Ask the Grounding Experts
FaktaJoin us each week where our engineering experts answer your questions about the world of grounding and earthing. E&S Grounding Solutions' mission is to ENGINEER, EDUCATE, and EMPOWER the world's leading technology professionals and companies to become safer, more successful, and more profitable every single day. For a video of this podcast, please visit our YouTube Channel at E&S Grounding Solutions. For more information or to sign up for some of our world-renowned educational classes, please visit our website at: www.ESgrounding.com
Siste episoder av Ask the Grounding Experts podcast
- What are 4 Lightning Scenarios that Cause Problems? Part 5 (00:16:11)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin discusses Part 5 of a 5-part series about lightning strike scenarios and the ways to protect against them. In the previous four episodes, we discussed the 4 lightning scenarios that cause damage: cloud-to-cloud strikes, nearby ground strikes, strike to incoming power lines, and finally direct strikes to your building. These problems can be resolved with the following lightning protection strategies: First, a Fran...
- What are 4 Lightning Scenarios that Cause Problems? Part 4 (00:08:35)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin discusses Part 4 of a 5-part series about lightning strike scenarios and the ways to protect against them. Direct lightning strikes are the fourth and least common scenario that can damage your building. However, a direct lightning strike can be very powerful and cause major damage. The odds of a direct strike to your building will depend on the lightning strike frequency in your area. Due to the high curre...
- What are 4 Lightning Scenarios that Cause Problems? Part 3 (00:07:24)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin discusses Part-3 of a 5-part series about lightning strike scenarios and the ways to protect against them. Ground strikes are the second most common source of lightning damage, due to the direct coupling of ground currents traveling through the earth and into the concrete encased steel components of a structure. These steel components will need to form there own magnetic fields which in turn will can cause damage to e...
- What are 4 Lightning Scenarios that Cause Problems? Part 2 (00:06:24)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin discusses Part-2 of a 5-part series about lightning strike scenarios and the ways to protect against them. Ground strikes are the second most common source of lightning damage, due to the direct coupling of ground currents traveling through the earth and into the concrete encased steel components of a structure. These steel components will need to form there own magnetic fields which in turn will can cause damage ...
- What are 4 Lightning Scenarios that Cause Problems? Part 1 (00:08:05)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin discusses Part-1 of a 5-part series about lightning strike scenarios and the ways to protect against them. Air-to-Air strikes are the most common source of lightning damage, due to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and the damage this interference causes to electronic systems. Understanding how the EMF from lightning cause damage to your structures is key to understanding why the solutions work and how lightning prote...
- What are Ground Loops? (00:09:35)
E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin responds to viewers' questions about the differences between ground “loops” and ground “rings”. Ground loops are a common term that is often ill defined and even more often used inappropriately. Typically, ground loops are used to define a process where the return currents (neutral currents) are allowed to travel back to the source on the normally-non-current-carrying-exposed-conductive-parts of a circuit, in violation of NEC 250.6 –Objectio...
- How Can Step-Voltage Accidents be Prevented? (00:08:39)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin responds to viewers questions about the dangers of Step Voltages. Step voltages are a very dangerous and unseen hazard. Primarily caused by lightning strikes or downed power lines, step voltages are large differences in potential that are a short distance from each other, which can turn the person or animal taking the step to become a conduit that the electrons use to flow from one potential to the other. David describes the...
- The Importance of Addressing Grounding Systems at the Beginning of the Project (00:14:16)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President DavidStockin goes into detail on the importance of addressing your grounding system during the design process and how not doing so can cause costs to dramatically increase. David discusses the issues that can arise when grounding is an afterthought instead of a forethought and tells us a few of the details and standards that must be covered. For a video of this podcast, please visit our YouTube Channel at E&S Grounding Solutions. ...
- What are the Top 3 Things the NEC Needs to Change? (00:13:14)
In this Episode of Ask the Grounding Experts, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin discusses the Top 3 areas of improvement that are needed in Article 250, the Grounding Section, of the National Electrical Code (NEC). In particular, the importance of installing a copper wire in branch circuits instead of using steel conduit is discussed. In addition, the human safety reasons for always bonding the steel rebar in concrete (concrete encased electrodes) and the need to use...
- What are the Grounding Challenges at Solar Farms? (00:09:31)
In this episode, E&S President David Stockin discusses the grounding challenges that you can encounter at solar farms. For a video of this podcast, please visit our YouTube Channel at E&S Grounding Solutions. For more information or to sign up for some of our world-renowned educational classes, please visit our website at www.ESgrounding.com Please follow us on Social Media for updates and behind the scenes info: Instagram: @AskTheGroundingExperts @ESgrounding Facebook: https://www...
- What is the Difference Between a Ground Wire and a Neutral Wire? (00:08:01)
In this episode, our President, David Stockin walks us through the difference between a ground wire and a neutral wire. The differences might surprise you! For a video of this podcast, please visit our YouTube Channel at E&S Grounding Solutions. For more information or to sign up for some of our world-renowned educational classes, please visit our website at www.ESgrounding.com Please follow us on Social Media for updates and behind the scenes info: Instagram: @AskTheGroundingExpe...
- When Did the IEC Start Requiring Ground Rods? (00:09:42)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin discusses a requirement for ground rods in the IEC – it may be surprising to learn when this requirement was introduced! There are several reasons why a ground rod should be installed at every home’s electrical service panel, rather than rely upon the ground rod for the utility’s transformer. Sometimes when a code or standard introduces a new requirement, it raises a lot of questions on how to implement the requiremen...
- What Are the Different Electrical Codes Around the World? (00:12:24)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin chats with us about electrical codes used around the world. Not every country and region follow the same standard or code, but most of these guiding documents derive their requirements from two main sources. These codes are frequently being updated as advancements are made in technology and safety. The E&S Grounding Solutions website maintains a helpful resource for engineers to find the codes in effect in nearly every p...
- What Happens When Lightning Strikes a Tower (Part 2) (00:13:22)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin continues looking at an example of lightning striking a large metal tower. The connection between electrodes and earth will determine the potential difference across the ground, so it is important to understand what causes the potential difference and why engineers should work to minimize that difference. The formation of electromagnetic fields and step and touch voltages are other factors to consider in the design and analy...
- What Happens When Lightning Strikes a Tower (Part 1) (00:14:02)
There are a number of electrical phenomena that occur when lightning strikes an object. In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President, David Stockin walks us through those and tells us what we can do about it. For more info, please visit www.ESgrounding.com. Please follow us on Social Media for updates and behind the scenes info: Instagram: @AskTheGroundingExperts @ESgrounding Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/esgrounding YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel...
- What is the Curse of Resistance to Ground Specifications? (00:16:01)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin explores the topic of resistance-to-ground specifications. It is important to consider the justification for specifying a particular value of resistance-to-ground. Can a very low value always be achieved? Does it matter? While some installations may have a valid need for a low resistance-to-ground, many times, it is not necessary. Also, consider that it is not possible to simply buy materials that meet an arbitrary res...
- What is Continuity Testing? (Part 2) (00:12:32)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin builds upon the previous episode’s discussion on testing the continuity of a grounding system, this time focusing on the clamp-on method. In this method, the clamp-on meter will induce a current on the system in two directions. The clamp-on meter can then determine the resistance. Normally, a low resistance reading will indicate that there is a good continuous loop between the grounded object under test and the larger ground...
- What is Continuity Testing? (Part 1) (00:12:38)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin begins a discussion on testing the continuity of a grounding system, focusing on the two-point method. In this method, resistance measurements are made at numerous points in the facility, taking each measurement with the same reference point. One measurement between two points does not offer much information about the complex network on conductors in the grounding system. Taking readings in multiple locations will hopefully ...
- What is Resistance to Ground Measurement? (Part 2) (00:13:03)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin concludes a two-part series on resistance to ground measurements by discussing the induced frequency test, often called the “Clamp-On Method." In this method, a comparison is made between an induced current and a return current, while the test voltage is held constant. When the meter is clamped on to an electrode that is in series with a massive resistance loop with many parallel resistances, the meter can display a re...
- What is Resistance to Ground Measurement? (Part 1) (00:12:15)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin sits down to chat about the three-point fall-of-potential method for conducting a resistance to ground measurement. In this method, there is a particular location for a potential probe that will help produce a reasonably accurate result for the test. However, it is important to take readings at multiple locations to see if there are any problems with the test setup and site conditions. The fall-of-potential method has limita...
- What is the 4-Point Soil Resistivity Test? (Part 2) (00:09:20)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin continues a discussion on the Wenner four-point method for testing soil resistivity. Sounding should occur at least to the extent of the sphere of influence, which can be determined from the diagonal length of the grounding system. Selecting the proper intervals of test probe spacing is important to avoid a mathematical headache and obtain more accurate models of the soil resistivity. IEEE Standard 80 suggests taking soundin...
- What is the 4-Point Soil Resistivity Test? (Part 1) (00:09:52)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin discusses the Wenner four-point method for testing soil resistivity. Selecting proper spacing of the four test probes must be considered when measuring the resistivity at various depths into the earth. It is important to investigate how the measurements may differ between seasons and weather conditions. The results of a soil resistivity test employing the Wenner method are an essential part of the soil model used when studyi...
- What are the Common Tests for Grounding Systems? (00:08:31)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin chats about three tests commonly used to test a grounding system. A four-point test reveals properties about the soil surrounding the grounding system. A three-point test can be used to measure the resistance from one or more metal electrodes to the earth. A two-point test helps to confirm that an electrically continuous (very low impedance) path exists throughout the grounding system. The results of each test offer key insi...
- What is the Difference Between Grounding and Bonding? (00:09:53)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin chats about the difference between ground (earthing) and bonding. OSHA defines grounding as the intentional connection of an object likely to become energized to earth. Bonding is to intentionally connect to objects likely to become energized, to ensure that there are no differences in potential. OSHA wants all fueling operations to have both "grounding" and "bonding" to ensure that no hazardous sparks could cause a fi...
- How do GFCIs and Circuit Breakers Work? (00:09:19)
In this episode, E&S Grounding Solutions President David Stockin discusses GFCIs and circuit breakers. Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor's (GFCI) or Residual Current Devices (RCD) are automatic circuit disconnection devices that measure the difference in amperage between the hot and the neutral conductors in a circuit. If a minimal current is detected it automatically disconnects power to the circuit. Where as traditional circuit breakers operate by sensing a temporary and very short...