EARTH TESTER

Earth Resistance Testing

The purpose of electrical ground testing is to determine the effectiveness of the grounding
medium with respect to true earth. Most electrical systems do not rely on the earth to carry
load current (this is done by the system conductors) but the earth may provide the return path
for fault currents, and for safety, all electrical equipment frames are connected to ground.

The resistivity of the earth is usually negligible because there so much of it available to carry
current. The limiting factor in electrical grounding systems is how well the grounding electrodes
contact the earth, which is known as the soil / ground rod interface. This interface resistance
component, along with the resistance of the grounding conductors and the connections, must

be measured by the ground test.

Integrity of the Ground

• Why test Ground Electrodes?

– It is essential to meet NEC, OSHA, and other electrical safety requirements.

• The Three Major reasons for Ground Resistance are;

– To provide Zero reference for the electrical service

– Provide a low resistance path to protect from electrical faults

 – Protect equipment against static electricity and protect against frame potential for
personnel safety

• The Three key components of a single ground Electrode are;

– Resistance between the Ground Electrode and Clamp

– Resistance of contact between soil and rod

– Resistance of Concentric Shells of earth

• Effect of the Soil on Electrode resistance

– Soil conditions, and soil types

• Sandy soils have higher resistance than clay or loam

• Moist soils are better than dryer conditions

– Environmental moisture and temperature

Is it rainy season or the middle of a hot dry summer?

Is it winter and there is permanent frost? Conditions change throughout the year and have a significant
impact on the readings.

Test Methods

• Ground Electrode

– Typically measured only at installation

• In truth very seldom tested by installers.

• Only one out of 10 say they test single point ground Electrodes, in an informal
survey

– Methods of testing the ground electrode

• Fall of potential test (FOP) also known as the 3 point and or the 62% tests.

• Ground resistance clamps

Theory

• Fall of Potential, 3-point measurement

 – Fall of potential instrument measures resistance through Ohms Law. It uses two
measuring circuits, voltage and current, to establish Resistance.

– The circuit is established through the soil by proper placement of a potential and a
current probe which are both connected to a common point, which in a 3-point
measurement is the Ground Electrode.

– The unit injects a known current between the C electrode and ground rod. This causes a
voltage to develop between the P electrode and ground rod. Using Ohms law, the
resistance is calculated.

Fall of Potential, 3-Point Test

Fall of Potential Testing

• Proper Probe Placement

– The goal is to place the auxiliary potential electrode far enough outside the effective
resistance areas of both the ground electrode and auxiliary current electrode
• Insufficient Placement of Potential probe

– If the potential electrode is to close it is said to be inside the “sphere of influence” of the
ground electrode and the resistance measurements will vary.

• Insufficient spacing of Current Probe

– If the current probe is placed too close, its electrical field will overlap the ground
electrode field, causing the potential probe to make a measurement in an electrical field
of overlapping area of influences.

• The ground electrode must be isolated from the electrical system

• It is important in doing this test that the probes are in a straight line

• To make certain that the measurement is not in the sphere of influence make 3 measurements

– First at 62%

– Second at 52%

– Third at 72%

• If there is a large difference in readings then adjust spacing of the probes. You are expecting 3
similar readings.
Ground Resistance Clamps

• Advantage is that the ground electrode doesn’t need to be disconnected from the electrical
system.

• The jaws of the clamp must be placed in the electrical path of the systems grounding conductor
or around the rod itself.

• If voltage (E) is applied to any measured grounding probe R(X) through a special transformer ,
current (I) flowing through the circuit can be measured , thereby establishing an equation which
can be used to calculate R(x)

– E/I=RX. If E is kept constant, then through the use of a CT, current can be detected and
the resistance of the ground electrode circuit may be calculated.

• Make sure you have a clean, clear connection of the clamp around the ground.

• Select and measure the current first, if current is > 5 amps, resistance can’t be measured using
the ground clamp tester. Note that high currents present on the ground are dangerous and need
to be corrected.
TWO POINT MEASUREMENT:
 This is an alternative method when an excellent ground is already available.
 In congested areas where finding room to drive the two auxiliary rods may be a problem, the
two-point measurement method may be applied.
 The reading obtained will be that of the two grounds in series. Therefore, the water pipe or
other ground must be very low in resistance so that it will be negligible in the final
measurement.
 The lead resistances will also be measured and should be deducted from the final
measurement.
 This method is not as accurate as three-point methods (62% method), as it is particularly
affected by the distance between the tested electrode and the dead ground or water pipe. This
method should not be used as a standard procedure, but rather as a back-up in tight areas.
THREE POINT MEASUREMENT:
FOUR POINT MEASUREMENT:
 Ohmmeter measurements are normally made with just a two -point measurement method.
 However, when measuring very low values of ohms, in the milli- or micro -ohm range, the two
-point method is not satisfactory because test lead resistance becomes a significant factor.
 A similar problem occurs when making ground mat resistance tests, because long lead lengths
of up to 1000 feet are used. Here also, the lead resistance, due to long lead length, will affect
the measurement results.
 The four-point resistance measurement method eliminates lead resistance. Instruments based
on the four-point measurement work on the following principle:
· Two current leads, C1 and C2, comprise a two-wire current source that circulates
current through the resistance under test.
· Two potential leads, P1 and P2, provide a two-wire voltage measurement circuit that
measures the voltage drop across the resistance under test. The instrument computes
the value of resistance from the measured values of current and voltage