GROUND TESTING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

A ground-current isolating circuit for providing a low voltage barrier between a service neutral conductor and an associated grounding system. The voltage barrier circuit comprises a first current unidirectional element and a second current unidirectional element connected in antiparallel. The unidirectional elements are preferably diodes having a characteristic threshold voltage. The current in a forward biased direction is blocked by the circuit until an applied forward biased voltage exceeds the threshold voltage. Also, there is a method of isolating a neutral conductor temporarily from an associated grounding system during testing of a structure grounding system. The method includes connecting a voltage barrier circuit in parallel with a conductor bonding the neutral conductor to the associated grounding system, then disconnecting the bonding conductor; conducting a test of the structure grounding system associated with the structure, and reconnecting the bonding conductor between the neutral conductor and grounding system.