Tierra Fisica

Tierra fisica is the place about grounding and lightning rods

Tierra fisica is an commercial and educational portal  about quality energy,  natural grounding and lightning rods.
Our goal is to provide you a wide range of solutions of grounding systems and lightning rods.
Also give you the information that will serve as a reference and guide when deciding for a grounding system.

Download or print the Introduction to grounding (spanish).

What is grounding?

Grounding is defined as a connection system consisting of electrodes and ground lines of an electrical installation.

Usually the term is used to refer to a network or backup connection to be installed in the workplace or anywhere you have electrical or electronic equipment, as suddenly arise charges whether by natural phenomena such as lightning or as on artificial electrical loads, interference or even human error,  the grounding function  is to drain the gound that undesirable energy that can cause problems and damages to electrical and electronic devices .
We could say grounding is the the linking of electrical or electronic equipment to the ground , that is from the device  through a thrid cable to reach the spot where there is a piece of metal called electrode where the connection is made.
Through this connection the energy flows naturally to ground putting away the unwanted electrical energy by preventing damage to equipment, machinery or people.
Natural ground is vital to protect electrical and electronic equipment and done by a connection that can provide security and human assets, as charges can occur without warning, overload or interference that severely damage the equipment.

Installing physical ground or tierra fisica

The physical ground or tierra fisica installation is done in the immediate area where the equipment is in order to discharge that overloads as mentioned, they are confined in waves to disperse in the ground underlying the charge that flows to earth ground to dissipate.
A physical ground system ideally interconnects power grids, the structure’s metal building, metal pipes and lightning.
The type of installation depends on the type of ground and energy use of each site.

The third wire the ground wire

The concept of physical ground applied specifically to a conductor cable or wire that is connected to the ground, it connects to the third hole of the outlet to which it is called polarized. In itself, an phisical ground is a whole set of elements necessary for proper installation.

It is important to mention when are speaking of natural ground we especially look for the maximum use of the input power in the equipment as well as compatibility and effective coupling between energy sources and electrical loads as they are common.

Plug ungrounded

Plug with  irresponsibly cutted off  wire

Plug with tree legs, corretly grounded

Advantages of the ground

By implementing the system of natural ground we have the advantage of improving the functioning of electrical, electronic and everything related to power.
Iinstallations also are protect high-risk areas or areas with high voltage operation as public or private buildings as hospitals, hotels, cinemas, where people who could be injured without the electrical ground.
Also, to protect the power equipment, machine tools, motors and controls, you get an increase in workplace safety, energy savings, improved quality and lifetime in the equipment, noise abatement reduction of heat motors and cables, reduced equipment failures and breakdowns.
The goals of a grounding system are many, especially to provide security to the people, protect facilities, equipment, machinery, facilitate and ensure the correct operation of protective devices, ensure advantages in centers work and life of equipment, establish the presence of a reference potential to stabilize the voltage to ground under normal operation.

Benefits of physical ground

There are many among them increased security in the workplace, as well as diminishing the warming in the motors and cables, also increases the lifetime of equipment and appliances and reduces electricity consumption.
Also greatly improves the quality of service, dissipates the current associated with lightning and limits on stresses generated.
Also, to install a grounding or earth ground prevents atmospheric discharges (lightning) from falling into unwanted areas and can cause accidents, so a system of lightning rods connected directly to ground provides a path to guide the beam and avoid falling into a place unwanted.

Phisical Ground Systems

Not all grounded systems are great in quality and durability and operation, some have a low time of optimal performance or some need maintainance constantly to work smooth. Briefly, there are some factors to consider when purchasing a ground system.

For example, traditional systems such as ground rod electrodes (rod Copperweld)  work good when just installed but present unfavorable conditions for their performance as uncontrollable variables among which humidity, room temperature or terrain, time of year, etc. also its method of installation and operation and construction materials have short life time and being a two-way system achieves fault currents dissipate yet received subsurface electromagnetic pulse.
Therefore, a good system should have comprehensive warranty and ensure significant benefits.

What is an electrode?

Among the elements to be used for installation of electrical ground  the electrode is fundamental, which is usually a piece of metal, copper, it hast to be resistant to corrosion and salt of the ground, this piece is buried in the soil to a variable depth to serve as the element that will disipate the power to ground in case of overloading or failure of the facility.

Types of physical grounding electrode

To carry out a ground installation is necessary to have an electrode we do not recommend all for every situation, is necessary to refer to them and there are different types, then the description of the most common.

Earth Ground Conventional Systems

• Dipstick or copperwell: This type of electrode is formed by a galvanized steel profile it could be just like a cilinder bar or  may have a cross or L shape,  it is normally coverd by copper.
  It works fine most of the time,  but  it will require constant checking and maintanance to work optimal.
  It  is also the most common of electrodes
• Dart: Is formed from two crossed copper plates, which are welded. It is used in areas where digging is difficult, since it has a larger area of contact.
• Plate: Used in areas with high resistivity and having a large contact area. You must have an area of at least 2000cm square and a thickness of approx. 6.4mm to 1.52mm in ferrous and nonferrous materials.
• Electrode star: Used in the field because of the length of cable you get a lower resistance value.
• Grid: arming formed a network of bare copper wire and some electrodes is improved.
• Ring electrode: A spiral of bare copper wire.
• Badge star: Board with several points in its contours, its main advantage is that it helps dispel the Enría through their tips.
• Electrode rod of iron or steel: These rods should be at least 16mm in diameter.
• Metal tube electrode: Is steel or iron and must have a cover of another metal to protect it from corrosion, the pipeline must be buried at least 3 meters.
• Aluminum electrode: It very easy for aluminum to be corroded by being grounded that is the main reason they are not allowed and they are the least recommended.
• Electrode embedded in concrete: Must be found buried in a foundation and a length of at least 6m.
• Horizontal electrode: A bare copper wire buried horizontally, the most common form is the straight line, but excavation is expensive.
• Deep electrode: Used in areas where there is much rock and deep drilling is done to the layers soil moisture because moisture increases the conductivity.
• Chemical electrode: We add some chemical to the electrode to increase conductivity.

Structural system earth ground

• The structural system was built as earth ground to overcome the problems of conventional natural ground.

Importance of the selection of electrical ground

It is important to know that an electrical ground electrode must take to create the connection, but not all systems ensure good quality, some have little durability, others have major disadvantages in performance or even leave expensive because they constantly require maintenance.
Given the continuing problem of conventional landing systems arises the need for a system that works well in spite of different situations.
MASS@TIERRA represents a structural system designed with world class technology that ensures the smooth operation and is well above the conventional natural ground, as it is a system for performance quality, performance and durability, so with the electrical ground MASS@TIERRA becomes more efficient energy use on ground draining the harmfull electricity .

Learn more about the structural system MASS@TIERRA and its benefits and advantages over conventional systems.

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