[Boatanchors] Testing a Ground connection

[James Cundiff]

James Cundiff wrote:

> 1.) ALL grounds in the house must be the same potential (tied directly 
> together)
> 3.) My system (with 8 ground rods 8ft deep and tied together with #4 
> solid wire)


Interesting information, Jim.  Should I infer from that that your system 
ground is tied directly to your service entrance ground?

Thanks,
Fred

Hey Fred,
    Yes that is correct. There is only one potential that way. If you 
drive ground rods for your station and do not connect them to your 
service, you can, due to varying mineral content of the ground, actually 
have a measurable difference. They both can't then be ground!

Ken, The meter used for this test was a clamp on type. Picture a 
standard amp meter that you would clamp around a conductor to measure 
the current. This meter was used the same way but measured ohms. I do 
not know how it works but it does. I clamped it around the copper about 
a foot above ground (earth) level. This type is used by our overhead 
crews to measure the effectiveness of the pole grounds on our system. 73 JIM