Measurements of touch and step voltages adopting current auxiliary electrodes at reduced distance

The measure of the ground resistance in a large grounding network needs to place current electrodes at great distance. In urban area, buildings growth adjacent to power system, to choose suitable locations for auxiliary electrodes becomes increasingly difficult since rigorous ground resistance measures can result impossible. The paper suggests simplified conservative testing methods based on using one or more current electrodes at short distance to verify the efficiency of grounding system. The touch and step voltage measures can be done with an auxiliary electrode at a reduced distance, since that the error is positive and so the results are conservative. A simulation program has allowed to study actual grounding systems with electrodes at short distance. The results of the studies show to obtain conservative touch voltage measures at short distance-using one auxiliary electrode to test on the inside area of the grounding network-using more auxiliary electrodes to test on the grounding system contour zone-placing current electrodes on particular areas to reduce error (aided by simulation program)