Lightning Protection, Grounding,
& Surge Suppression Glossary of Terms

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Gas Tube
A surge suppression component that is made up of two or three electrodes in a sealed envelope that contains a rarified gas, or a gas tube is a crowbar device.
Grid System
A system consisting of interconnected bare conductors buried in the earth or in concrete to provide a common ground for electrical devices and metallic structures.
Ground
A conducting connection, whether intentional or accidental, by which an electric circuit or equipment is connected to the earth, or to some conducting body of relatively large extent that serves in place of the earth.
Ground Current
Current flowing in the earth or in a grounding connection.
Ground Electrode
A conductor or group of conductors in intimate contact with the earth for the purpose of providing a connection with the ground.
Ground Electrode Resistance
The ohmic resistance between the grounding electrode and a remote grounding electrode of zero resistance.
Ground Flash Density
The average annual ground flash density is the number of lightning flashes per square kilometer per year.
Ground Grid
A system of grounding electrodes consisting of interconnected bare cables buried in the earth to provide a common ground for electrical devices and metallic structures.
Ground Impedance
The ground resistance and the inductance/capacitance value of the grounding system. Also called dynamic surge ground impedance.
Ground Impedance Tester
A multifunctional instrument designed to detect certain types of wiring and grounding problems in low-voltage power distribution systems.
Ground Loop
A potentially detrimental loop formed when two or more points in an electrical system that are nominally at ground potential are connected by a conducting path such that wither or both points are at the same ground potential.
Ground Mat
A system of bare conductors, on or below the surface of the earth, connected to a ground or a ground grid to provide protection from dangerous though voltages.
Ground Resistance
The resistance value of a given ground rod or grounding system as measured, usually by a fall of potential (3 point) method.
Ground Resistivity
See: Ground resistance.
Ground Termination System
The portion of an external lightning protection system which is intended to conduct and disperse the lightning current to the earth.
Ground Window
The area through which all grounding conductors, including metallic raceways, enter a specific area. It is oftern used in communications systems through which the building grounding system is connected to an area that would otherwise have no grounding connection.
Ground-Return Circuit
A circuit in which the earth is utilized to complete the circuit.
Ground-to-Cloud Lightning
Ground-to-cloud lightning is a lightning discharge between the ground and a cumulonimbus cloud from an upward-moving leader stroke.
Grounded
Connected to earth, or to a conductive material that is connected to earth, so that electric charges are distributed freely to the earth.
Grounding
The act of effecting optimum electrical continuity between conducting objects and earth.
Grounding Conductor
The conductor that is used to establish a ground and that connects an equipment, device, wiring system, or another conductor (usually the neutral conductor) with the grounding electrode or electrodes.
Grounding Connection
A connection used in establishing a ground and consists of a grounding conductor, a grounding electrode and the earth (soil) that surrounds the electrode or some conductive body which serves instead of the earth.
Grounding Electrode
That portion of a lightning protection system extending into the earth, such as a ground rod, ground plate, or conductor, serving to bring the lightning protection system into electrical contact with the earth.
Grounding Electrode System
A network of electrically interconnected rods, plates, mats, piping, incidental electrodes (metallic tanks, etc.) or grids installed below grade to establish a low resistance contact with earth.
Grounding System
Consists of all interconnected grounding connections in a specific area.