Ground circuit integrity testing
Ground circuit integrity testing
(OP)
Can anyone advise me of how to non disruptively test the quality and integrity of a ground line in a large building with multiple outlets. I am having issues with oddball transient glitches in computer equipment. This issue comes and goes in intemittent random bursts of activity at all times of day, night, week and seasons. I have ruled out mains borne RFI and ESD. I am wondering if I have a floating ground issue.






RE: Ground circuit integrity testing
But it seems doubtful that grounding or the lack thereof on a power circuit is causing the problems you are describing.
Have you ruled out power line transients such as voltage dips and sags? Also, what about directly radiated RFI from handheld transceiver, wireless transmitter, cell phones?
RE: Ground circuit integrity testing
RE: Ground circuit integrity testing
If you are running low level serial or Ethernet cables between buildings, then the signal grounding at each end can be a problem. RS-232 serial assumes a common ground potential at each end. This makes long serial cable runs very problematic.
A portable AM radio makes a good broadband RF detector.
Good luck.
RE: Ground circuit integrity testing
Also check the voltage bet neutral and ground at various places and it should be minimum say less than 5Volts if the grounding is proper.
Subramanian