working of electrical
appliances.
There are two types of earthing/ grounding practice:
Conventional pipe or plate earthing: Perforated GI/ copper Pipe or copper
plate used as an electrode surrounded by salt – charcoal backfilling mix
degrading the health of installation.
● Maintenance free technique: Replacing the conventional technology,
it consists of Copper bonded steel rods, carbon-based earth
enhancement compound and exothermic weld joints remarkably
increasing the life of the entire installation.
Due to lack of awareness, some still practice conventional grounding
methodology employing copper or GI plates positioned amidst of salt and
charcoal for conducting these fault currents to the ground.
This technology gives a temporary solution to this problem as the conductor
gets corroded and the backfill compound gets washed away within 2-3
years. But, this is less in practice now as it demands periodic maintenance
and early replacement which was a tedious and hectic scenario.
Maintenance free earthing - Replacement to conventional
grounding for complete protection from electric faults
This system consists of earth electrodes, i.e. copper bonded rods. These are
a solid rod technology engineered to endure the most enviously damaging
environments and earth enhancement compound as a backfill compound
surrounding the rod. Copper bonded steel rod is a concoction of pure
copper over steel,
it is basically a well finished low carbon tensile steel rod with minimal
coating of 250 microns of pure Electrolytic copper offering abridged
corrosion which would also magnify the working life up to 40 to 50 years.
The process of installation of ​maintenance free earthing system is carried
out with ease and is recommended as per IS 3043, IEEE 80 and NBC 2016.
Recommended practice can be installed by digging a hole of appropriate size
and positioning copper bonded rod exactly at the bottom.
The conductivity of surrounding soil can be treated and improved by filling
the earth pit with slurry of carbon-based ground enhancement material and
water mix. Then connections within the installation and earth connection
with the exposed and conducting metallic parts of devices are made using
exothermic welding technique after which the installation is secured using a
poly plastic earthing pit cover.