You’d Better Not Forget About Ground Testing
Consider all the possible options for maintaining the electrical systems at your facility. Choosing one essential option is difficult. They all come together to protect your equipment and employees.
Of the many tests to consider, do not overlook ground testing; it is a vital part of electrical maintenance.
Ground Testing
Ground testing is not a single test. Instead, it includes two different types of tests when bringing the equipment online.
- The first checks to make sure of the correct installation of the electrical system.
- The second checks that the grounding system is functioning correctly.
Make sure to perform the ground testing thoroughly and properly. Hire a trained professional who uses quality and appropriate testing equipment. Finding and solving problems is their job. If the technician is not qualified for ground testing and makes an error, the end result is expensive.
Grounding and Bonding
Many people use the terms grounding and bonding interchangeably. But there are differences between the two.
Grounding
To energize your electrical equipment, the energy travels through the load line and then a neutral connection back to the source. Grounding provides a secondary path for the electricity to go through the path of least resistance.
In doing so, the process safeguards the equipment from damage and workers from electrical shocks.
Bonding
The concept of bonding is somewhat different than grounding. Bonding provides a connection to the ground for the electrical systems. Even using the highest-quality grounding system does you no good if there is no bonding.
The opposite is true. If you bond your electrical system but don’t ground, it provides no protection.
Issues with Improper Grounding
An improperly grounded electrical system creates many issues. Among them:
- Voltage surges and spikes
- Electrical shock
- Discharge from energy building up over time
In Sum
Ground testing involves two aspects: checking the electric systems installation and ground system. Make it part of your routine maintenance program because the electrical system bonding loosens over time.
Originally published at L&S Electric.
