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Denver Field Office Supervisor, MNM MSHA Rocky Mountain District Denver, Colorado
Electrical Engineer/Instructor
National Mine Health and Safety Academy Beckley, West Virginia
30 CFR 56/57.12028
WHY DO WE TEST ?
Ensure that continuity & resistance tests are conducted on a specific schedule (at least annually)
Alert mine operators if there is a problem in the grounding system Problem may not allow the circuit protective devices to quickly operate when faults occur
WHY DO WE TEST?
With exception of fixed installations Numerous fatalities and injuries have occurred due to HIGH resistance or LACK of continuity in equipment grounding systems Proper testing and maintenance of grounding systems can prevent electrical accidents
This all sounds so good that we made it the policy regarding 12028.
Grounding systems typically include the following: 1. equipment grounding conductors - the conductors used to connect the metal frames or enclosures of electrical equipment to the grounding electrode conductor; 2. grounding electrode conductors - the conductors connecting the grounding electrode to the equipment grounding conductor; and 3. grounding electrodes - usually driven rods connected to each other by suitable means, buried metal, or other effective methods located at the source, to provide a low resistance earth connection.
P L I
Operators shall conduct the following tests: 1. equipment grounding conductors continuity and resistance must be tested immediately after installation, repair, or modification, and annually if conductors are subjected to vibration, flexing or corrosive environments;
P L
I C
Y
2. grounding electrode conductors continuity and resistance must be tested immediately after installation, repair, or modification, and annually if conductors are subjected to vibration, flexing or corrosive environments; and
3. grounding electrodes - resistance must be tested immediately after installation, repair, or modification, and annually thereafter.
Life Wire; Life Line Most important electrical safety item in the electrical system People protector
Motor 1
Motor 2 Motor 3
Motor 4
Earth Grounding
Electrode
GROUNDING ELECTRODES
Usually driven rods connected to each other
by suitable means, buried metal plates, or any other effective methods located at the power source to provide a low resistance earth connection. What is actually in contact with Earth.
Grid
Rod
Immediately after INSTALLATION, REPAIR, OR MODIFICATION, AND ANNUALLY, IF conductors are subjected to
YES !!!
In lieu of doing annual resistance tests, the Grounds may be examined annually by visual observation to check for damage.. BUT ONLY IF: The conductors are in fixed locations such as;
RIGID CONDUIT ARMORED CABLE RACEWAYS CABLE TRAYS, ETC
(theres more)
MORE EXCEPTIONS
These FIXED LOCATIONS
MUST NOT be SUBJECTED TO:
The inspector makes the final determination concerning areas acceptable to visual examinations
MSHA policy requires that a WRITTEN RECORD be maintained of the most recent ANNUAL VISUAL EXAMINATION, can be electronic
Trailing cables Power cables Cords supplying power to tools Cords and cables supplying power to portable or mobile equipment
RECORDS
RESISTANCE VALUES IN OHMS Most recent tests Must be available for review by MSHA upon request No specific format required
Be legible
A little ADVICE ?
Should have electrical knowledge Know how to test and use the instrument/PPE Know what kind of electrical system Check circuit protective device vs. Ohms test Check with power off Proper size ground wire Never let metal framework or earth be the primary grounding conductor Never use peg grounding
OK, now that the operator has tested his grounding circuit and recorded the results, what do we do with them?
In other words
E = IR
E I R
I=
E R
BUT ..FIRST !
Remember OHMS LAW ! ( E = IR ) Circuits are protected by fuses/breakers against SHORT CIRCUITS AND GROUND FAULTS IF GF occurs, we want the fuse/breaker to clear ASAP!
Question? Where does the current go when a ground fault occurs? GROUNDING CONDUCTOR carries the fault current back to the SOURCE (current does not return to earth, but sometimes travels thru it). FAULT CURRENT takes path of LEAST resistance?
CONTINUED
IF ground wire is missing or high
resistance, current will flow in dangerous places to return to the source.
EXAMPLE:
The operators record of resistance testing (in OHMS) shows the following: Crusher motor = 1 ohm Screen Deck = .5 ohm Stacker main motor = 1.5 ohm Conveyor 1 = 1 ohm
Example:Whats
Next ?
Motors supplied with 3 phase, 460 volt AC Grounded WYE Service; -=460v; -grd=265v
40hp, 52amps, 3-fuses @ 100amps each (screen) 25hp, 34amps, 70 amp breaker (stacker) 10hp, 14amps, 30 amp breaker (conveyor 1)
GROUNDED WYE
Grounded WYE Service; 460 V, 3PHASE
A-B=460v; A-C=460v; B-C=460v; A-grd=265V B-grd=265V C-grd=265V
OA OB
C
Ground Ground
OC
How much FC will flow if GF at motor frame? To find current (ohms law) I= E/R.
I=
265v
1ohm
265a.(FC)/30a(bkr) = 8.83...Whats this mean? Breaker will TRIP almost instantaneous level ASAP
GOOD GROUNDING!
SCREEN:
I=
amp FC; On 100 amp fuses 530a.(FC)/100a.(fu) = 5.30...Whats this mean? Fuse will not TRIP near instantaneous level (ASAP)
=530 .5ohm
265v
.5 ohms, -grd=265v
I=
1ohm
265a.(FC)/300a.(fu) = .88 ...Whats this mean? Fuse will not BLOW (must see at least 125% to
DANGEROUS GROUNDING
vibration
begin)
UNACCEPTABLE! ADVICE: Check connections; loose, dirty, wire size? CORRECT & REPAIR! Crushers - flexing and
1ohm
GOOD GROUNDING!
OC
How much FC will flow if GF at motor frame? To find current (ohms law) I= E/R.
GOOD GROUNDING !
480v .5ohm
960a.(FC)/100a.(fu) = 9.60...Whats this mean? Fuse will TRIP near instantaneous level (ASAP)
GOOD GROUNDING !
I=
1ohm
480a.(FC)/300a.(fu) = 1.6 ...Whats this mean? Fuse will start heating up. (must see at least 125% to
begin) Will blow on very long delay.
DANGEROUS GROUNDING
vibration
UNACCEPTABLE!
FIRES
Now lets look at some of the test instruments that can be used to test the grounding system
This is a Biddle Earth Tester that is battery powered. It uses 6 C cells. It is used to test the grounding electrode resistance.
Measuring the resistance of the equipment grounding conductor for this piece of equipment.
This a type of Biddle Earth Tester that is battery powered. It is powered by 4 C cells. It is used to test the grounding electrode resistance.
This is a Biddle Earth Tester that is used to test the resistance of the grounding electrode. It is powered by the use of the hand crank on the side of the device.
This is the Field Kit that is used with an Earth Tester to measure the resistance of the grounding electrode. It contains 2 metal stakes, and 3 conductors of various lengths.
C1 P1 G P2 C2
Earth
Grounding Electrode
Test Rods
This person is driving a test rod to be used while testing the grounding electrode resistance.
This is the method used when testing the grounding electrode resistance with a Biddle Earth Tester.
The results obtained during the testing of the grounding electrode resistance are plotted on a graph. The actual resistance of the electrode is the flat part of the graph.
Another method of testing the resistance of the grounding electrode is using a voltage source, such as a vehicle battery, a voltmeter and an ammeter. We do not recommend this method as it can be extremely dangerous.
This is one possible set-up for testing the grounding electrode resistance.
This is the method used when testing the grounding electrode resistance with a Biddle Earth Tester.
Use OHMS LAW to calculate the resistance values your tests found.
R=E/I
The results obtained during the testing of the grounding electrode resistance are plotted on a graph. The actual resistance of the electrode is the flat part of the graph.
This is the ECOS Pow-R-Mate Tester. It is used to test the resistance and impedance of the grounding electrode. It is both battery powered and plug-and-cord connected.
This is a Biddle Insulation Tester that is used to test the insulation value of conductors, motors, transformers, and cables. It is powered by the hand crank on the side of the device. This device should not be used to test the grounding electrode nor the equipment grounding conductors.
Instruments used to test the grounding electrode conductor and the equipment grounding conductors
This is a Fluke Graphics Multi-Meter which can be used to measure the resistance of the equipment grounding conductors.
This is a Fluke MultiMeter which can be used to measure the resistance of the equipment grounding conductors.
This is a Simpson Multi-Meter which can be used to measure the resistance of the equipment grounding conductors. It is reading an open conductor now.
This is a Simpson Multi-Meter, with test leads attached, which can be used to measure the resistance of the equipment grounding conductors. It is reading an open conductor now.
This is a Simpson Multi-Meter, with test leads attached, which can be used to measure the resistance of the equipment grounding conductors. It is reading Zero ohms resistance as the test leads are contacting each other. The meter is being zeroed.