Earth Ground Tests

Would it matter whether the work equipment were a shovel, a Megger test box, a motor car, a fighter aircraft or an ocean-going cruise ship?

• If training is required in the use of workplace equipment, always ask for it.
• The organisation must have accept/improve criteria for this sort of thing. Ask for them.

It is in the organisation's best interests to ensure that employees have the correct training for the equipment to be used. To do otherwise is foolhardy, and in some jurisdictions can open the door to prosecution of the 'controlling mind' in the event of some mishap.

Thanks... you could not possibly be management with that mentalilty...

Give 'em what for!

I am using this venue, experience, and a couple of books to get the concrete essentials of this task... i have this at the bottom of my company e-mail signature: I have done so much with so little for so long, I am now qualified to do absolutely anything with absolutely nothing." Unknown Marine, Khe Sanh have a great day.

You could always take the readings & hand the list to your boss saying you don't know the criteria for a good or bad earth then let him make the decision.

Just out of interest, the ground earth on our storage container is checked every year & must be less that 1 ohm.

Don't know anything about the Digital Megger, sorry.

I have heard about this problem with lightning strike and cell sites for a while now. I thought that there was some kind on consensus on what can be done to minimize the effects. It strikes me (pun intended) as odd that planes get hit by lightning all the time without any damage. From what I've heard, the last plane to go down because of lightning was in 1967! Surely there must be a way to protect cell sites.

Most of the issues I have heard about where from the generator control boards blowing up. A company is always replacing controller boards because one of the microcontrollers get's zapped and you can't just buy the micro, you have to buy the entire board. Have you been able to pin point what component is being destroyed? If it's a microcontroller, then the board needs a revision to protect it from spikes or switch to a more robust chip that can handle larger ESD and EMI.

My theory is that the power lines from the generator to the cell site are the problem. They usually go out from the generator above ground level, then go underground (not sure how deep), then back up above ground level and into the cell site. Not sure if eliminating the exposure of the power lines to the "outside" of both cabinets would have any effect. Just a theory nothing more.

They always seem to blame the installers for the problems anyways.

Check out this site though. Cell site damage

THIS was the type of informatation I was looking for--the link you provided "cell site damage" was just what the doctor ordered. You seem to have the same theory that I have except that the commercial power is fed via underground cable. The antenna towers have all been under 1Ω and in the star configuration. It is only when we get to the Telco Cabinet that we start running into issues of 10-15+Ω readings. I have printed the information from that link and it will give me a better idea of what I am looking for...Have a great day, Chris

Buy a Fluke Multifunction tester Type 1653 and follow the instructions. No I dont work for Fluke or sell their products I am a practicing Domestic electrician.

"If all else fails do the job correctly with the correct tools"

This seems like the ticket, however, I am not the guy that writes the checks to buy tools... believe me, 'cause, if that were the case, I would have a 401k with Fluke!

Hey Mac9, I called Fluke about the 1653 and it can't be purchased in the colonies . Apparently there are a couple of European tests that are required there but not here... at any rate, thanks again...Chris