Earth Rite Operation

I've never used one but it looks like a very robust system... From Google...

http://www.newson-gale.com/OurProducts/EarthRite.asp

How one of their products works...

http://www.newson-gale.com/Documents/ng_uk_ettg_3.pdf

There's much more info on the latter page.

I saw that page. But thing is I really want to know about the in-depth of how it work, how it will kill the static and how it will "measure" the static.

I never took one apart but I found another site that does a really good job of explaining how to measure the surface charge of an object and calculate the static potential...

http://www.trifield.com/content/electrostatic-formulas/

As far "killing the static" the trick is to dissipate the charge without creating a spark that has any potential for ignition. My guess is that their systems perform some combination of at least five functions in the following order depending upon the product type:

Measuring the static charge on the object to be grounded

Creating a spark-free very high impedance path to ground to drain the initial charge

Creating a spark-free very low resistance path to ground to make sure the charge doesn't rise again

Monitoring the integrity of that path by injecting a small current into it to ensure it doesn't get broken

Monitoring the the surface charge to see that it doesn't build up faster than it can be safely dissipated

If anybody has first hand knowledge of the guts of these things I'll stand aside and learn with the rest of the contributors.

It really isn't anything complicated, think of it as a standard earth clamp for bonding metal to ground (the purpose of which is to both discharge any initial static build up and also to bleed off any of the static charge that builds up due to (for example) liquid or powder flowing across metal surfaces).

The main think that makes the Earth-Rite different to a standard earth clamp is that it monitors the earthing circuit for continuity (between the two metal prongs on the head of the clamp with respect to a solid earth reference connection also connected to the Earth-Rite control box) to ensure the user knows there is a low impedance path to earth.

It is also fitted with contacts to interlock equipment (for example a petrol pump) in the event the clamp is not (or is poorly) connected on to the metal object preventing the pump from working if the user forgets to connect the clamp.

Hope that is clear enough, exact electrical circuit operation is proprietary information.

_{Jack - One of the Newson Gale distributors and had to fix one in the field once.}

Static electricity is generated due to various reasons and when this static electricity is discharged it can cause explosion in explosive and chemical operating process. Similarly while loading and unloading petroleum products any static discharge can cause fire and explosion . To safeguard against such dangerous static electricity discharge, proper static earthing have to be provided at such installations and during carrying out of such operations to avoid accident. Earth Rite static ground monitoring and interlock protections are installed to ensure that static earthing is ensured during such hazardous processing and handling operations. Many products are available in the market to ensure fool proof system to ensure continuous earthing for these installations and operations to give earth rite protection while carrying out these operations.