5/23/2015

Ampere Protection Services LLP, Gurgaon.

CHOICE OF ELECTRODE
MYTHS and FACTS of Electrode size and
resultant calculation of Resistance as per
standard formulas.
Does soil condition parameter taken into
consideration at all ?
Are we giving proper disclosures to
vendors for quoting in tenders?

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 Ampere Protection Services LLP, Gurgaon. 5/23/2015

COPPER PLATE ELECTRODE RESISTANCE

To examine this, let us consider a Copper

plate electrode of size 1.2m x 1.2m x
3.15mm thick. Assuming a soil resistivity of
100 Ohm-m, the resistance of this electrode
to earth will be:

100 3.14
R = ----- ---- Ohms = ------ x -------
A A 2.88 2.88
= 36.27 Ohms
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 5/23/2015
Ampere Protection Services, LLP.
Gurgaon .

GI PIPE ELECTRODE RESISTANCE

Now, consider a GI Pipe Electrode of 50 mm
Diameter and 3 m Long. Assuming a soil
resistivity of 100 Ohm-m, the resistance of this
electrode to earth will be:
100 4l
R = ------- loge ---- Ohms
2l d
100 x 100 4 x 300
= ------------------ x loge -----------
2 x 3.14 x 300 5
= 29.09 .

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 Ampere Protection Services LLP, Gurgaon. 5/23/2015

COPPER PLATE COST 3.5 TIMES

MORE THAN GI !
As can be seen from the above calculation
the GI Pipe electrode offers a much lesser
resistance than even a copper plate
electrode !
IS 3043 too acknowledges this fact vide Cl.
9.1.1, wherein it states that a pipe, rod or
strip has a much lower resistance than a
plate of equal surface area.
IEEE 80 2000 mentions Cu-coated solid
rod electrode in clause 14.5.d
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 Ampere Protection Sevices LLP, Gurgaon 5/23/2015

EARTHING MYTHS & FACTS

Variation of
Soil Resistivity
with Moisture
Content

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

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 Ampere Protection Services LLP, Gurgaon. 5/23/2015

EARTHING MYTHS & FACTS

Myth: More water, less resistance; It is
observed that in some installations, to bring
down the earth resistance value, buckets
water & salt solution is poured into the earth
pit (that too, days just before the authorities
are due to arrive for inspecting the
installation! )the temporary methods do not
serve long term purposes. NaCl Sodium
Chloride is perishable & gets absorbed in soil
within 2 to 3 weeks! So much for rectification!

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 Ampere Protection Services LLP, Gurgaon. 5/23/2015

EARTHING MYTHS & FACTS

Fact: The resistance to earth of a given
earth electrode depends upon the electrical
resistivity of the soil in which it is installed or
the conductive properties of the soil.
Moisture content is one of the controlling
factors of earth resistivity. The maximum
dissipation is from the bottom part of the
electrode rather than the top part, hence
thats the part which should be in contact
with conductive soil (with moisture content)
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 Ampere Protection Services LLP, Gurgaon. 5/23/2015

EARTHING MYTHS & FACTS

It must be noted that the additive substance/
ground enhancement materials would reduce
the resistivity of the soil, only when it is
dissolved with the moisture in the soil/ slurry
form. Dry additives do not serve any purpose
at all. So, there is no point again, in just filling
up the pit with salt & charcoal which is a
perishable item and does not last long. COST
of maintenance must be taken into account
when doing cost-benefit/ ROI analysis.
Clients have started asking for extended DLP

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 Ampere Protection Services LLP, Gurgaon . 5/23/2015

EARTHING MYTHS & FACTS

Fact: The moisture balancing(hygroscopic) chemical

manufactured as per IEEE 80 2000, clause 14.5D is
CUREC+, inventors/manufacturers are MEPL in the
UAE (Sharjah). The company gives corporate
guarantee for earthing resistance and through its
channel partners undertakes regular AMC for
upgradations of earthing systems of Telecom,sub-
stations, transmission lines etc. The product is tested
as per CPRI test standards, also fulfills international
specs as Neutral pH and non-hazardous to soil.
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 Ampere Protection Services LLP, Gurgaon 5/23/2015

EARTHING MYTHS & FACTS

Myth: Deeper the

earth pit and
longer the earth
pipe/rod, lesser
will be the
resistance

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 Ampere Protection Services LLP, Gurgaon. 5/23/2015

EARTHING MYTHS & FACTS

Fact: The resistance to earth of a pipe or rod
electrode diminishes rapidly within the first few feet
of driving, but less so at depths greater than 2 to
3m in soil of uniform resistivity. As can be seen from
the graph, after about 4m depth, there is no
appreciable change in resistance to earth of the
electrode. UL listed cu-coated rods (as per IEEE 80
2000, Clause 14.5 d) are recommended for easy
driving and for ROCKY SOILS a number of rods in
parallel are to be preferred to a single long rod for
achieving permanent earth values that improve
.over time- with help of special chemicals.
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