Smart Ground Multi‐Meter
Joe Boyles
Boyles Electronics
SGM
• The Smart Ground® Multimeter, or SGM, is a
computer controlled multi‐function
instrument for measuring grounding systems.
• Developed by Dr Sakis Meliopolis with the
sponsorship of EPRI.
SGM
SGM
The WinIGS software provides 10 measurement functions:
1. Ground Impedance Measurement 2. Soil Resistivity
Measurement 3. Tower Ground Resistance
Measurement 4. Touch Voltage Measurement 5. Step
Voltage Measurement 6. Ground Mat Impedance
Measurement 7. Transfer Voltage Measurement 8. Low
Impedance/Continuity Measurement 9. Fall of Potential
Method Measurement 10. Oscilloscope Function
1. Ground Impedance Measurement
• The ground impedance measurement function
can be applied to any existing grounding system.
• The system under test can be energized or de‐
energized.
• It measures the ground impedance of the system
consisting of all interconnected grounding
electrodes as well as nearby grounds connected
via shield and neutral wires.
1. Ground Impedance Measurement
• The ground impedance measurement function
can be applied to any existing grounding system.
• The system under test can be energized or de‐
energized.
• It measures the ground impedance of the system
consisting of all interconnected grounding
electrodes as well as nearby grounds connected
via shield and neutral wires.
1. Ground Impedance Measurement
2. Soil Resistivity Measurement
• The soil resistivity function is based on an
extension of the four‐pin Wenner method.
• The SGM takes simultaneous measurements
on nine probes uniformly spaced along a line
on the soil surface.
• Provides an equivalent 2‐Layer resistivity
model.
2. Soil Resistivity Measurement
3. Tower Ground Resistance
Measurement
• Measures the ground resistance of an energized
or de‐energized transmission line tower.
• Shield wires may be connected to the tower
ground during measurements.
3. Tower Ground Resistance
Measurement
4. Touch Voltage Measurement
• Measures the actual touch voltage at a
substation as a function of the fault current.
• The measurement is performed at up to six
points near a grounding system.
4. Touch Voltage Measurement
5. Step Voltage Measurement
• Measures the actual step voltage at a
substation as a function of the fault current.
• The measurement is performed at a user‐
selected point near a grounding system.
5. Step Voltage Measurement
6. Ground Mat Impedance
Measurement
• This function measures the ground mat
impedance without disconnecting the shield
or neutral wires which may be bonded to the
ground mat.
• Setup and connections are similar to the
ground impedance measurements.
6. Ground Mat Impedance Measurement
7. Transfer Voltage Measurement
• Measures the transfer voltage at a user‐
selected point or ground. This could be a
probe at a specific location such as a proposed
CFJ site.
• Measures the voltage as a function of the fault
current.
7. Transfer Voltage Measurement
8. Low Impedance/Continuity
Measurement
• Measures the impedance between any two
user selected points of a grounding system.
• The measurement can be performed on
energized grounding systems.
• Accurate results can be obtained even in the
presence of substantial external
electromagnetic noise.
• Requires a current limiting resistor inserted in
series with the red electrode.
8. Low Impedance/Continuity
Measurement
9. Fall of Potential Method
Measurement
• Allows using the SGM to perform a ground
impedance measurement using the fall‐of‐
potential method.
• The required setup for this function is the
standard fall‐of‐potential probe arrangement.
9. Fall of Potential Method Measurement
10. Oscilloscope Function
• Allows the SGM to be used as a general
purpose six channel waveform data
acquisition system.
6. Ground Mat Impedance
Measurement
• Probably the single most powerful use of the
SGM.
– Takes advantage of the fact that the impedance of
the earth is predominately resistive with virtually
no reactive component.
– The program uses this fact to differentiate between
the current that flows through the earth and that
which flows through metalic components.
– The current through the Current Return probe must
be minimally 2.0 Amps. Sometimes hard to
accomplish.
6. Ground Mat Impedance
Measurement
SGM Probe Performance Report
Case: CASE_NUMBER_1
Probe Resistance Soil Resistivity Capacitance Inductance Error
- m) (pF) (mH) (%)
1Y 184.31 91.4 0.00 3.00 2.27 Remove
2Y 173.26 85.9 0.00 3.43 2.53 Remove
3Y 129.20 64.0 0.00 4.33 6.42 Remove
1B 157.67 78.1 0.00 0.20 1.38 Remove
2B 476.05 236.0 0.03 0.00 1.35 Remove
3B 384.51 190.6 0.01 0.00 3.70 Remove
Average* Average* * NOTE
205.79 102.0 Maximum value
is omitted
Cancel Proceed
Hood Patterson & Dewar Form PROBE_PERF - Copyright © A. P. Meliopoulos 1992-2013
SGM Data Acquisition Performance
Case Name: CASE_NUMBER_1
Injected Current: 8.00 Amperes RMS
Resistance Coherence
Prb # %Valid %Error (Ohms) Average-Squared Quality
1Y 80.77 2.45 184.3 0.9971 Very Good Remov
2Y 76.92 2.57 173.3 0.9954 Very Good Remov
3Y 75.64 2.70 129.2 0.9934 Very Good Remov
1B 80.77 2.10 157.7 0.9973 Very Good Remov
2B 78.21 2.22 476.0 0.9961 Very Good Remov
3B 75.64 2.45 384.5 0.9938 Very Good Remov
Cancel Proceed
Hood Patterson & Dewar Form DAQ_PERF - Copyright © A. P. Meliopoulos 1992-2013
SGM Ground Mat Impedance Report
Case: CASE_NUMBER_1 Plot Cursors
Frequency
(Hertz)
60.00
Magnitude
(Ohms)
1.369
Phase
(Degrees)
0.5028
Statistical Analysis
Return
Hood Patterson & Dewar Form GM_REP_2 - Copyright © A. P. Meliopoulos 1992-2013
SGM Statistical Analysis
Case: CASE_NUMBER_1 Return
Error Vs Confidence Level
Conf.% Error %
0.00 4.0%
0.00 8.0%
7.25 12.0%
99.99 16.0%
100.00 20.0%
Probe Performance Index
1Y 0.12 1B 0.09
2Y 0.11 2B 0.07
3Y 0.05 3B 0.03
Hood Patterson & Dewar Form ERR_CONF - Copyright © A. P. Meliopoulos 1992-2013
8. Low Impedance/Continuity
Measurement
• For sites where the continuity or integrity of
the ground grid is in question.
• Provides impedance and phase angle of the
connection point‐to‐point.
• Use one spot as the anchor point and move
the other test leads to any above‐ground
point that needs testing.
SGM Impedance Report Close
Case Name CONLEY_TAP_PTP
Case_1 Time 11/12/2013 08:08
Description Measure between yards.
Cursor Values
Frequency
60.00 Hz
Impedance
0.05347 Ohms
Phase
75.39 Degrees
Resistance
0.01349 Ohms
Reactance
0.05174 Ohms
Inductance
0.1372 mH
Hood Patterson & Dewar Form ZT_REP_1 - Copyright © A. P. Meliopoulos 1992-2013
SGM Impedance Report Close
Case Name CONLEY_TAP_PTP
Case 1 Time 11/12/2013 08:42
Description From Common point 4 to 9
Cursor Values
Frequency
60.00 Hz
Impedance
0.02217 Ohms
Phase
87.41 Degrees
Resistance
0.001002 Ohms
Reactance
0.02215 Ohms
Inductance
0.05874 mH
Hood Patterson & Dewar Form ZT_REP_1 - Copyright © A. P. Meliopoulos 1992-2013
SGM Impedance Report Close
Case Name Case 1
CONLEY_TAP_PTP Time 11/12/2013 08:45
Description From Common point 4 to 14
Cursor Values
Frequency
60.00 Hz
Impedance
0.02236 Ohms
Phase
87.43 Degrees
Resistance
0.001002 Ohms
Reactance
0.02234 Ohms
Inductance
0.05925 mH
Hood Patterson & Dewar Form ZT_REP_1 - Copyright © A. P. Meliopoulos 1992-2013
4. Touch Voltage Measurement
Case Name RTA_SUBSTATION_1_2
Fault Current 1000.0 Amperes
Touch Voltages
At Probe 1Y 2.75 Volts
At Probe 2Y 3.49 Volts
At Probe 3Y 1.77 Volts
At Probe 1B 3.51 Volts
At Probe 2B 5.25 Volts
At Probe 3B 5.92 Volts
5. Step Voltage Measurement
SGM Step Voltage Report
Case Name SUBSTATION_1_2
Fault Current 1000.0 Amperes
Step Voltage 0.34 Volts
Return
Hood Patterson & Dewar Form ST_REP_1 - Copyright © A. P. Meliopoulos 1992-2013
Locating the Current Return Probe
