Ground Rod

The importance of ground rods

Grounding rods play an important role in lightning protection projects to ensure that the conductor is in full contact with the earth to smoothly discharge current. Copper-clad steel ground rods are commonly used materials and are suitable for general and special environments, such as humid, saline-alkali, and acidic soils. Pure copper grounding rods are lightning protection devices that can lead lightning to the ground and reduce possible harm caused by lightning. Installing equipotential grounding rods can ensure the safety of personnel and equipment and plays an important role in national standards. Copper-plated ground rods reach deep underground through impact drills and have high strength and corrosion resistance to ensure long working life. Its thickness and structure are designed to reduce ground resistance and are suitable for connecting multiple rods into one ground rod of appropriate length.

Ground rod

The role of ground rods in electrical safety

Lightning protection: The grounding rod can guide lightning to the ground, reduce the damage that lightning may cause, and protect buildings and equipment from lightning strikes.

Ensure equipment safety: By making full contact with the earth, ground rods ensure the normal operation of equipment and prevent fires or other safety issues caused by static electricity accumulation or short circuits.

Reduce ground resistance: A good grounding system can reduce ground resistance, ensure smooth flow of current, and avoid electrical problems caused by poor grounding.

Maintenance service life: Regular maintenance and upkeep of the ground rod, such as cleaning the surface, checking the connection parts, conducting ground resistance tests, etc., can extend its service life and ensure the reliability and safety of the system.

What is a ground rod?

The grounding rod is an important grounding device. Its working principle is to ensure that the conductor is in full contact with the earth to ensure the smooth discharge of current. The common grounding rod material is copper-clad steel, that is, the surface of the steel is plated with copper, which combines the high conductivity of copper with the characteristics of steel. Through this design, the grounding rod can effectively reduce the grounding resistance and ensure smooth discharge of current, thereby preventing static electricity accumulation, short circuit and other problems. In addition, the role of the grounding wire is to connect the zero-point potential of the earth to electrical equipment, so that the equipment is always at a safe potential and prevents sudden calls from causing harm to staff and equipment. Exothermic welding plays an important role in copper-clad steel ground rods to increase the service life of the grounding device and make it a maintenance-free grounding system device.

Types of ground rods

There are many types of ground rod materials and raw materials, among which the common ones are copper-clad steel ground rods and pure copper ground rods. Copper-clad steel grounding rods are suitable for general environments as well as special environments such as humid, saline-alkali, acidic soils, etc., and do not require anti-corrosion treatment. Pure copper grounding rods are a lightning protection device that can lead lightning to the ground, reducing the possible consequences of lightning. hazards. These grounding rods are designed with different production processes and materials to ensure their corrosion resistance, stability and long working life to reduce grounding resistance and ensure the safety of personnel and equipment.

Performance comparison table of copper-plated steel, pure copper, galvanized steel and stainless steel grounding systems

Advantages of pure copper ground rod products

• High conductivity: The conductivity is 10 times that of copper-plated steel grounding rods of the same diameter and length. It is the best grounding rod material with better conductivity available.

• Smooth appearance: Craftsmen use skilled machine tools to create burr-free copper rod bodies, and then use advanced manufacturing processes to present a flawless surface.

• Convenient installation: The installation and construction are simple, can be constructed manually or mechanically, and the installation cost is more economical.

• Long service life: The corrosion rate of copper in soil is about 1/10~1/50 of steel, which is more than 3 times the corrosion resistance of galvanized steel, and its electrical performance is stable.The service life is more than 60 years.

Advantages of copper-plated ground rod products

• Electrical conductivity: The current skin effect makes the electroplated copper ground rod have the same electrical conductivity as the copper rod of the same specification;

• Manufacturing process: Produced using advanced electroplating technology, the copper-plated layer will not fall off, warp or crack when bent 180 degrees;

• Excellent anti-corrosion performance: the thickness of the copper plating layer is greater than 0.254mm, strong corrosion resistance, and long service life (more than 50 years);

• Practicality: Suitable for grounding construction in soils with different temperatures, temperatures, pH and resistivity changes;

• Connection: Use special connecting pipes or exothermic welding to ensure strong joints and good stability;

• Easy and fast installation: complete accessories and convenient installation, which can effectively improve construction efficiency;

• Improve the grounding depth: The special connection transmission method can penetrate 35 meters underground to meet the low resistance requirements of special occasions;

• Low construction cost: Compared with the traditional construction method of using pure copper grounding rods and grounding strips, the cost has dropped significantly.

Ground rod design and installation

Ground rod

Copper plated ground rod technical parameters

• The thickness of copper plating layer is ≥0.254mm.

• Tensile strength 60000n/cm2.

• Straightness error ≤1mm/m.

• Plasticity of the copper layer: When the ground rod (wire) is bent at 30 degrees, there will be no cracks on the inner and outer edges of the corners.

• Bonding degree of the copper layer: After the adhesion test, except for the copper layer peeling off at the bite of the vise, the remaining parts of the copper and steel are well bonded and no peeling occurs. The grounding rod can be connected to the required length, and the grounding rod can go 30m deep into the ground without being affected by any climate conditions (such as drought and frost) that may increase soil resistivity and grounding resistance.

Maintenance and inspection of ground rods

Ground rod

Care and maintenance methods for ground rods are critical to ensure their long-term effective operation. Common maintenance methods include regularly cleaning the surface of the ground rod, checking whether the connection parts are loose or rusty, and ensuring the integrity of the grounding system. Additionally, regular ground resistance testing is a critical maintenance step to ensure the reliability and safety of your grounding system. Exothermic welding is a common connection method that can increase the service life of grounding devices, especially for copper-clad steel ground rods. Copper-clad steel single-strand soft round wire is also commonly used for grounding and lightning protection under different soil conditions, and is suitable for grounding connection needs in various environments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

In the field of modern electrical engineering, ground rods are not only synonymous with safety, but also a guarantee of reliability and performance. They silently guard our living and working environment, ensuring that every current flow is safe. Choosing a high-quality grounding rod means choosing to respect and protect life and property. The ground rods we provide are carefully designed and rigorously tested to meet the most stringent industrial standards, whether in terms of corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity or thermal stability. We promise that every ground rod will provide a solid foundation for your electrical system with its excellent performance. Let us join hands to create a safer and more stable electrical future. Contact us today and let our team of professionals tailor a grounding solution that best suits your needs. Safe grounding starts with choosing us.

Jinmai Fasteners specializes in the production of accessories for the power industry and exports to global regions all year round. Welcome to inquire and visit the factory.