PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-723
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 723
FEBRUARY 2013
49
PS 723
FEB 13
• a ground strap
loosely attached to
a ground rod or to
the ground terminal
on a trailer or
generator’s frame
• a ground strap
attached to a surface
covered with paint,
corrosion, grease or
dirt instead of clean,
bare metal
Here are two
common examples:
If you spot a problem and are not the person assigned to solve it,
report it.
Those with the know-how will make it right.
If it’s your job to do the PM, be alert to changing conditions. Just
because you set up a good ground yesterday doesn’t mean it’s still
there today. Big feet might have disrupted a ground cable or rod.
Weather conditions may have altered the situation. Cables, lugs and
bolts loosen, move about and break, and a once-good ground might
now be faulty.
Start with the Strap
The ideal ground strap is Fat, 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 earth ground—a rod or
other buried metal—to the generator should be short and straight:
No more than 15 feet. Make sure there are no loops, kinks, knots
or bends. Make sure the strap follows the path of least resistance:
It should run around or under obstacles and not over them.
Make sure the strap is securely connected both to the rod and
the generator. It should not be wrapped around the rod as a means
of connection. Wrapping the strap is just a temporary measure
until you can clamp it to the rod. If the wrap looks as though it is
intended to be permanent, report it or ±x it.
Often a 6 AWG braided, untinned copper wire comes with a
ground rod. This wire is ±ne to use for grounding.
Just make sure you
don’t use an aluminum wire
for the ground wire. Aluminum quickly oxidizes,
corrodes and increases resistance to current.
Generators…
On Solid
Ground
Here are
things to
look for when
determining
whether a
ground is
good or not…
You say you’re
not
a
generator maintainer?
it doesn’t matter.
inspection of grounds
is
every
Soldier’s
responsibility.
Look for
typical grounding
problems.
Best
ground
strap is
braided
copper
Look for
grounding
problems
This
ground
terminal
connection
is coming
loose.
A poorly
grounded
generator
can deliver
an electric
shock strong
enough to
kill.
Make sure
you and
your buddies
don’t become
the
next
victims.
this generator
is fully grounded
and ready to go!
You
must
inspect
grounds
regularly.
723 48-49.indd
1-2
12/22/12
3:45 PM
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