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The 1999 National Electrical Code specifies that the grounding of metal parts of the electrical
system to the earth (earth grounding) is to protect persons and property by limiting voltage on the
premise wiring from lightning or other high voltage surges [250-2(a)], Figure 12-1.
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Authors Comment: The resistance of the earth ground has no effect on the performance of
equipment (safety) grounding.
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Section 250-2(b) of the NEC states that the grounding of metal parts of the electrical system to the
earth is intended to help reduce touch potential on the metal parts. However, this is not a true
statement for systems that operate at less than 600 volts. For example, if a metal pole supplied
with a 120 volt branch circuit had a phase-to-ground fault, the circuit protection device would not
open. The metal pole would have a touch potential of 120 volts and the fact that the pole was
grounded to the earth would not reduce this touch potential, Figure 12-2
Authors Comment: See the last paragraph of this article to help you better understand the above
statement.
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Other reasons (not covered by the NEC) to have a good earth ground include the reduction of EMI
electromagnetic interference, RFI radio frequency interference, static electricity and to improve
the performance of transient voltage and lightning protection devices thereby improving the
reliability and performance of sensitive electronic equipment. In addition, Chapter 8 of the NEC
requires all communication systems that enter a building or structure to be grounded to the
electrical system ground (single point ground), Figure 12-3.
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The NEC does not contain any requirement as to the maximum earth ground resistance permitted
for a grounding electrode or the grounding electrode system. However, the NEC does have specific
requirements for the installation of the grounding electrode and the grounding electrode conductor.
These rules are contained in Sections 250-50 through 250-70 and the following is a short summary
of each.
Section 250-50 Grounding Electrode System
The earth ground resistance can be reduced by installing multiple grounding electrodes (see list
below) and bonding them together so that they are in parallel to each other, Figure 12-4.
1.
Metal underground water pipe in direct contact with the earth for 10 feet, supplemented by a
made electrode.
2.
3.
Electrically conductive foundation or footer steel not less than -in. diameter and not less
than a total of 20 feet in length.
4.
A No. 2 conductor completely encircling the building or structure installed at a depth of not
less than 2 feet.
Section 250-52 Made Electrode (Ground Rod)
Where none of the electrodes listed in Section 250-50 are available, then a made electrode
consisting of inch copper clad or 5/8th inch galvanized (or larger) rod driven 8 feet vertically in the
soil may be used. But if the ground resistance of a single ground rod is greater than 25 ohms, then
a second ground rod must be installed so that is no closer than 6 feet, and both ground rods must
be bonded together with a No. 6 wire [250-56], Figure 12-5.
Authors Comment: The NEC does not require more than two ground rods to be installed, even if
the total resistance of the two ground rods exceeds 25 ohms [250-56]. In addition, two ground
rods bonded together do not significantly reduce the ground resistance unless they are separated
by at least by 20 feet.
The diameter of a ground rod has an insignificant reduction in lowering the ground resistance, but
by doubling the vertical length of soil contact, the ground resistance can be reduced by 40%.
250-62. Grounding Electrode Conductor Material
The grounding electrode conductor (the conductor that is connected to the grounding electrode) can
be solid or stranded, insulated, covered or bare. This conductor must be resistant to any corrosive
condition existing at the installation, and for practical purposes, the conductor should be copper.
Aluminum conductors can be used if installed in accordance with Section 250-64(b), Figure 12-6.
Authors Comment: The NEC does not have any color code requirement for the grounding
electrode conductor, but the generally accepted practice is to color the terminations green.
250-64. Grounding Electrode Conductor Installation
The grounding electrode conductor must be installed in one continuous length unless spliced by a
listed irreversible compression-type fitting or by exothermic welding.
250-66. Sizing Grounding Electrode Conductor
The grounding electrode conductor must be sized in accordance with Section 250-66. The
conductor to a made electrode is not required to be larger than No. 6, and for concrete encased
electrodes a No. 4 is sufficient.
250-68. Grounding Electrode Conductor Connection
The termination of the grounding electrode conductor must be accessible, unless the electrode
termination is buried or encased in concrete.
250-70. Methods of Grounding Conductor Connection to Electrodes
The grounding electrode conductor must terminate to the grounding electrode by the use of listed
pressure connectors or clamps, or exothermic welding. Where buried, the termination fittings must
be listed and marked for direct soil burial (DB).
Authors Comment: Be sure to review all of the NEC requirements for the grounding electrode
system and the grounding electrode conductor contained in Sections 250-50 through 250-70,
including the exceptions and the fine print notes.
Measuring the Ground Resistance
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The 3-pole fall of potential method is used to measure the ground resistance of a grounding
electrode by the use of a ground resistance tester (groundohmer or a groundometer) in accordance
with the manufacturers instructions. This method determines the ground resistance by using the
Ohms Law formula, R=E/I. This method uses the voltage difference between the grounding
electrode and a driven (P) otential test stake and the current between the grounding electrode and
a second driven (C) urrent test stake.
Author Comment: The test stakes are made of rod stock, to inch diameter, 14 to 24 inches
long, driven into the earth about 2/3rd of their length.
The distance and alignment between the grounding electrode and the (P) otential and (C) urrent test
stakes are extremely important to the validity of the resistance measurements. For an 8-foot
ground rod, the commonly accepted practice is to space the current (C) urrent stake from the
grounding electrode 80 feet from a ground rod. The (P) otential test stake is positioned (in a straight
line) between the grounding electrode and the (C) urrent test stake at 62% of the distance that the
(C) urrent test stake is located from the grounding electrode.
Example: When measuring the resistance of an 8-foot ground rod, the (C) urrent test stake should
be 80 feet from the ground rod and the (P) otential test stake should be (80 feet x .62) 50 feet from
the ground rod. If the voltage between the ground rod and the (P) otential test stake is 30 volts and
the current between the ground rod and the (C) urrent test stake is 2 amperes, then the ground
resistance (according to the 3-pole fall of potential method) would be equal to, Figure 7:
Ground Resistance = E/I
To test the accuracy of the measured ground resistance, the (P) otential and (C) urrent test stakes
must be located outside the voltage spheres of influence of each other. This is accomplished by
moving the (P) otential test stake 3 feet closer and then further away from the ground rod, each
time taking fresh resistance measurements. If the measured ground resistance remains constant,
then ground resistance results are correct.
If there is a significant change in the ground resistance reading (30%), then the distance between
the ground rod and the (P) otential and (C) urrent test stakes must be increased (maintaining the
62% ratio separation) until the measured ground resistance value remains constant.
WARNING:
The earths ground resistance as determined by the fall of potential method is the resistance of the
earth between the grounding electrode and voltage test stake. It is not the impedance of the ground
fault return path. The earth resistance value is irrelevant as it relates to fault current flow and touch
potential. It cannot be used to determine phase-to-ground fault current flow required to open the
circuit overcurrent protection device, nor can the measured resistance value be used to determine
touch potential on metal parts because of a phase-to-ground fault.
Interestingly, some electric utilities determine that they have a good ground if they blow a 4 ampere
fuse when it is in series with 120 volt power supply and a driven ground rod. The logic is that if R =
E/I, then the earth ground resistance would be R = 120 volts/4 amperes, R = 30 ohms. Sorry, it
doesnt work that way.
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