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Soil Resistivity Testing 10 Common Mistakes

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Soil Resistivity Testing Erratic Readings

This is a series of short posts on Soil Resistivity Testing. And the common mistakes encountered, with practical advice on how to avoid common mistakes. Part 10 –  Soil Resistivity Testing Erratic Readings.

So, when carrying out soil resistivity testing. Erratic readings can occur due to poor connections. Also, through high contact resistance. And background noise at a frequency similar to that used by the measurement equipment. Nearby buried metallic structures, equipment failure, operator error, and other factors.

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Soil Resistivity Testing Background Noise

Soil Resistivity Testing 10 Common Mistakes

This is a series of short posts on Soil Resistivity Testing and the common mistakes encountered, with practical advice on how to avoid Soil Resistivity Testing 10 Common Mistakes.

Soil Resistivity Testing Background Noise – Due to nearby sources of 50 Hz (or 60 Hz) current and its harmonics, electrical noise at these frequencies is expected in the measurements, particularly for the larger electrode spacings. [Read more…] about Soil Resistivity Testing Background Noise

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Soil Resistivity Testing Weak Signal

Soil Resistivity Testing 10 Common Mistakes

This is a series of short posts on Soil Resistivity Testing and the common mistakes encountered, with practical advice on how to avoid Soil Resistivity Testing 10 Common Mistakes.

A Soil Resistivity Testing weak signal can result from a low-power source, a low-voltage source, or a high contact resistance of one or both of the current injection electrodes. [Read more…] about Soil Resistivity Testing Weak Signal

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Soil Resistivity Testing Buried Interference

Soil Resistivity Testing 10 Common Mistakes

This is a series of short posts on Soil Resistivity Testing and the common mistakes encountered, with practical advice on how to avoid Soil Resistivity Testing 10 Common Mistakes.

Soil Resistivity Testing Buried Interference can occur when, bare metallic structures (including concrete-encased metal) of significant length buried in the vicinity of the measurement traverse can distort Soil Resistivity Testing results. [Read more…] about Soil Resistivity Testing Buried Interference

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Soil Resistivity Testing Surface Layer Resolution

Soil Resistivity Testing 10 Common Mistakes

This is a series of short posts on Soil Resistivity Testing and the common mistakes encountered, with practical advice on how to avoid Soil Resistivity Testing 10 Common Mistakes.

Soil Resistivity Testing Surface Layer Resolution – In short, not enough attention is paid to measurements being taken at the shorter distances during the soil Resistivity Testing (Wenner Method).   This is not covered in any formal standard or code of practice, it’s just something that you pick-up with experience.

Short surface soil resistivity measurements in themselves are NO replacement for the full range of spacings required to provide the detail soil model for use in Electrical Earthing Design but these soundings made within the first meter spacings are essential to determining the accuracy of subsequent wider measurements.

Without high resolution data during the first spacings, erroneous trending of the outputs can result. This is the subject of a separate white paper.

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