Design and Fabrication of High Frequency Ground Impedance Measuring System for Assessment of Grounding System for Lightning Protection

This paper describes the design and fabrication of high frequency ground impedance measuring system for assessment of grounding system for Lightning protection. The ground impedance measuring system has been designed and fabricated which makes it possible to assess the ground impedance by frequency ranges from 100 Hz to 1 MHz. The effective grounding systems having a very low impedance to electromagnetic disturbance such as lightning surges and noises in microelectronics and high-technology branches are strongly required. In order to analyze the dynamic characteristic of grounding system impedances in lightning and surge protection grounding systems, it is highly desirable to assess the ground impedances as a measure of performance of grounding system in which lightning and switching surge currents with fast rise time and high frequency flow. The measuring system is based on the variable frequency power supply and consists of signal circuit part, main control part, data acquisition and processing unit, and voltage and current probe system. The ground impedance measuring system can be used to assess grounding system during occurrence of lightning.