Jef Techno Solutions Pvt Limited,

(formerly Jef Marketing (P) Ltd.)

COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES OF EARTH SYSTEMS

Sl. Parameter Jef Ecosafe Chemical Grounding
No.
Brief description of the system 17.2 mm dia, 2 mtrs or 3 mtrs long electrode made of Various types of Earth electrodes like Pipe in Pipe / Plate in Pipe, etc
high tensile low carbon steel circular rod, molecularly along with unknown chemical backfill compound around electrode
bonded copper having a thickness of 250 microns on the which are likely to seep into the earth
1 outer surface. The rod conforms to UL 467-2007. The
backfill compound is ecofriendly

2 Special ground electrode which is molecular copper Normal MS pipe with 100 micron galvanization and filled with unknown
Type of electrode bonded steel rod with UL approval / marking chemical mixture.
3 Basic Principle Technology is in the Backfill Technology in electrode
Applicable Standard for electrode The electrode is manufactured, tested and approved as
4 per UL 467 Standard, UL467, IEEE 80, IEC 60364, IS
3043
Manafacturer's standard only
5 Applicable standard for Backfill BS-7430, IEEE-80, IS-3043 Manafacturer's standard only
6 Type of Backfill Carbonacious Backfill Bentonite based Backfill
Type of conduction Electrically conductive through flow of electrons (Like in In this type of Earthing solutions with Jelly and/or Chemical back fill
metals) and is not depend on moisture to dissipate the compound Ground Enhancing Compound they are mixed with soil while
fault & lightning currents pouring.Most of these compounds themselves have a soil content like
Bentonite clay etc. Any type of soil will always follow ionic conduction.
7 Ie., they require an electrolyte & moisture to conduct. Hence periodic
watering is necessary & also the electrolyte & moisture accelerates the
corrosion of the primary electrode.

Backfill compound and its effect on environment Special environment friendly backfill compound which The backfill compound and the chemical mixture in electrode use
/ Primary electrode does not react with electrode & does not harm unknown chemicals which can harm the environment. Besides the
8
environment. corrosion of primary electrode happens due to salt water in soil.
 Pollution of ground water LORESCO POWERFIL grounding backfills used by us No certification available. Unknown chemicals used can pollute ground
is safe for use near potable ground water sources. It water leading to dangerous consequences on people.
carries ANSI/NSF Standard 60 certification to this effect.
9

Diffusing / Leaching into ground Will not leech/diffuse in to the ground because of its Will migrate & leach in to the ground over a period of time reduces the
10 hardening characteristics. efficiency of the system progressively. Source: IS 3043-1984 (Page 17
& Para 8.6)
Effect in dry condition No Effect in dry conditions GEC (Ground Enhancing Compound)/Moisture Booster retains the
moisture up to 18 to 20 times its dry volume.  It means, in the absence
of moisture, it will shrink over time and possibly pull away from the
11
ground and/ ground system causing the system to go to high resistance
or OHOMIC value.  Ref: Clause 14.5 (a) of IEEE-80

Effect of compound on earth electrode Not mixed with soil while pouring. The Powerfill
12 compound does not react with copper. Hence, it does
not harm the electrode
Effect of back fill on PH value of soil JEF Eco Safe Earthing Solutions are purely Activated
Carbon based. So it is not depended on pH value for
quick dissipation of fault & lightning currents and there is
no influence of changing of atmospheric temperature.
13
Mixed with soil when backfilling. Hence soil will react with electrode and
life of grounding goes down over a period.
It depends on electrolytic function that’s why the pH value of Ground
Enhancing Compound should be within the range of 6.9 to 7.2 of
1000gm / lit @ 20º C for properly & efficiently dissipates the fault
current & lightning current. But, due to tropical characteristic of
atmospheric temperature GEC are not able to maintain low resistivity of
sounding soil of the Earthing pit.
[Source: IS 3043-1984 ( Page-17 Para 8.7)]

14 Life Expectancy 15+ years Known to have lesser life as the resistance increases.
Cost Very cost effective if we take into accounting the long life Generally expensive over the conventional system.
15
it offers over all the other systems
16 Maintenance Not required at all Will May be required intermittently
Reliability of the grounding system Very stable for a long period. Carbon is one of the most These backfills will leach or diffuse into the earth & will loose their
17 stable substances known to man & doesn’t degrade for property in a few years time.
decades.