04.07.14 ,
A common question which arises during grounding installation is choice of a grounding device. Which to use: angle steel much sought after in the previous century or up-to-date modular system of copper-bonded pins? To make a conscious choice, you'd compare these systems thoroughly.
The requirements set in regulation documents do not denote any certain alloy for electrodes. It is important that the material used in ground electrodes should be corrosion-resistant.
Galvanic corrosion manifests itself when there are two metals with difference in redox potentials which are in contact, as well as in humid conditions.
For example, copper and aluminum, steel and copper, steel and zinc when they are in wet soil or covered with condensed moisture. Moreover, one metal acts as a reducing agent / donor and the other as an oxidant. That means one metal is rapidly oxidized, while the other will be almost intact until the first metal has completely corroded. In the zinc-steel couple, the reducing agent / donor is zinc. When it has corroded, steel will begin to corrode. In the copper - steel couple, the reducing agent / donor is steel, while copper is an oxidant. Until the steel completely turns into rust, nothing will happen to copper. Wherein if you protect steel in the copper-steel couple from the electrolyte, the galvanic corrosion will be completely stopped.
Of course, the unprotected area of black metal will come into disrepair faster than steel coated with copper. In case of "unprecome into disrepair within a few years, which can be an unpleasant surprise for you, which will hit your pocket.
Long service life: +1 in favor of the modular grounding copper-bonded pins
When choosing a ground device, it is also important to consider installation work scope.
Having chosen a modular grounding made of copper-bonded pins (for example, ZZ-000-015 set), you will need about two to three hours to mount with a regular pneumatic hammer.
If you have decided to use angle steel, you will need to order welder services or learn to do it on your own. Besides, the "excavation" scope will force you to waste a whole day on the installation.
You should also be aware that when installing a 15-meter ZZ-000-015 set , you can choose various configurations (for example, to mount one 15m electrode or three electrodes at 4.5 m; 4.5 m and 6 m), which allow to use this set for varied projects with varied requirements: for grounding a gas boiler and connecting to the lightning protection system.
Scope of work: +1 in favor of the modular grounding with copper-bonded pins
These are standard key criteria by which people choose grounding. Also price, availability, efficiency, etc. can be compared, but anyway, progressive grounding techniques are always preferable to old-fashioned technologies.
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