Effective Equipment Grounding - The EPG Connection is here!

EPG Connection - Your Source for Environmental & Industrial Solutions

April 2023

Issue No. 153

In This Issue:

Effective Equipment Grounding

Conference Schedule

We'd like to give a big thanks to everyone who attended EPG's 2023 Service School. It was a pleasure hosting the event. We hope you found the hands-on exercises and information beneficial to your growth as an industry professional. To those of you who would like to participate in 2024, stay tuned for dates to be announced this fall.

Effective Equipment Grounding

One of several topics we cover during the "Demystifying Electrical Testing" Section of EPG's Service School is Grounding. Achieving circuit continuity and maintaining wire and connection integrity is critical to proper pumps & controls function but that may not matter if you have unreliable system ground. Here is just a sample of some of the talking points from last week's class.

Purpose of Grounding

For Safety
Lightning, Electrostatic Discharge, and Surge Protection
Performance

We test system ground for safety reasons, to protect both people and equipment.

What type of problems occur with poor installation & grounding practices?

System shutdowns
Inconsistent control of pumping systems
Sensor errors
Loss of communication between control devices
Damage to electrical/electronic equipment

Often times people confuse "Earth Grounding" and "Equipment Grounding" resulting in grounding practices that can lead to inefficient performance, costly downtime and maybe even unsafe working conditions. To learn more, check out this article here.

Grounding Installation Tip: The Best Ground Point is a Location Where Soil is Wet All of the Time.

How Do We Test System Ground?

A Ground Resistance Meter is designed to test a system ground. This meter measures the current leaking

through the ground wire. Think of it as a “more accurate” clamp-on meter measuring current. EPG can assist you in understanding when and how to use one of these meters.