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0439 823 190Earthing Testing & Earthing Installation – What Are They?
Posted on November 6, 2020
The tasks of earthing installation and earthing testing are important in keeping people, electrical systems and appliances safe. When a leak in current or spike in voltage occurs, the electric grounding systems work to stop this high electrical supply. If someone touches these metal parts when the increase of electrical currents occur, it can result in devastating effects. The Local Electrician is here to perform earthing testing and installation of grounding systems around Sydney with our Emergency Electrician team. This is an essential part of our electrical inspections service.
Undergoing earthing installation and earthing testing will help protect people and electrical devices from leakage currents. Earthing installation involves placing the earthing system into the ground and connected to the power supply system. Earthing testing is where a qualified electrician will test the system to ensure that it is protecting the property.
Why is Earthing Installed?
The main reasons why earthing systems are installed into properties is to protect from high voltage issues. The system offers a low impedance path when faults within the electrical equipment and network occur. Earthing conductors are connected to electrical equipment with the earthing electrode being inserted into the ground.
Protective earthing conductors will assist in reducing the chance that injury or damages occur from electrical faults. When faults occur, non-current metals, such as fences or frames, might travel this leakage of voltage if not grounded. If a person would touch these types of equipment then they would experience an electrical shock. When the metallic equipment is connected to an earthing system then the electrical fault will lead to the ground.
How is Earthing Installed?
The general overview of how earthing installation carries out often follows these steps:
- A pit is dug up in the ground where it is 1.5m by 1.5m and the hole is dug 6-9m below the surface. The ground and any structures can influence how large the hole is or how much ground is dug up.
- A copper plate is buried in the hole which is placed in a vertical position.
- The earth leads are tightened by nut bolts on two different areas on the earth plate. Two earth leads are used with each earth plate and are tightened. Grease is also applied to the joints to help protect them from corrosion.
- A pipe is situated 30cm above the surface ground which contains the wires of the earth electrode.
- A 30cm layer of powdered charcoal with lime mixture is placed around the earth plate. This layer will help with keeping the moisture levels good around the earth plate.
- Wires are connected tightly through using nut bolts and thimble. These wires are of the bed plates of machines where each machine will be earthed in two different places. This distance of the electrodes is a minimum of 3m.
- Connected to the earth lead is the earth continuity conductor. It is connected to the metallic parts and the body of the earth lead.
Tests methods occur once the installation of the earthing system has completed and connected to the main electrical power system and switchboard.
How are Earthing Systems Tested?
Earthing testing is an important process which will test the effectiveness of the current earthing system. A qualified electrician will undergo the process following the correct standards and rules so the earthing testing process is successful. Below are the different types of earthing testing which electricians will choose and is best fit for the specific system.
Injection Test
This test will aim at testing the performance and safety levels of the grounding system. A replicated fault is used to measure the system where a circuit is created. This replicated fault aims to mirror what a real fault would look like but kept at a smaller level. Injecting the higher frequency into the system will let the electrician know if the system is protecting from the fault.
Three-Point Resistance Test
The measurements of the resistance within an earth grid are tested through this method. The specific equipment is connected to an earth grid and also the electrodes. A current will pass through the grids to measure the voltage between the point and the grid.
This implied resistance is measured while the test is overall quick to perform. It will provide a good indication of how the earth grid is functioning but not any potential hazards.
Loop Impedance Test
A meter is used to test the impedance of a circuit by using the earth loops. The electrode is connected to a cable to another electrode to measure the current in the cable. The impedance of the circuit is measured through this method of earthing testing. This test is fast, cheap and can offer good insights into any issues or problems within the earthing system.
Soil Resistance Testing
The resistivity of the soil where the earthing system is located is tested through this measure. Also testing the soil layering, this test will see how resistant the soil is towards stopping high voltages. Most commonly the process has four temporary electrodes inserted into the soil and tested with demo currents. This type of test is also used during the design phase of the earthing system to know if the soil is perfect.
Continuity Testing
This method is one of the more effective methods to test the physician conditioning of the earthing system. It tests how each individual part is and their connection levels to identify any problems as well. Corrosion, loose bolts to inadvertent separations or connections are seen through this method.
For more information on grounding testing and why it is performed our blog provides further detailed insights.
Expert Earthing Testing and Installation Services
The Local Electrician is available for Sydney residents to perform earthing testing and earthing installation services. Our professional electricians are all fully qualified and certified to perform these earthing jobs in any residential or commercial property. With over 25 years of experience in the electrical field, we promise to perform the earthing tests and installations accurately and safely.
Our earthing testing and installation services are offered to all of Sydney, including Greater Western Sydney and the Eastern Suburbs. We also offer reliable Level 2 Electrician services where our workers will undergo more advanced types of work.
For professional earthing installation and earthing testing services in Sydney – contact The Local Electrician now on 0439 823 190!
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