Earth ground tester with remote control

• US 8,390,299 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fluke Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Laepple, Klaus, Kirk, Gavin, Steuer, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): He, Amy
• Application Number:
  US12/625,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20110121845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 324/525, 324/509
• US Class Current: 324/525
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/20 Measuring earth resistance; Measuring contact resistance, e.g. of earth connections, e.g. plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/02 operating with propagation of electric current

Abstract

A testing device which may be used to conduct ground resistance and soil resistivity measurements. The testing device comprises both a main unit and a remote unit adapted to communicate with one another via a communication link. After setting the testing device up according to the desired measurement technique, the procedure may be carried out, and the resulting measurement values are subsequently displayed on the remote unit. This allows a single operator to perform measurements while standing directly adjacent to an electrode, which is, for example, placed at a large distance from the main unit and/or other electrodes. This relieves the operator from constantly having to walk back and forth placing electrodes in different positions, and also obviates the need to return to the main unit of the testing device to consult a display and/or change parameters or settings.

Claims

1. A method of measuring earth ground resistivity at a test site comprising steps of:

providing a testing device including a main unit and a portable remote unit adapted to communicate with one another at the test site;

connecting said main unit of said testing device to at least two electrodes;

generating a predetermined current between said two electrodes;

measuring a drop in voltage potential between said electrodes;

calculating resistance values based on said predetermined current and measured drop in voltage potential values; and

displaying any of said values on said remote unit for viewing by a user at the test site,

wherein said two electrodes are placed in soil at a predetermined distance from one another and the voltage drop is measured by placing at least one probe connected to the remote unit in the soil along the current path.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said remote unit communicates with said main unit via a wireless communication link.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said wireless communication link comprises an RF link selected from the group of ZigBee, Bluetooth or wireless LAN, or mobile phone frequencies.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said wireless communication link comprises an infrared link.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said main unit and remote unit comprises distance measurement means comprising at least one of a GPS receiver, a laser, an ultrasonic device, a mechanical device for obtaining distance information wherein said distance information includes at least one of geographical location and 3D coordinates of each measurement.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said main unit and remote unit comprises control operation means and is adapted to perform the step of calculation.

7. A method of measuring earth ground resistivity at a test site comprising steps of:

providing a testing device including a main unit and a portable remote unit adapted to communicate with one another at the test site;

connecting said main unit of said testing device to at least two electrodes;

generating a predetermined current between said two electrodes;

measuring a drop in voltage potential between said electrodes;

calculating resistance values based on said predetermined current and measured drop in voltage potential values; and

displaying any of said values on said remote unit for viewing by a user at the test site,

wherein said testing device includes a current clamp connected to the remote unit and further comprises the step of placing the clamp around one of the electrodes and measuring the current through the electrode, in order to enable calculation of a value for the resistance of said electrode.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said remote unit communicates with said main unit via a wireless communication link.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said wireless communication link comprises an RF link selected from the group of ZigBee, Bluetooth or wireless LAN, or mobile phone frequencies.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said wireless communication link comprises an infrared link.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein at least one of said main unit and remote unit comprises distance measurement means comprising at least one of a GPS receiver, a laser, an ultrasonic device, a mechanical device for obtaining distance information wherein said distance information includes at least one of geographical location and 3D coordinates of each measurement.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein at least one of said main unit and remote unit comprises control operation means and is adapted to perform the step of calculation.

13. An apparatus for measuring earth ground resistivity at a test site comprising:

a testing device, wherein said testing device includes;

a main unit; and

a portable remote unit

wherein said main unit and said remote unit are separable from one another but adapted to communicate with one another at the test site; and

said main unit of said testing device is connected to at least two electrodes; and

wherein said testing device is adapted to;

generate a predetermined current between said two electrodes which are placed in soil at a predetermined distance from each other;

measure a drop in voltage potential between said electrodes by placing at least one probe connected to the remote unit in the soil along the current path;

calculate resistance values based on said predetermined current and measured drop in voltage potential values; and

display any of said values on said remote unit at the test site.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said remote unit is adapted to communicate with said main unit by means of a wireless communication link.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the wireless communication link is an RF link selected from the group of ZigBee, Bluetooth or wireless LAN or mobile phone frequencies.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the wireless communication link is an infrared link.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least one of said main unit and remote unit comprises distance measurement means preferably comprising at least one of a GPS receiver, a laser, an ultrasonic device, a mechanical device for obtaining distance information, wherein said distance information preferably includes at least one of geographical location and 3D coordinates of each measurement.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least one of said main unit and remote unit comprises control operation means and is adapted to perform the step of calculation.

19. An apparatus for measuring earth ground resistivity at a test site comprising:

a testing device, wherein said testing device including;

a main unit; and

a portable remote unit

wherein said main unit and said remote unit are separable from one another but adapted to communicate with one another at the test site; and

said main unit of said testing device is connected to at least two electrodes; and

wherein said testing device is adapted to;

generate a predetermined current between said two electrodes;

measure a drop in voltage potential between said electrodes;

calculate resistance values based on said predetermined current and measured drop in voltage potential values; and

display any of said values on said remote unit at the test site,

wherein said testing device includes a current clamp connected to the remote unit and adapted to be placed around one of the electrodes and measure the current through the electrode, in order to enable calculation of a value for the resistance of said electrode.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said remote unit is adapted to communicate with said main unit by means of a wireless communication link.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the wireless communication link is an RF link selected from the group of ZigBee, Bluetooth or wireless LAN or mobile phone frequencies.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the wireless communication link is an infrared link.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein at least one of said main unit and remote unit comprises distance measurement means preferably comprising at least one of a GPS receiver, a laser, an ultrasonic device, a mechanical device for obtaining distance information, wherein said distance information preferably includes at least one of geographical location and 3D coordinates of each measurement.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein at least one of said main unit and remote unit comprises control operation means and is adapted to perform the step of calculation.