What Is a Copper Ground Rod Used For? These 3 Vital Tasks

What is a copper ground rod used for?

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These rods are essential components of grounding systems. They provide protection from dangerous situations such as lightning strikes. They do this by dissipating electrical energy so it flows harmlessly into the ground.

As a result, there is less risk of electrical shock, excess voltage, fires and damage to equipment. 

In this article, we’ll answer questions related to what is a copper ground rod used for? and how it is needed for three important tasks. We’ll also examine proper installation and maintenance, as well as other materials that are also used for grounding rods.

What Is a Copper Grounding Rod Used For? 3 Essential Tasks

Dissipation of Electrical Surges

Copper ground rods play a crucial role in ensuring that electrical energy is properly redirected, something that is important l during electrical surges. 

By providing a seamless, low-resistance path into the earth, the excess energy flows to the ground. This protects everything from sensitive electronics to extensive operations. It’s also a critical component in fire prevention and personal safety. 

Lightning Strike Protection

Copper ground rods provide lightning protection through the low-resistance pathway we mentioned earlier. If these rods are well-designed and installed correctly, the grounding system reduces the chance of lightning arcing within buildings. 

Ground Fault Current Pathway

Copper ground rods establish a safe path for fault currents in electrical systems. A ground fault occurs when an unintended electrical connection is made between a live conductor and a grounded surface. 

Grounding prevents electrical shock, fires, and even explosions. 

Some situations where ground faults could occur include:

• Appliance Malfunctions: If your appliance malfunctions, fault currents can enter the system..
• Wiring Issues: Damaged or deteriorated wiring can create unwanted connections.  

By properly grounding your equipment, you protect it from fault currents, which are safely and efficiently redirected from volatile areas. 

Installation and Maintenance of Copper Ground Rods

But the importance of these devices goes far beyond what is a copper ground rod used for? Installing and maintaining copper ground rods properly is a step that cannot be overlooked, and is imperative to ensure that your grounding system stands the test of time. 

Maintenance and Galvanization

To maintain the longevity of copper ground rods:

• Inspect Regularly: Be sure to inspect the connections and rods themselves. Be on the lookout for any signs of corrosion or damage.
• Corrosion Prevention: While copper is naturally corrosion-resistant, galvanization takes this protection a step further, which is necessary in areas with high humidity.
• Clean Connections: Ensure the connections are free from dirt or debris. This prevents effective conductivity. 

What Is a Copper Ground Rod Used for and What Are the Advantages of Copper?

We’ve briefly reviewed some of the main uses for copper grounding rods, but what are the distinct advantages? Some of these include:

• Conductivity: Cooper’s conductive powers are one of its greatest benefits, ensuring electrical surges and currents are dissipated efficiently. 
• Corrosion Resistance: Did you know that copper creates a protective oxide layer naturally? If you want an extra layer of protection, consider galvanization. 
• Low Resistance Pathway: Grounding systems aren’t effective without a low-resistance pathway. Copper provides this benefit to provide safety. 

Other Materials That Can Be Used for Grounding Rods

While copper is widely used, alternative materials for ground rods include:

• Galvanized Steel: Its conductivity may not be as good as copper, but galvanization still offers powerful corrosion resistances thanks to a zinc coating. 
• Stainless Steel: This is a frequent choice in areas prone to corrosive conditions and high humidity. 
• Copper-Clad Steel: Combining “the best of both worlds,” this combines steel’s strength with copper’s conductivity. 
• Solid Stainless Steel: In areas of high mechanical stress, many choose the durability of solid stainless steel. 

Why Use Copper Ground Rods?

What Do Copper Ground Rods Protect and What Is a Copper Ground Rod Used For?

The primary purpose of a grounding rod is to protect people and equipment by providing a low-resistance pathway so electrical currents can flow directly to the ground. Benefits include:

• Safety: Reducing the risk of electrical shock.
• Surge Protection: Dissipating lightning-voltage surges is fundamental to protect equipment.
• Fault Current Diversion: Again, the low-resistance pathway can effectively redirect electrical currents to provide comprehensive protection. 

“Is a Grounding Rod Necessary?”

Yes, grounding rods provide safe paths for electrical currents. They are key components in protecting electrical equipment and preventing fires. Without them there is substantial risk of serious injury.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Copper Clad Steel Grounding Rod. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

“Does a Ground Rod Need to Be Copper?”

While other materials can be used for ground rods, copper is often preferred. This is due to its remarkable corrosion resistance and excellent conductivity. Copper’s natural resistance to corrosion, along with the option of galvanization, contributes to the longevity and effectiveness of the grounding system.

Trust Your Safety to Southern Grounding: We Stand By Our Products

When safeguarding your electrical systems, quality is only part of the equation. When dealing with power surges and lightning, grounding is vital for safety and property protection. Don’t compromise on the foundation of your electrical system.

Picture yourself driving your car on the highway when all the of the sudden you see brake lights and are forced to slow down because of construction. As you come to a stop, you see workers repaving a damaged road. Now, cars begin to line up in front of you and behind you. Where do you go? Nowhere—you’re stuck.

A ground rod, also known as an electrode, is similar to this highway scenario. It acts as the only electrical path to dissipate static discharge voltage (such as lightning) into the earth. When that path starts to break down, the static discharge has nowhere to go and puts the whole system at risk.

Many times, engineers are given the choice between three types of ground rods: copper-bonded steel, copper clad ground rods or galvanized steel for grounding systems. However, one material reigns supreme when it comes to strength, service life and overall investment. Hint: it’s copper bonded steel. 

Continue reading below to learn why copper-bonded ground rods are the better choice for grounding systems versus other alternatives.

1. Stronger Characteristics for Dependable Service Life

Engineers should aim for ground rods that have a strong core for the ease of driving into the earth and high corrosion resistance. Copper-bonded ground rods have a high carbon steel core that is suitable for deep driving. A layer of nickel and then a coating of copper is electroplated on the steel core to provide corrosion protection This coating is not subject to the risk of bending or cracking.

Alternatively, copper clad steel ground rods are more likely to develop cracks and creases to the outer sheath. Additionally, galvanized steel ground rods have a higher corrosion rate, which will significantly reduce serviceable life and put the integrity of the entire electrical system at risk.

2. Lowered Risk of Corrosion

Ground rods are often selected based on their resistance to corrosion. Corrosion causes deterioration of a metal as a result of chemical reactions between it and the surrounding environment. A corroded ground rod can put the whole installation at risk because it weakens and breaks down the electrical path. 

Copper-bonded rods have a high resistance to corrosion. Galvanized steel rods are more susceptible to corrosion than copper-bonded rods because the zinc coating degrades rapidly when placed underground. This causes the inner steel to be exposed and subsequently corrode faster. Additionally, it’s difficult to inspect this degradation below ground and as a result, the electrical installation can fail when subjected to a fault condition.

3. Longer Service Life for Cost Efficiency

Sometimes, installers or engineers choose a ground rod based on initial cost. However, it’s important to also consider the longevity and performance of the entire system—a higher initial cost may save money in the long run if the ground rod is more dependable and has a longer service life.

Unfortunately, over the lifetime of the installation, galvanized steel rods are not the most cost-effective option due to their short service life. Copper-bonded ground rods last significantly longer and require less or no maintenance due to their durability. 

nVent ERICO offers a variety of copper-bonded ground rods that have a permanent molecular bond for reliable performance, including: 

• Pointed copper-bonded ground rods for deep driving.
• Sectional copper ground rods that have threaded ends for use with couplers in deep drilled holes.
• Copper-bonded ground rods with one or two pigtails ready for connection to the electrical grounding system

Ground rods are the foundation to every electrical and lightning protection system. Although copper-bonded ground rods are more expensive up-front, they will cost less in the long run and extend the overall life of a grounding system.

nVent ERICO has the ground rod solution that you can depend on. Download the flyer.

Want to learn more about nVent ERICO’s copper-bonded ground rods? Check out our ground rod product page, download the nVent ERICO Grounding, Bonding and nVent ERICO Cadweld Solutions Guide or: