Facts About Grounding Rod That You Should Know
Grounding Rods have various functions & advantages. They are also known as electrodes or earth rods, and their fittings are used for effective earthing systems in overhead and underground electricity distribution and transmission networks. These are used singularly or in groups to:
• Form a ground field.
• Create a path to dissipate static discharge voltages (lightning or other forms) to the earth.
• Ensure the right connection to the ground in all kinds of soil conditions and deliver high fault current performance on low voltage, medium voltage, high voltage, tower, and power distribution systems.
Without an effective grounding system, you could be exposed to the risk of electric shock, not to mention instrumentation errors, harmonic distortion issues, power factor problems, and a host of possible intermittent dilemmas. If fault currents have no path to the ground through a properly designed and maintained grounding system, they will find unintended paths that could include equipment and people.
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First, a few facts about a grounding rod:
■ They do not attract lightning
■ They do not guarantee a lightning strike
■ They do direct electric current into the ground
■ They help protect structures when properly installed While oftentimes, much attention is given to proper design, it is equally, if not more important, to select quality materials for the grounding rod that meet the application needs of the building. This will go a long way towards ensuring the system lasts and provides continuous and safe pathways for both electrical faults and lightning discharge currents.