By H. M. Smith, P. E., General Electric Cablevision Corporation
The basic reasons for being concerned about the resistance of grounds are presented from a practical viewpoint. It is explained how safety is affected by the resistance of the ground connection Statements are made as to what is a "good ground".
Grounding practices are discussed as how they relate to initial ground resistance, long term stability of grounds, ease of installation, etc. Also, it is shown that several factors affecting ground electrode resistance vary from one location to the next.
It is then concluded that the only sure way of obtaining a low resistance ground is through field measurement during installation. One instrument for doing this is described.
It is also shown that this low resistance ground can lead to serious corrosion problems in other parts of the cable system. Several possible solutions to this corrosion problem are presented.