daytonajim00
Member
- Location
- Royal Palm Beach, FL
Hello everyone,
I've been a following the forums for years now and have finally joined.
For whatever reason, grounding and bonding seems like the most misunderstood sections in the electrical field- at least on the construction end. Either I understand some things wrong or most other electricians I've met do. The specific topics I most frequently get into debates about are as follows:
An electrical system must have a grounding electrode system. Grounding electrodes are buried metal, like ground rods, water pipe, etc., per NEC, that connect to our electrical system, offering zero potential to ground.
Why do we make a purposeful connection to earth is where the debate comes in. Many responses are "to clear faults" or "to assist in opening a breaker during a fault" or "to protect against electrical shock".
I thought our connection to earth has nothing to do with clearing a fault. So let's consider a fault: electricity needs a path back to its source to flow. During a fault current flows onto the intentionally bonded surface, back to the main bounding jumper, on to the neutral, offering a complete circuit (home) of low resistance at which point a properly functioning breaker will trip.
So what is the point of the ground rod (GE) then?
I always thought a ground rod- or any other GE's main purpose is to offer zero potential between the bonded metal parts of our electrical system and earth. This is done to quickly 'drain' foreign voltages like lightning, static, and other abnormal surges."
I've read other reasons why the GE system is required... As far as tethering our service down to stabilize voltages during normal operation I'm not sure about. I've installed systems that were not bonded by design. These were operating room SDS's in hospitals where the neutral was always completely floating. Voltages seemed fine.
I think a lot of confusion comes from the word 'ground' and people automatically think earth. I think they see the ground rods as the 'master component' of the equipment grounds we usually include throughout the system. Add to the mix the 'grounded conductor' (neutral) and most apprentices get totally lost. I was for the first four years. I was never taught correctly.
So what I'm saying is please correct me if I'm wrong. 95% of the electricians I've met think the GE system has something to do with the voltages we use (utility or emergency standby).
What does the community think?
I've been a following the forums for years now and have finally joined.
For whatever reason, grounding and bonding seems like the most misunderstood sections in the electrical field- at least on the construction end. Either I understand some things wrong or most other electricians I've met do. The specific topics I most frequently get into debates about are as follows:
An electrical system must have a grounding electrode system. Grounding electrodes are buried metal, like ground rods, water pipe, etc., per NEC, that connect to our electrical system, offering zero potential to ground.
Why do we make a purposeful connection to earth is where the debate comes in. Many responses are "to clear faults" or "to assist in opening a breaker during a fault" or "to protect against electrical shock".
I thought our connection to earth has nothing to do with clearing a fault. So let's consider a fault: electricity needs a path back to its source to flow. During a fault current flows onto the intentionally bonded surface, back to the main bounding jumper, on to the neutral, offering a complete circuit (home) of low resistance at which point a properly functioning breaker will trip.
So what is the point of the ground rod (GE) then?
I always thought a ground rod- or any other GE's main purpose is to offer zero potential between the bonded metal parts of our electrical system and earth. This is done to quickly 'drain' foreign voltages like lightning, static, and other abnormal surges."
I've read other reasons why the GE system is required... As far as tethering our service down to stabilize voltages during normal operation I'm not sure about. I've installed systems that were not bonded by design. These were operating room SDS's in hospitals where the neutral was always completely floating. Voltages seemed fine.
I think a lot of confusion comes from the word 'ground' and people automatically think earth. I think they see the ground rods as the 'master component' of the equipment grounds we usually include throughout the system. Add to the mix the 'grounded conductor' (neutral) and most apprentices get totally lost. I was for the first four years. I was never taught correctly.
So what I'm saying is please correct me if I'm wrong. 95% of the electricians I've met think the GE system has something to do with the voltages we use (utility or emergency standby).
What does the community think?
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