Fall of Potential Ground Test

Industrial Tests, Inc. provides comprehensive Fall Of Potential Tests as part of our Electrical Testing and Maintenance services. We perform Fall Of Potential Tests for industrial plants, large commercial facilities and municipal power stations. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are maintenance manager’s first choice for electrical testing, maintenance and repair.

Overview Of Fall Of Potential Grounding

Fall of Potential testing otherwise known as ground resistance testing measures the capacity of an earth ground system to dissipate energy from a particular site.  It is important to make sure that the ground resistance around an energized system is functioning correctly in the event of an arc fault.  The purpose of grounds in a system is to protect personnel and electrical equipment from fault currents and static discharges by providing a safe route for current to discharge.

Electrical Tests Performed

The way the test works is quite simple.  After measuring the diagonal of the grounding grid, we apply a calculated multiplier to this value and it becomes our furthest ground stake.  We also apply stakes to 52%, 62%, and 72% of the distance for the furthest stake, and a known current is then induced into the test set between the earth electrode and the outer stakes.  The Earth Ground Test Set will show the resistance between the earth electrode and the stake.

In order to achieve the best accuracy when performing the 3-pole fall of potential test, it is important that each stake is placed outside the “Ground Rod Sphere of Influence”, where the distance that you must surpass is solely based on the length of the copper driven ground electrode under test. Inability to get around the sphere of influence will result in an overlap in effective areas of resistance and make measurements inaccurate.

The reason why we have multiple stakes at calculated distances from the ground electrode is to guarantee that the results are accurate. Ideally, there should not be a significant change in the reading.

Preventative Measures Taken While Testing

We will ensure that the ground electrode is properly fitted in terms of depth, diameter, and number of ground electrodes.

Industrial Tests, Inc. Providing Fall Of Potential Testing To Northern California

With offices outside Sacramento, California, Industrial Tests, Inc. provides Fall Of Potential Test services to clients throughout Northern California, including Sacramento, San Francisco, and surrounding Northern California areas. We serve industrial, commercial and municipal clients in various industries including power stations, power plants, wind and solar, petro-chemicals, manufacturing, hotels, hospitals, municipalities, defense contractors, data centers and many other applications that rely on high power electric equipment. Whatever your Fall Of Potential Test needs may be, contact us and we will make sure that your equipment is treated with the care and safety requirements that it deserves. Read more about ground fault testing.