Ground Fault Protection Devices

What are Ground Fault Protection Devices and Detectors?

Ground Fault Protection Devices and Detectors help people to rectify the faults that arise from ground faults. Ground faults are nothing but the inability of the grounding system to pass the extra current to earth.

Earthing is a common practice for all types of electrical systems. Earthing or grounding connects a conductor to the earth and protects the system from damage due to high current or voltage.

In large Solar arrays, grounding faults cannot be manually detected to their large size. Therefore devices and detectors are used to get warnings or alarms whenever there is a discontinuity in the grounding conductor. Timely detection of faults can save costly equipment and protect people from accidents.

Where are Ground Fault Protection Devices and Detectors used?

Ground Fault Protection Devices and Detectors are used in electric systems like Solar Plants with Solar panels or arrays.

Advantages of Ground Fault Protection Devices and Detectors

• Can be applied to single and multi controllers.
• Protects active devices like batteries and transformers.
• Used in place of fuses
• Complete isolation of the Solar Arrays or panels happens upon fault detection.
• Ground faults are easily traced
• Minimal battery power is required
• Compatibility with all kinds of PV arrays

How do Ground Fault Protection Devices and Detectors work?

Ground Fault Protection Detectors measure the voltage between the terminal and the ground potential. Based on the reading the fault is located. If the voltage is high in the grounded portion then the Ground Fault Protection Device acts as a circuit breaker to protect any hazard from happening.

What are some branded Ground Fault Protection Devices and Detectors?

GE is one of the biggest names in electrical instrumentation. GE makes grounding systems to protect the system from high current and voltage damages. Some other brands are

• NK Technologies
• Rockwell Automation
• Honeywell
• Steven Engineering
• American Sun Components
• North Coast Electric Co.