PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-680
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 680
JULY 2009
40
PS 680
JUL 09
3.
Equipment grounding conductors
(EGCs) or bonding wires are just as
important as earth grounds and also
need to be checked. They are for your
protection, too! Equipment specialists
need to ensure that a low-impedance
path
to
clear
the
mobile
power
equipment circuit breakers is in place
and intact. Use your TM to check for a
damaged EGC and the steps to take if
you Fnd one.
4.
Co-located shelters need to have their
grounds bonded. A voltage difference
between two shelters can lead to shocks
and, yes, even electrocution! It’s best
that this bond is done at the ground
connections of the power generation
equipment—bond co-located generators
—to avoid ground loops.
5.
Ground fault circuit interrupters
(G±CIs) and circuit breakers need to be
checked. They are for your protection.
But if they are also not maintained, they
will not work. And if they don’t work,
they won’t be protecting anyone! Check
‘em! Test them at least monthly. And
for goodness sakes, opening a ground
circuit does not cure a circuit breaker
tripping problem. It just creates another
problem—a hazardous one!
1.
Look for bad wiring.
Inspecting wiring is every
Soldier’s responsibility. It
may not be your job to Fx
a wiring problem, but it is
your job to report it.
2.
Check for grounds. Every ground has two ends:
One end attaches to a piece of equipment or shelter
and the other end is Frmly planted in the earth.
Whether it’s mobile power equipment
or Fxed installations, nominal voltage
cannot be taken for granted in electrical
systems in theater. All Soldiers are
on the inspection team for spotting
electrical problems. QualiFed Soldiers
must verify voltage, good grounding,
good wiring, good bonding and ensure
that
all
electrical
safety
procedures
are followed.
±or help, get a copy of CECOM
pamphlet TR 98-6,
Earth Grounding and
Bonding.
Email CECOM for a copy:
john.tobias
@us.army.mil
Also, take the training courses at:
www.monmouth.army.mil/CECOM/
safety/training/training_esafety.htm
Equipment bonding is as
important as grounding
Bond shelters together and ground them!
Check for GFCIs and check to see they work
Sometimes bad
wiring is obvious!
Shelters and
generators must
be grounded!
electrocutions
in theater
are
happening.
here are some pm tips
from the program
manager’s office
for mobile electric
power that will
help soldiers
save
soldiers’ lives.
These deaths are sad
and, unfortunately, even
sadder, most of the deaths
were
preventable
with
just some basic pm.
Mobile Power Equipment…
Every Soldier
needs to notice
grounds and
be able to trace
them from the
equipment to the
earth. Grounding
situations that
look wrong or
hazardous need
to be reported.
It’s always
better to be safe
than sorry.
680.40-41.indd
1-2
6/9/09
4:46:07 PM
safety/training/training_electric.htm
Click here for a copy of this article to save or email.
Back to TopBack to Top
