Testing & Assembling Worker Protection Grounds


As part of safety equipment, grounds are used to dissipate induced voltage on de-energized high-voltage electrical circuits and to provide a safety ground in case of a fault or accidental re-energization. 

To meet BC Hydro’s safety standard, grounds require annual maintenance and testing to ensure their conductivity and current rating are not compromised. BC Hydro front-line crews often conduct this annual testing—which is time consuming, especially when repairs or new parts are needed. 

To free front-line crews from this work, Powertech Labs just launched a new service. Our skilled and experienced electrical technicians will perform visual inspections; clean, repair, and perform electrical testing of the grounds; as well as properly label them with a unique ID and a test due date decal; or can assemble new ground sets. 

Testing can be conducted either at Powertech Labs or on-site to fit your schedule.

Powertech’s Grounds Inspection Advantages

  • Save line crew time spent testing grounds.
  • Ensure grounds are in safe operating condition and no unauthorized modifications have been made.
  • Get quick repairs and replacements.
  • Have technicians trained and experienced in inspection and testing.
  • Available on-site testing.
  • Get fast turnaround time and flexible scheduling.

Grounds Services Include

  • Assembly of new grounds.
  • Check for damage, unauthorized modifications, and improper construction of grounds.
  • Check clamps are fully functional.
  • Replace damaged components.
  • Clean and apply No-Ox to electrical connection points.
  • Re-assemble grounds according to manufacturer / BCH requirements.
  • Measure resistance and check it meets BCH requirements.
  • Apply unique ID and test due date decals.
  •  Provide test report, including measured resistances.

Training

  • Powertech technicians have years of experience testing and inspecting electrical safety equipment, and have taken the Trades Training Centre’s Worker Protection Grounds course.

Anomalies to Watch For

  • High-resistance grounds
  • Loose strain relief and jaw inserts
  • Cracked eye-bolts
  • Eye-bolts over-torqued
  • Wear on clamp tightening bolt threads
  • Broken cable strands next to connection points
  • Lack of, or improper, heat-shrink strain relief (which leads to broken strands)
  • Unauthorized modifications 
  • Improper installation of ferrule in clamp or on to cable
  • Loose connections between cable and clamps or ferrules and clamps
  • Rusted screws and washers
  • Flattened or smashed section of cable
  • Corrosion often indicated by swollen cable jacket or soft spots
  • Damage, split, or cracked clamps
  • Wear on clamp jaws

For more information contact:

Reza Soltani – 604.590.6648
Principal Engineer/Manager, Generation Electrical & Field Services
Generation Technology & Testing
email

Rhuella Demegillo – 604.590.6687
EIT 1, Generation Electrical & Field Services
Generation Technology & Testing
email