How to build an Earth (Ground) Resistance Continuous Monitoring Device?

Hi Mamade,

mcb1 and michaelkellett  have made good points. If I am analyzing the physics correctly you have a problem whose solution will have undesirable side effects.

For Example:

To really test individual spikes you need to be able to isolate the spike from the grid.

Side Effect:The mechanism to isolate the spike will itself be another point of failure that will need to be tested.

To test a spike you need a test connection to ground that is assured and at least as good as the spike being tested.

Side Effect: The test is testing its own connection to ground as well as the Spike's ground.. I suspect that any test of a real ground spike with a conventional meter that has a reading of 0.8 ohms, or greater, is probably just reading its own wiring and connection to ground and not the actual spike and cable.

As Mark pointed out, just checking the Ohms to ground with a conventional ohmmeter  will not tell you if your conductor is heavy enough to handle system failure amperage.

Example: We can test and get 0.8 ohms of resistance to ground through a 3 meter 18 gauge wire but an 18 gauge wire may not handle the current of a system failure.

You may find a program of scheduled replacement and refitting of the spikes might be more cost effective than testing and waiting for a failure.

I at least can think of no magic testing circuit that will do what you are hoping for.

John

Hi Mamade,

mcb1 and michaelkellett  have made good points. If I am analyzing the physics correctly you have a problem whose solution will have undesirable side effects.

For Example:

To really test individual spikes you need to be able to isolate the spike from the grid.

Side Effect:The mechanism to isolate the spike will itself be another point of failure that will need to be tested.

To test a spike you need a test connection to ground that is assured and at least as good as the spike being tested.

Side Effect: The test is testing its own connection to ground as well as the Spike's ground.. I suspect that any test of a real ground spike with a conventional meter that has a reading of 0.8 ohms, or greater, is probably just reading its own wiring and connection to ground and not the actual spike and cable.

As Mark pointed out, just checking the Ohms to ground with a conventional ohmmeter  will not tell you if your conductor is heavy enough to handle system failure amperage.

Example: We can test and get 0.8 ohms of resistance to ground through a 3 meter 18 gauge wire but an 18 gauge wire may not handle the current of a system failure.

You may find a program of scheduled replacement and refitting of the spikes might be more cost effective than testing and waiting for a failure.

I at least can think of no magic testing circuit that will do what you are hoping for.

John