PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-675
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 675
FEBRUARY 2009
45
PS 675
FEB 09
Start with the Strap
The ideal ground strap is flat, braided copper,
3
/
4
of an inch to an inch wide,
of 6 AWG or better. It is coated and will have a nickel or tin coloring. NSN 6145-00-
395-8799 brings this strap by the foot.
The distance the strap must cover from
the earth electrode—rod or other buried
metal—to the generator should be short
and straight. Fifteen feet is the maximum.
Make sure there are no loops, kinks, knots
or bends. Make sure the strap maintains the
path of least resistance by running it around
or under obstacles and not over them.
The strap needs to be securely connected both to the rod and the generator. It
should not be wrapped around the rod as a means of connection. If this has been
done, it should have been a temporary solution until a clamp could be found and
used. If the wrap looks permanent, report it or ±x it!
Continue with the Connections
Your generator frame or the trailer it sits on, has a built-in ground terminal. Make
sure the threads on the terminal are clean and good and that the terminal is not loose.
Also, make sure the wing nut is tight and the ground-wire lug is mated metal-to-
metal with both the generator frame or trailer and any washers in use.
On the opposite end, you must use a clamp or a thumbscrew. If a clamp is used,
make sure the area of the rod or underground pipe that the clamp is mated to is clean
and has good, bare metal. You might use a knife to scrape the spot to ensure this.
Make sure the clamp is tight and that the strap is tight within the clamp. You might
±nd a strap that is attached to the clamp with copper wire. This should be temporary.
If it looks permanent, report it or ±x it!
Finish Well
As you wrap up your inspection of
the grounding site, make sure the top of
the ground rod is below the land surface.
See if the soil around the ground rod has
been conditioned with chemicals and
water. Make sure that every generator
has its own ground rod.
Generators…
Are They
Grounded
Good?
here are things to look
for when determining
whether a ground is
good or not…
inspection of
grounds is
every
soldier’s
responsibility.
if you spot a problem and are not
the person designated to solve it…
those in the
know will
take the
appropriate
preventive
maintenance
actions.
if it’s your job
to do the pm,
remember that
situations change.
just because
you established
a good ground
doesn’t mean it’s
still there.
big feet and idle
hands might have
changed things.
weather conditions
may have altered
the situation.
things get loose,
move about, break
and a once-good
ground might now
be unacceptable.
…report it!
675.44-45.indd
1-2
12/18/08
1:27:01 PM
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