How to Safely Ground and Bond Electrical Systems

Installation expert Bob Dolph addresses basic but important questions on proper grounding and bonding.

It’s that time of the year again when we can expect plenty of summer thunderstorms. As we all know, along with these storms we can also expect to experience equipment damage from lightning.

I thought this would be a good time to review some of the basics of proper grounding and bonding of our alarm equipment.

What guidelines do we have for best practices on bonding and grounding?

The first that comes to mind is the National Electrical Code (NEC), which is actually National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70.

The main grounding article in this code is Article 250. I will let you know upfront that the guidelines here are not that easy to understand and apply.

In fact Mike Holt, NEC expert and founder of electrical code exam prep/training program provider Mike Holt Enterprises, has said that “No other article can match Article 250 for misapplication, violation, and misinterpretation.” Holt adds, “Terminology used in this article has been a source for much confusion, but that has improved during the last few NEC revisions.”

Consider yourself warned. As a bonus, however, those of you who are interested in reading the 2017 Edition NEC can go to the NFPA website (nfpa.org) and review the standard online for free.

You’ll also find other helpful information related to electrical safety. Recently, a Tech Talk reader asked me about grounding an adjoining alarm system to an existing access system’s power transformer’s ground.

That is, of course, if you know the ground cable is good. During the Cold War with the Soviet Union, a Russian proverb — “Trust but verify” — became popular and commonly used by President Reagan.

I would like to extend that same reasoning to the safe practice of grounding and bonding the electrical systems you are installing.

Just because you see a green ground wire doesn’t mean it is a good electrical ground. Sometimes a simple test (see Tool Tip) is all that is needed to verify the ground connection you trust.

Here are some more questions and answers on this topic, plus a product suggestion:

If the electrical system’s service neutral conductor (SNC, white) and equipment grounding conductor are connected together to a grounding electrical conductor (GEC, grounding rod) at the main power panel, why do we even need an equipment grounding conductor (EGC, green)?
The SNC is the circuit’s current carrying path while the EGC is a noncurrent carrying path designed for safety and current surge protection.

Tool Tip

In an effort to not only trust but verify a good AC receptacleground connection for your system installation, I am suggesting that every technician have an inexpensive circuit tester in their truck such as the Southwire GFCI Receptacle Tester40020S-A (southwiretools.com). Last month may have been National Electrical Safety Month, but this device will earn its keep year-round.

Southwire’s 40020S-A

Southwire’s 40020S-A can identify wiring errors in standard three-wire receptacles, tests GFCIs and features LED indicators.

Do you have to ground the security system you are installing?
From an electrical code standpoint you probably are not required to ground your system since it is typically under 50 volts.

However, the manufacturer’s grounding instructions may suggest anything from finding the nearest cold water
pipe, installing a grounding conductor or rod, connecting to the EGC, or following NEC standards.

Any grounding considerations often range from ground fault protection, arresting lightning surges, electrocution safety, safe static discharge path and protecting delicate (and perhaps expensive) electronic components.

I keep getting ground faults on my fire alarm system. How can I fix this problem?
You may want to try removing all connections to the panel and gradually adding them back until you identify the cable connection that is causing the problem. Don’t just remove the panel ground connection to silence the alarm.

I am getting hum on my audio system. It goes away when I eliminate the ground connection. Is that OK?
No. Removing a system ground can be a personal safety danger. Avoid isolation transformers and instead try hum filters such as the Ebtech Hum Exterminator (ebtechaudio.com), which can eliminate the ground loop hum but keep grounding intact.

If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!

About the Author

Contact:

Bob is currently a Security Sales & Integration "Tech Talk" columnist and a contributing technical writer. Bob installed his first DIY home intercom system at the age of 13, and formally started his technology career as a Navy communication electronics technician during the Vietnam War. He then attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering and went on to complete a Security Management program at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Since 1976, Bob has served in a variety of technical, training and project management positions with organizations such ADT, Rollins, National Guardian, Lockheed Martin, American Alarm Supply, Sonitrol and Ingersoll Rand. Early in his career, Bob started and operated his own alarm dealership. He has also served as treasurer of the Wisconsin Burglar and Fire Alarm Association and on Security Industry Association (SIA) standards committees. Bob also provides media and training consulting to the security industry.

Security Is Our Business, Too

For professionals who recommend, buy and install all types of electronic security equipment, a free subscription to Commercial Integrator + Security Sales & Integration is like having a consultant on call. You’ll find an ideal balance of technology and business coverage, with installation tips and techniques for products and updates on how to add to your bottom line.

A FREE subscription to the top resource for security and integration industry will prove to be invaluable.

Subscribe Today!

3 Responses to “How to Safely Ground and Bond Electrical Systems”

  1. Michael E Sokoly says:

    Bob, good piece of equipment for use.
    http://www.aifittings.com/landing/grounding-bridge-clamps/
    Mike

  2. Interesting, piece….however Bob, one of the best parts of NEC code, is Art. 250.94 dealing with grounding differential and how to mitigate it. Both Mike Holt and I have discussed this particular code and and agree that in the security industry, this has to be the most important art. In the security industry I have discovered that grounding is extremely important when you have a multi-building application, mini-storage facilitates that are metal buildings and a sprinkler systems that have dry contacts for monitoring. More times not these grounding differentials could have been avoided from the original design by the PE. by bonding all the buildings together to create single point grounding. 99.99% of the cases, by doing this little prior preparation all of these problems we experience today, would never exist. However there are issues that many have not considered. The the panels are getting smaller, and the foot print of the SMT technology getting smaller, and switch mode power supplies are replacing linear power supply we now experience another phenomenon. Static voltage or a by-product of EMP, known as EMI or high voltage low current is also driving all life safety systems crazy. Since the reduction of pf capacitance we also see an increase of white noise or radio station signals invading the lines. Voltage drops and current rises by inductive loads or the affects of Generators and HVAC systems based on age or commercial environment, are also creating a problem for the systems that is increasingly growing with no solution in site by conventional means…..however many of these areas I have created inventions to attenuate these issues. Notice I said, attenuate, but not eliminate. The secret about writing something about grounding is the examples of good grounding application in laymen terminology with lots of pictures. The reasoning is simple, if you have read many of Mike Holts works, they always are all accompanied with pictures. You have to understand that most techs in the security industry are home grown, and/or Votech trained electricians, and very few will you find that are degree-ed engineers, or have an AA in electronics. So the combination of the basics of electronics, and a well rounded experience as a electrician goes a long way in this complex industry.

  3. Nick Wells says:

    I really hope you can help. Let me explain the problem we have. We have an overhead low voltage bundled aerial conductor system that supplies power to our tenants.
    We have not grounded the neutral on this 380 volt 4 wire system. We are using huge amounts of power but we are not using it. We suspect it has something to do with the 35 mm neutral conductor not being grounded. We are also concerned for the safety of our tenants and live stock. We have 140 wooden poles that carry the bundled conductors. We have been given numerous advice but I am still not convinced. I plan to ground each neutral conductor on the poles where the neutral has been split to former another section of overhead line. Please give me your professional opinion on this matter. Kindest Regards. Nick Wells

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Our Newsletters