Improperly grounded equipment can kill! It is very important to ground equipment properly to ensure that in the event of a lightning strike or other electrical catastrophe, that the equipment does not kill anyone. Lightning strikes carry an enormous electrical pulse that can cause electrical and static buildup. This must be safely dispersed to prevent harm to both people and equipment.

Ground equipment properly!: Grounding equipment is a way of diverting a lightning strike directly into the earth (ground) by providing a very easy path for the lightning directly into the ground. This is accomplished by providing a thick wire pathway (grounding wire) directly from the equipment, to the grounding mechanism. The grounding mechanism is usually either a long metal rod driven straight down into the ground or a metal plate buried several feet down into the ground, below the level of ground water in the soil. This ensures that the current is carried directly to damp earth beneath the soil surface, where the electrical pulse is dispersed. The diagram below and explanations that follow explain how to properly ground your equipment.

Grounding Rod installation: A grounding rod, is generally a 5/8" copper rod, about eight feet long. To be installed correctly, it must be sledge-hammered straight down into the earth so that it contacts the moisture level of the soil.

Grounding Plate Installation: If the soil is extremely hard or other conditions such as rocky land make it such that it is impossible to install grounding rods, then a grounding plate may be used instead. Grounding plates are generally thick copper or steel plates, about three feet square. There is generally a peg or place for mounting the grounding wire. Like the grounding rods, these must be installed below the moisture level of the ground in order to be effective. If the lightning pulse makes it down the ground wire, but not into moist ground, there is little place for the electricity to travel, so a static charge may remain. This is because moist ground carries electricity far better than dry ground. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that the grounding plate or grounding rod be installed below the moisture level.

Grounding to existing metal plumbing: As with interior grounding methods, grounding cables may be attached to exterior existing METAL plumbing. Dig down below the level of the earth, and attach the grounding cable to the metal plumbing using a grounding clamp. Clean any earth off of the plumbing before attaching the wire and clamp, to ensure that there is a sound electrical connection to the pipe.

The grounding cable: Special grounding cable is sold, either bare, or coated. It must be at least #6 thickness, and must be attached firmly and securely, both to the equipment being grounded, and to the grounding mechanism - either the grounding rod or plate. This will ensure that the lightning pulse dissipates correctly through the grounding system, as the path of least resistance.