TABLE OF CONTENTS Grounding can be described as the science of obtaining a low-resistance path for the dissipation of current into the earth. There are different methods for obtaining a ground but, first, a discussion of grounding fundamentals is crucial to understanding and designing a grounding system. Grounding is the physical bonding or connection of equipment by a conductor to earth. Without a proper low-resistance ground, standard protection devices such as breakers and transient voltage surge and lightning protection systems are ineffective. Most communication equipment manufacturers may void their equipment warranties at sites where the ground system performance does not meet their explicit earth-grounding requirements typically 5 ? or less. Additionally, good grounding has other benefits, such as enhanced personnel safety; reduction of system noise; and protection from lightning, unwanted voltages and currents, and power surges.
The earth is composed of many materials that are variously good and poor conductors of electricity, but earth as a whole is considered to be a good conductor. For this reason, and as a reference point, the earth's potential is assumed to be zero. When an object is "grounded," it, too, is thereby forced to assume the same zero potential. If the potential of the grounded object is higher or lower, current will pass through the grounding connection until the potential of the object and earth are the same. The earth electrode is the connection path from the equipment to the earth. The resistance of the electrode,...
