Aardingsvermogen

Aardingsvermogen, also known as grounding ability, is a metric used in electrical engineering to describe the effectiveness of a grounding system at providing a low‑impedance pathway between a conductive part and the earth. It is typically expressed in watts or megabits per second, indicating how much electrical energy a grounding system can safely dissipate or absorb before becoming saturated. The concept is closely related to the ground resistance, measured in ohms, which reflects how quickly a grounding system can conduct fault currents to a discharge point.

The primary purpose of aardingsvermogen is to protect equipment and personnel from electric shock and to maintain the integrity of protective devices such as circuit breakers and residual‑current devices (RCDs). A low ground resistance corresponds to a high grounding ability, ensuring that fault currents are swiftly shunted to the earth. In systems that must handle high transient voltages, such as those in electrical distribution, the ability to dissipate energy quickly is critical to prevent arc flash and equipment damage.

Measurement of aardingsvermogen is usually conducted with a ground resistance tester mounted on the grounding electrode. Results are compared against standards such as IEC 60364, IEEE Std 80, or national electrical codes, which prescribe maximum allowable resistance values for different system types. Other factors that influence the grounding ability include soil resistivity, electrode geometry, installation depth, and environmental conditions such as moisture and temperature.

In many jurisdictions, engineers must certify that a grounding system meets the required grounding ability before commissioning equipment. Proper design, installation, and periodic inspection are essential to maintain a safe and reliable grounding system.