"Grounding" grids

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peter d

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New England
Many power generation facilities, substations, large buildings, etc, have a large grounding grid consisting of 4/0 stranded copper and 10' ground rods, laid on the ground, cad welded or irreversibly burndied together, adjacent to the buildings and connecting anything metal together.

What is the purpose of this? :confused:

Does it really do anything other than waste huge amounts of natural resources?

[ January 07, 2006, 11:30 PM: Message edited by: peter d ]
 
Re: "Grounding" grids

Pete grounding electrodes do provide a ground fault path at the voltage levels found at a substation.

I think the idea is just the same as the equipotential grounding grid required now around pools. The idea being the ground (crushed rocks) you are standing on will be at the same potential as all the rest of the bonded objects even if the bonding grid is at a higher potential than 'earth'.

Besides the grid would also make a nice 'collection' point for all sorts of stray current the utility multi-grounded neutral system 'leaves about'. :(
 
Re: "Grounding" grids

Does it really do anything other than waste huge amounts of natural resources?

Not at all.
The concept is in a ground fault is to elevate the earth voltage to minimize step potential. Also important is the type of gravel used.
More information on this is in the IEEE Green Book
 
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