Salt and charcoal are sometimes added to earthing pits to improve the conductivity of the soil and enhance the efficiency of the grounding system. However, this is a temporary solution.
Also see:
- What are some modern solutions to reduce Earth Resistance
- Why salt and charcoal are added in earthing pit
Important to know: Adding Salt and charcoal in earth pit is not a universal practice, and most regulations and standards don’t permit this practice. You should always follow the local regulations and standards while practicing electrical installation works.
See here: Modern solutions to reduce Earth Resistance
The earthing pit is a crucial component of an electrical grounding system, which is designed to provide a low-resistance path for electrical currents to safely dissipate into the ground.
Here’s why salt and charcoal are used in earthing pits:
- Salt (Sodium Chloride):
- Enhanced conductivity: Salt is a good conductor of electricity. Adding salt to the soil in the earthing pit helps increase its conductivity, ensuring better dissipation of electrical currents into the ground.
- Improved soil ionization: Salt, when dissolved in water, dissociates into ions (sodium and chloride). These ions enhance the ionization of the surrounding soil particles, contributing to a reduction in soil resistivity.
- Charcoal:
- Absorption of moisture: Charcoal has the ability to absorb and retain moisture. Moist soil is more conductive than dry soil. By adding charcoal to the earthing pit, moisture retention is improved, helping maintain a consistently low-resistance path for electrical currents.
- Reduction of soil resistivity: Charcoal can contribute to reducing soil resistivity, which is crucial for achieving and maintaining a low-resistance grounding system.
It’s important to note that while these additives can enhance the performance of the grounding system, their use should be in accordance with local regulations and standards. Additionally, the design and installation of earthing systems should be carried out by qualified professionals to ensure safety and compliance with electrical codes.