Earth electrodes are sometimes referenced as, earth spike, ground rods and other names.

When do you install an earth spike and what is the purpose of the earth spike (ground rod or whatever you call it).

Back in 20078, when load shedding started, we installed a bunch of generators and each installations required an earth spike/electrode. I was told the reason for the earth spike was in case we lost the supply earth, no other reason.

2024, we still enjoying the one thing Eskom has got right load shedding, the only difference, there a bunch of new technology used to keep the lights on.

According to the SANS regulations, lets get all the relevant information (feel free to add other information I might have missed)

*SANS 10199, The design and installation of earth electrodes.

*3.14.9 protective earth and neutral conductor PEN conductor conductor that forms part of a supply combining the functions of both protective earthing conductor and neutral conductor NOTE The conductor is also connected to the other earth electrodes and exposed conductive parts of the low-voltage supply.


*3.27earth electrode one or more conductive parts that are embedded in the earth for the purpose of making effective electrical contact with the general mass of the earth

*3.28earthing arrangement all electrical connections and devices involved in earthing of a system, an installation and equipment 3.28.1 earthing conductor conductor, including any clamp or terminal, by which the connection of the consumer's earth terminal or conductor to an earth electrode, or to the supplier's protective conductor, is made



*6.11 Consumer's earth terminal6.11.1 Each installation shall have a consumer's earth terminal (see 3.17) at or near the point where the supply cables to the installation enter the building or structure. All conductive parts that are to be earthed (see 6.12.3) shall be connected to a main earthing terminal (see 3.28.4), which shall be connected to the consumer's earth terminal. The consumer's earth terminal shall be earthed by connecting it to the supply earth terminal (see 3.78) or the protective conductor (see 3.14.8) and, if installed, the earth electrode. The effectiveness of the supplier's protective conductor shall be determined in accordance with 8.6.5.


6.12.2 Earth electrodesAn earth electrode might be required for purposes such as antennas and surge protection devices. Earth electrodes shall comply with the requirements of SANS 1063 and shall be installed in accordance with SANS 10199. NOTE An earth electrode may have to be protected against electrolytic corrosion caused by stray currents, for example, from electrified railway lines.


*6.16.6 Electric fences NOTE An electric fence is deemed to be a machine or an appliance and not part of the electrical installation. See separation of the high-voltage earth electrode of the fence energizer from the earthing system of the electrical installation. (See SANS 10222-3.)

*7.12.3.1 Neutral bar earthing 7.12.3.1.1 Protection in accordance with the requirements of 6.7 shall be provided for the electrical installation in such a manner as to ensure correct operation of the protection devices, irrespective of the source of supply or combination of sources of supply. Operation of the protection devices shall not rely upon the connection to the earthed point of the main supply when the generator is operated as a switched alternative to the main supply. Where there is no existing earth electrode installed in the electrical installation, a suitable earth electrode may be installed in accordance with SANS 10199. When installed, the electrode shall be bonded to the consumer's earth terminal and to the earthing point on the alternate supply by a conductor of at least half the cross-section of that of the phase conductor, but not less than 6 mm2copper, or equivalent. This also applies to a single-phase supply (see also 5.2.3.1).NOTE 1 In a TN system earthing of electricity supply, an earth electrode is normally not required in an electrical installation.NOTE 2 Protection of photovoltaics can be by means of or surge protective device (SPD).

*7.15.2 EarthingEarthing and bonding of power supply circuits for d.c. installations shall comply with the following requirements:a) the "O V" (earth) polarity of each d.c. power system of a telecommunication system shall be bonded with a solid connection to an earthing terminal at the point of supply of the d.c. power plant, which shall be the main earthing terminal; b) if an earth electrode is required, it shall comply with the requirements of SANS 1063, be installed in accordance with SANS 10199 and be bonded to the main earthing terminal of the electrical installation;

*J.2.3 TT system earthing All exposed conductive parts of a consumer's installation are connected to a consumer's earth electrode which is electrically independent of the source earth. NOTE This system relies on a low-impedance earth both at the source transformer and at every consumer's installation. The system is impractical in most parts of South Africa owing to high soil resistivity and earthing conductor losses. It has the added disadvantage that the loss of earth connection is not inherently self-monitoring. It is not considered further in this part of SANS 10142.

*J.2.3 TT system earthing All exposed conductive parts of a consumer's installation are connected to a consumer's earth electrode which is electrically independent of the source earth. NOTE This system relies on a low-impedance earth both at the source transformer and at every consumer's installation. The system is impractical in most parts of South Africa owing to high soil resistivity and earthing conductor losses. It has the added disadvantage that the loss of earth connection is not inherently self-monitoring. It is not considered further in this part of SANS 10142.