8.6.

1 - Testing earth electrodes

The earth electrode, where used, is the means of making contact with the general mass of
earth. Thus it must be tested to ensure that good contact is made. A major consideration
here is to ensure that the electrode resistance is not so high that the voltage from earthed
metalwork to earth exceeds 50 V. Where an RCD is used, this means that the result of
multiplying the RCD operating current (in amperes) by the electrode resistance (in
ohms) does not exceed 50 (volts). for normal dry locations, or 25 (volts) for construction
sites and agricultural premises.

If a 30 mA RCD is used, this allows a maximum electrode resistance of 1,666 Ohms,

although it is recommended that earth electrode resistance should never be greater than
200 Ohms. A maximum value of 100 ohm is proposed in a draft amendment of BS
7430, Code of Practice for Earthing.

There are several methods for measurement of the earth electrode resistance. In all cases,
the electrode must be disconnected from the earthing system of the installation before the
tests commence.
 Fig 8.13 - Measurement of earth electrode resistance with a dedicated tester

1. - Using a dedicated earth resistance tester

The instrument is connected as shown in {Fig 8.13} with terminals C1 and P1 being
connected to the electrode under test (X). To ensure that the resistance of the test leads
does not affect the result, separate leads should be used for these connections. If the test
lead resistance is negligible, terminals Ci and P1 may be bridged at the instrument and
connected to the earth electrode with a single lead.

Terminals C2 and P2 are connected to temporary spikes which are driven into the
ground, making a straight line with the electrode under test. It is important that the test
spikes are far enough from each other and from the electrode under test. If their
resistance areas overlap, the readings will differ for the reason indicated in {Fig 8.14}.
Usually the distance from X to Y will be about 25 m, but this depends on the resistivity
of the ground. To ensure that resistance areas do not overlap, second and third tests are
made with the electrode Z 10% of the X to Y distance nearer to, and then 10% further
from, X. If the three readings are substantially in agreement, this is the resistance of the
electrode under test. If not, test electrodes Y and Z must be moved further from X and
the tests repeated.

The tester provides an alternating output to prevent electrolytic effects. If the resistance
to earth of the temporary spikes Y and Z is too high, a reduction is likely if they are
driven deeper or if they are watered.
 Fig 8.14 - Effect of overlapping resistance areas
a) resistance areas not overlapping
b) resistance areas overlapping

2. - Using a transformer, ammeter and voltmeter

The system is connected as shown in {Fig 8.15}. Current, which can be adjusted by
variation of the resistor R, is passed through the electrode under test (X) to the general
mass of earth and hence to the test electrode Y. The voltmeter connected from X to Z
measures the volt drop from X to the general mass of earth. The electrode resistance is
calculated from:

voltmeter reading (V)

ammeter reading (A)

As in the case of the dedicated tester, the test electrode Z must again be moved and extra
readings taken to ensure that resistance areas do not overlap. It is important that the
voltmeter used has high resistance (at least 200 Ohms /V) or its low resistance in parallel
with that of the electrode under test will give a false result.
 Fig 8.15 - Measurement of earth electrode resistance
with a transformer, ammeter and voltmeter

3. - Using an earth fault loop impedance tester

The tester is connected between the phase at the origin of the installation and the earth
electrode under test as shown in {Fig 8.16}. The test is then carried out, the result being
taken as the electrode resistance although the resistance of the protective system from the
origin of the installation to the furthest paint of the installation must be added to it before
its use to verify that the 50 V level is not exceeded. If an RCD with a low operating
current is used, the protective system resistance is likely to be negligible by comparison
with the permissible electrode resistance.
Fig 8.16 - Measurement of earth electrode resistance using an earth-fault loop tester

It is most important to ensure that earthing leads and equipotential bonds are reconnected
to the earth electrode when testing is complete.

Return to top of page

Extracted from The Electricians Guide Fifth Edition

by John Whitfield
Published by EPA Press Click Here to order your Copy

Click here for list of abbreviations

 Ground Testing Techniques
Nov 1, 2006Jeff Jowett, Megger Electrical Construction and Maintenance

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Prior to about 15 years ago, the basic methodology for ground testing remained fundamentally unchanged since
it was originally devised in the early 20th century. The end-user would use a test instrument and probes to first
inject a current into the earth between a test electrode and a remote probe, measure the voltage drop caused by
the soil to a designated point, and then use Ohm's Law to calculate
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Along with the development of new instrumentation, the test procedure itself was also
standardized. By “walking” the potential probe toward the current probe and graphing the
measurements, the end-user could develop a profile that reliably indicated the ground
electrode's resistance. This test procedure is otherwise known as the “Fall of Potential”
method and is described by ANSI/IEEE “Guide for Measuring Earth Resistivity, Ground
Impedance, and Earth Surface Potentials of an Earth System” (ANSI/IEEE Standard 81).

Various other popular test methods, such as Slope, 62% Rule, and Intersecting Curves, were
all derived from the Fall of Potential method (Fig. 1), with slight modifications to deal with
special situations or to improve productivity. However, all of these methods employ the
same instrumentation. The good news is this instrumentation has been steadily improved in
terms of convenience, safety, ease of operation, accuracy, and available features.
<B>Fig. 1.</b> The Fall of Potential method is illustrated above.

Stakeless method. During the last decade, a new technology appeared in the market, in
the form of the clamp-on ground tester. This testing device was developed specifically for
improving the speed and convenience of the ground test. The Fall of Potential test can be
labor intensive and time consuming. Even the expedient methods still require you to string
leads and drive probes. The clamp-on tester represented a quantum leap in convenience.
Just clamp it over the ground rod and take a reading. However, this convenience is both an
advantage and a drawback for the end-user.

Properly understood, the clamp-on ground tester can be an indispensable tool. But its
simplicity can also lead to trouble. Many end-users tend to clamp around any convenient
point and take away the reading without question. As a result, this method has become
unwelcome by some in the industry. To be effective, the user of this piece of test equipment
must be aware of its principle of operation, where it will and won't work, and the
applications for which traditional methods only must be employed.

The clamp-on approach (Fig. 2) was derived from the original “shortcut” procedure (i.e. the
“2-point” or “dead earth” test method). The shortcut test is made by simply connecting a
piece of test equipment between the test electrode and a remote ground, and then
measuring a loop resistance. The method is easy, but it loses accuracy because all the other
elements in the loop are part of the measurement. It is fraught with the danger of inaccuracy
because the remote probe must be of negligible resistance, which may not be the case. The
clamp-on test avoids this problem by relying on multiple return paths, which are in parallel
with each other. By the Law of Parallel Resistances, the return resistance virtually cancels
out, and the tester measures only the resistance of the soil.
 where, usually

The jaws of a clamp-on tester contain two windings. When clamped over a ground rod and
energized, a CT in the tester induces a test current in the circuit via electromagnetic
coupling. The current travels through the soil and returns to the rod (but more significantly
the jaws of the tester), thus completing the circuit through all available system grounds.
Since multiple parallel utility grounds, for instance, are normally plentiful, their total
resistance is negligible, and the test measures principally the resistance of the intervening
soil. The tester accurately measures the current flow, and the second winding in the jaws
sense the voltage drop around the loop. Ohm's Law does the rest.

The clamp-on tester can be an enormous time saver, but unlike its traditional three-point
counterpart, it cannot be used everywhere. The clamp-on tester should not be used in the
following situations:

 Commission new grounds, as they will not yet be connected to the utility power supply, and
hence no return path exists for the test current.

 Measure soil resistivity (electrical conductivity properties of the soil); this requires the use
of a four-terminal tester.
 Test any complex ground system where a metallic loop exists; test current will return
through metal and not be forced into the soil. These include systems such as ring grounds,
counterpoise, substation grounds, and various other multiple interconnected ground
systems.

 Perform any test where a client or third party require conformance to a reference standard;
the clamp-on test method has not been incorporated into any independent standard.

<B>Fig. 2.</b> The clamp-on/stakeless ground testing method is illustrated above.

On the other hand, you can use the clamp-on tester to:

Prior to about 15 years ago, the basic methodology for ground testing remained
fundamentally unchanged since it was originally devised in the early 20th century. The end-
user would use a test instrument and probes to first inject a current into the earth between a
test electrode and a remote probe, measure the voltage drop caused by the soil to a
designated point, and then use Ohm's Law to calculate the resistance. Initially, separate
current sources and voltmeters were employed, and the calculation was done by hand. Soon,
dedicated ground test instruments appeared on the scene to help reduce operator error and
increase the speed and efficiency of the test.

 Test installed grounds without having to disconnect them from the utility supply system.

 Test any grounding electrode configuration where there is a return path that includes the
earth.

 Test the resistance of a single rod in a series or array.

 Simultaneously perform a bonding test of the grounding conductor (necessary to complete
the return path).

 Check errant current flow to ground for operator safety and give an overview of ground
system dynamics.

The bottom line. Looking at the big picture, both types of testing — traditional and
clamp-on — have unique strengths. They are by no means competing or mutually exclusive
technologies. For their effective use, you must understand their differences. Merely
clamping on to any accessible point in an electrical grounding system does not constitute
effective ground testing. A well-equipped ground-testing program will take advantage of
both technologies.

Jowett is a senior applications engineer with Megger, Valley Forge, Pa.

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Discuss this Article 2

Bob Allsbrook (not verified)
on Aug 30, 2012

We are doing a project for the USAF on the 7th floor of a building. We have a 1/0 ground ring around a
space and all metal bonded to the ring. the 1/0 ring connects to a ground bar in the electrical room with
3/0 down to first floor service entrance ground. This space has a special metallic ceiling tile for grounding
and copper shielding over ever light in the space and all is bonded to the 1/0 ring above the ceiling. I am
searching for the proper procedure to test the resistance on this system.
Thank you.

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robert duncan
on Jan 16, 2013

Contact RO Associates

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