Galvanized iron pipes are commonly used for earthing electrodes but are prone to corrosion underground which degrades the earthing system over time. Manufacturers often use substandard materials and techniques like thinner galvanized coating, cheaper infill materials like mud instead of graphite, and internal strips that are too short or thin, claiming higher quality components. This can damage the earthing system and reduce the life of the conductor, leading to internal rusting, whereas quality electrodes should provide corrosion resistance and an expected service life of 25 years.
2. 1. Galvanized Iron – A Corrosive Material
GI electrodes are highly prone to underground Corrosion
and leads to oxidation in most industrial Environments.
*They claimed superior quality GI earthing pipe/electrode.
3. 2. Corruption in manufacturing process
Today, many self-appreciated earthing manufacturers are using GI water pipe
which has only thickness of 1.4 mm.
*They claimed the pipe thickness of 2 mm to 4 mm.
4. 3. Loopholes in manufacturing techniques
Practically, they are using pre-galvanized pipe which has a coating micron of 15 -20 microns.
*They claimed hot-dip galvanized iron pipe having 80-100 micron.
5. 4. Taking under-size internal strip
They are putting short length Internal strip is with under-sized strip dimension of 25X3 mm.
*They claimed full length strip of 50x6 mm in 3 meter electrode length.
6. 5. Poor quality infill material
In place of conductive crystalline mixture, they are filling an electrode with poor quality cheap
material like factory waste/ mud/ sludge / slag etc.
*They claimed superior quality infill material made up of graphite.
7. 6. Low performing degraded compound
They are manufacturing earth enhancing compound using sand/slag/ charcoal which is not a quality
product hence damaging an earthing system & reduces life of the conductor.
*They claimed best quality product showing NABL accredited & tested as per IEC 62561-7.
8. 7. Internal Rusting
After certain amount of time, zinc coating in galvanized pipes eventually wears out. When this
happens, your pipes begin to corrode from the inside out, which lead to a de-graded earthing system.
*They claimed life 25 years of serving life.
