Comparison of Grounding Rods Performance for Copper-Plated Steel, Pure Copper, Galvanized Steel, and Stainless Steel

A ground rod, also known as a grounding electrode or earth rod, is a long metal rod that is driven into the ground to establish a direct connection with the earth. Its primary purpose is to provide a safe and reliable path for electrical current to flow into the ground, thereby safeguarding electrical systems from voltage surges caused by lightning strikes, power faults, or other transient events. Ground rods are commonly used in various applications, including electrical power systems, telecommunications, and lightning protection systems. They are typically made from materials with high electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance to ensure long-term performance and safety.

What is the best material for a ground rod?

The choice of material for a ground rod is critical to its performance and longevity. The ideal material should have excellent electrical conductivity to efficiently carry current to the ground, and it should also be highly resistant to corrosion to maintain its integrity over time. Copper is often considered one of the best materials for ground rods due to its superior conductivity, which is second only to silver among common metals. Additionally, copper's resistance to corrosion makes it a reliable choice for long-term grounding solutions.

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Copper-clad steel is another excellent option, especially for applications where cost-effectiveness is a consideration. It combines the conductivity of copper with the strength and lower cost of steel, providing a grounding solution that is both effective and economical. Stainless steel is also used in some cases for its corrosion resistance, but it typically offers lower conductivity compared to copper.

Corrosion resistance of ground rods

There are two main forms of corrosion of grounding rods: chemical corrosion and electrochemical corrosion. In most cases, these two types of corrosion exist at the same time. The corrosion rate of copper in soil is about 1/10~1/50 of steel, and its electrical and physical properties are stable.
The surface of copper will produce a highly adherent oxide (patina), which has a good protective effect on the internal copper and blocks the formation of corrosion.

1. Comparison of Galvanized Steel and Copper-Plated Steel
The conductivity and thermal stability of galvanized flat steel are inferior to those of copper materials. The conductivity of copper is nine times that of steel, especially under the skin effect of high current, copper is far superior to steel. In terms of thermal stability, copper is more than three times that of steel. The thermal stability of the alloyed copper-clad steel strand from Newchoiceelecpower is more than 2.5 times that of steel. Therefore, using copper materials or copper-plated steel as grounding conductors is much more superior to steel in both electrical performance and construction. Especially during short-circuit faults, copper can release current at a speed six times that of steel, thus greatly preventing the further occurrence of faults.

2: Corrosion Rate Comparison:
Internationally, the corrosion resistance of materials is categorized into three classes based on the annual corrosion rate:
● The first class is completely corrosion-resistant, with a corrosion rate of less than 0.1mm/a (millimeters per year). High-quality stainless steel belongs to this category of materials.
● The second class is moderately corrosion-resistant, with a corrosion rate between 0.1 and 1.0mm/a, which is considered for general stainless steel.
● The third class is not corrosion-resistant, with a corrosion rate greater than 1.0mm/a.
The corrosion rate of copper shows a trend of decreasing year by year, with the maximum average annual corrosion rate being 1.05×10^-3mm/year.
Therefore, when increasing the cross-sectional area of steel grounding bodies to prevent a reduction in cross-section due to corrosion, which would affect the ability to carry grounding short-circuit currents, the pitting corrosion rate of steel should be used. According to the research on the corrosivity of metal materials conducted by the United States National Bureau of Standards (NBS) from 1910 to 1950, as reported in Report No. 579, the internationally recognized average pitting corrosion rate for steel is 0.43mm/year (as shown in the figure). The protective effect of galvanizing the steel surface is limited. Therefore, the zinc layer is expected to be completely corroded after one year. Additionally, it is known from the report that copper does not have pitting corrosion.

Copper plated ground rod conductivity

Taking the conductivity of copper as 100%, the conductivity of Newchoiceelecpower copper-clad steel grounding material is 20%, and the conductivity of domestic copper-plated (wrapped) steel grounding materials ranges from 12% to 18%. In contrast, the conductivity of galvanized steel is only 8.6%. Copper-clad steel grounding rods are at least twice the conductivity of galvanized steel, and with copper's magnetic permeability being 1/636 that of steel, copper-clad steel grounding rods have significantly better impact grounding resistance under high-frequency lightning currents.

Which is better, galvanized or copper ground rod?

Technically, copper-clad steel grounding and pure copper grounding have the following advantages over galvanized steel grounding:
1. Copper-clad steel or pure copper grounding rods have the following advantages over steel grounding networks: superior electrical conductivity, good thermal stability, unique corrosion resistance, convenient construction, long service life, less inspection and maintenance work after commissioning, and no pollution.
2. Using copper-clad or pure copper grounding rods, as compared to using galvanized flat steel for grounding networks, significantly reduces the cross-sectional area of the grounding body, which greatly reduces construction costs and difficulty, and accelerates the engineering construction period.
3. Copper-clad or pure copper grounding rods use exothermic welding to ensure that the connection points are molecularly bonded, free from corrosion, without relaxation, and maintain the same electrical conductivity as the original conductor. Moreover, exothermic welding is simple, fast, and reliable, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing and dependable connection that is truly reliable, secure, and permanent.
4. Copper-clad steel strands or pure copper strands can be supplied in coils or rolls, which facilitates transportation, and allows for continuous laying with fewer connections between conductors. Compared to 6-meter long flat steel grounding bodies, the construction speed is faster, there are fewer connection points, and the grounding network system is more reliable and stable.

Why Choose Us

What services can we provide?

We are located in Hebei, the hometown of steel in China, with natural geographical advantages. The raw materials, processing, galvanizing and other processes are completed in one go, and we are very close to Tianjin Port and Qingdao Port, saving a lot of costs.

Our personnel are professionals with decades of rich experience in processing such products, greatly improving work efficiency, not only saving costs, but also ensuring delivery time.

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Our product quality strictly follows international standards, such as ISO and ASTM, and some products have UL certification, supporting various tests.

 

We have a strict system for quality supervision, with professional personnel responsible for raw material selection, processing, galvanizing, inspection, etc. We prevent defective products from leaving the factory.

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ABOUT US

Newchoice company, mainly engaged in power accessories, fasteners, grounding rods, electrical boxes and other power related products, we have rich experience, professional team, to provide you with high quality products and intimate service, is committed to be a strong backing for your expansion of global business. Our design, production, testing, product packaging, transportation and after-sales service all links have strict control measures, product quality in strict accordance with international standards.

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