A ring ground is a heavy gauge wire that surrounds a building or structure to provide a common ground for electrical systems. It can also be used as part of a lightning protection system. The standard size wire is 2 gauge copper wire, buried at least 2.5 feet below the ground. It is commonly used in structures with sensitive equipment and is required by law in building codes in the United States.
A ring ground is a type of electrical ground in the form of a partially exposed heavy gauge wire, usually copper, that surrounds a building or other structure in a continuous ring, for the purpose of providing a common ground for all systems electrical . A ground loop can also be part of a lightning protection system and is used to dissipate electricity from direct lightning strikes onto lightning rods, which are connected to the ground loop by heavy gauge copper wire. The term may also sometimes be used to refer to a similar type of equipment grounding called a ring ground which is a ring of wire suspended from the ceiling of a room for the purpose of serving as a connection point for equipment ground wires electrical or devices.
Grounding electrical systems is an important technique for reducing the risk of electric shock or damage from lightning strikes. If electrical insulation is lost in any part of an electrical system or device, electrical earth will allow current to dissipate into the earth instead of electrifying the structure or device itself. In more developed parts of the world, electrical foundations are required for energy delivery systems in all buildings, including residences. A ring plot is a form of such plot and, in the United States, is the standard set by law in building codes.
The standard size wire for a ring ground is 2 gauge copper wire, which is a heavy gauge wire. It can be solid or made up of strands and will surround the entire structure around which it is installed. It is common for large portions of the wire, at various points along its length, to be stripped of all insulating material to ensure good contact with earth. Number 2 gauge wire is approximately 0.25 inch (6.54 mm) thick. The cable should be buried at least 2.5 feet (75 cm) below the ground and outside the dripline to reduce corrosion.
This type of soil is common around structures such as communications, radio, and cell phone towers, as well as other structures prone to being struck by lightning. Equipment buildings and other facilities with sensitive equipment, such as computer warehouses and databases, are also often protected by ring grounds. Sometimes found in such structures is a halo grounding ring, which is connected to an external grounding assembly, usually a grid or series of steel or copper rods.
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