In most markets, it is mandatory for a product to conform to safety standards outlined
by safety & standard agencies. And to conform to such standards, the product
must pass various safety tests such as Dielectric voltage-withstand test,
GROUND BOND TEST -
The ground circuit is the second level of protection
against electric shock beyond a product's basic insulation. The Ground Bond test
is normally specified to test the protective grounding circuit within a product.
The Ground Bonding test determines whether the safety ground circuit of the product
under test can adequately handle fault current if the product should ever become
defective. A low impedance ground system is critical in ensuring that in case of
a product failure, a circuit breaker on the input line will act quickly to protect
the user from any serious electrical shock. Ground Bond Testing verifies the continuity
of the protective bonding of the equipment designed to secure safety through the
basic insulation and protective grounding. It is also called earth (ground) bonding
test.
A ground bond test applies a higher ac current to the
ground connection. A ground bond test checks the integrity of the connection and
its ability to sustain high current. Most standards require that the resistance
from mains ground (protective earth) to the conductive surface on the product does
not exceed 0.1 Ω. In conclusion, a Ground Bond test in production can provide information
from which it can be assumed whether or not the ground was assembled tightly. It
may also determine if the correct gauge wire was used. This can be a valuable tool
in examining process variation and assist in the elimination of failures.
The Ground Bond test is required by certifying agencies
for compliance testing of products. It is generally extensive and covers all aspects
of electrically safety tests.
The Ground Bond test is most often found as a type
test but can also be specified as a 100% production line test.