electrolytic grounding electrode

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Re: electrolytic grounding electrode

The phrase ?electrolytic ground? does not appear in the NEC. The two words are close to each other only once, and it is not in the context that I think you are asking about. Electrolytic Cells are the subject of Article 668, but here again I don?t think that is what you are seeking. I?m afraid that that is all the help I can offer.
 
Re: electrolytic grounding electrode

Electrolytic system:
An excellent alternative to both types of driven rod systems the Army now uses is what is commercially known as an electrolytic ground-rod system. This type of ground system, while intended for fixed-site operation, can also be easily adapted for use in tactical facilities. The actual ground electrode (rod) is a "hard-drawn" copper pipe that?s filled with a mixture of nonhazardous salts to increase electrical conductivity to the earth (see figure below). When commercially installed, the soil around the electrode is usually packed with dense clay called bentonite. This improves contact between earth and electrode even more, and also prevents the earth around the electrode from drying out and becoming less conductive.

Common electrolytic grounding system, manufactured by Lyncole Industries for the Defense Department.

While extensive ground preparation with bentonite may not be practical for tactical operations, it could be useful at many fixed and semifixed site locations the Army now uses. For tactical facilities such as TOCs that are often located over poorly conductive earth, such as arctic permafrost or desert sand, the electrolytic grounding rod is a vast improvement (ground five to eight times more conductive) when compared current rod or spike systems. If just two or three electrolytic rods and a ring-type ground system are installed in a typical Army TOC (see figure below), grounding performance in terms of the ability to provide a low-impedance path for fault DC and RF currents to earth will improve manyfold. The creation of this improved low-impedance path will also provide better protection from lightning, electromagnetic pulses and transient power surges. <big snip>
Click to expand...
The source of this quote is David Fiedler:
http://www.gordon.army.mil/AC/SUMR00/elecgrnd.HTM

This grounding system used to be patented and UL listed (starting in 1968). For more on that, check the Lyncole website

Also, try searching Google for
"electrolytic+ground"

[ December 04, 2003, 12:54 PM: Message edited by: awwt ]
 
Re: electrolytic grounding electrode

I think you are referring to a chemical ground rod system. There is no reference to it in the NEC. For NEC purposes it is no different than a ground rod.

Lyncole makes a good one called XIT.
 
Re: electrolytic grounding electrode

I have the US Army Grounding Handbook, its three inches thick on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. It states that in areas of permafrost, C-4 explosive can be used to excavate a hole for a ground rod. Don't try this at home.
 
Re: electrolytic grounding electrode

Tom;

In my somewhat mis-guided youth my brother and I use to make bombs for fun and games, no one knew and no one seemed to care when they went bang. Now a days they arrest teens for the same activities. I'm sure some of this teen activity is the same old fun and games my brother and I liked. But in this enviorment no one dares to chance that.

I grew up on Amry bases and the bangs were quite common ours and the military's.
 
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