Today’s digital economy relies on fast and reliable telecommunications networks. Such telecommunication towers are obvious and known targets for lightning strike damage, which has caused significant service downtime over the years. Therefore, protecting communications and meteorological towers should not be an option, but a necessity.
In this article we discuss the importance of grounding rod in the lightning protection system to protect communications and meteorological towers.
A good ground is very important, maybe the most important thing, in mitigating lightning damage; more energy diverted to ground means less can go through your electronics! But conventional grounding rod is typically insufficient for use where target resistance can be less than 1 ohm.
WHAT IS GROUNDING?
The NEC article 100 defines ground as:
“A conducting connection, whether intentional or unintentional, between electrical circuits or equipment and the earth, or some conducting body that serves in place of the earth".”
WHAT IS BONDING?
The NEC article 100 and 250-70 defines bonding as:
“The permanent joining of the metallic conducting parts of equipment and conductor enclosures to assure and electrically conductive path between them that will ensure electrical continuity and have sufficient capacity to safely conduct any foreign current likely to be imposed to ground.”
WHAT IS A GROUNDING ROD?
Ground rods in a well-conducting soil have a cylindrical region of influence around them with a diameter that extends roughly twice the length of the ground rod. This is the region in which the ground rod disperses lightning strike energy.
A ground rod is usually located very close to your main electrical service panel and is often made of copper or copper coated steel. They’re approximately ½” in diameter and eight to 10 feet in length. It must be electrically tied to your main service panel to provide an approved ground connection.
Proper Grounding and Bonding are Crucial
Efficient grounding systems reduce the risk of electrical arching and fires.
Our patented grounding rod improves reliability for many applications including:
- Lightning protection systems
- Prevention of accidents caused by static charge and stray currents
- Protection of central communications, electronics, and AC power systems
- Meeting grounding safety requirements for electrical substations
- Ground fault neutralization
- Safeguarding critical instrumentation and process control equipment
For detailed specifications on grounding rod or to get a quote contact LEC today!