Self Testing Static Control Systems

Exloc Instruments: your one-stop-shop for instruments and electrical equipment for use in hazardous classified locations.
Saving you time & money solving challenging problems!

Self-Testing Static Control Systems for Safety

In many branches of the process industries, fires and explosions can result from electrostatic discharge in hazardous areas. Even relatively small sparks have sufficient energy to ignite many flammable vapours, gases and even airborne dusts. In situations where this risk exists, static grounding and bonding clamps are required wherever mobile or portable conductive plant items (such as drums and vessels) are used. In these applications, it is necessary for the clamp to make a low resistance contact with the object. This enables static charges to be safely dissipated to ground via a suitable conductor before the energy available for discharge builds up to dangerous levels.

Many drums, containers and other equipment have coated surfaces, even when new. This problem is compounded in use due to build up of further insulating layers such as paint, resins, adhesives and other products inherent to the processing environment. Tests have shown that many standard grounding clamps in use today indicate very high resistance readings when clamped onto conductive objects with insulating surfaces. This may result in the clamp being physically attached in the eyes of the operator, but not actually performing it's intended function – dissipating static electricity safely.

Photo of a Newson Gale Bond-Rite self testing static control clamp and grounding cable

Bond-Rite STATIC CONTROL

Simple to use
Intrinsically safe – FM, CSA, ATEX
Pulsing green LED indication
Battery operated
Water & dust tight
316L stainless steel clamp body
Tungsten carbide teeth
Unique clamping action

The revolutionary design of the Bond-Rite clamps provides enhanced safety and security by continuously testing the connection of the clamp to the container or other conductive item of plant, and providing the operator with visual verification. The sensing circuit itself meets intrinsic safety codes.

Illustration of alternative applications of the Newson Gale Bond-Rite static control clamp and cable for ground loop monitoring or clamp monitoring

The Bond-Rite clamp may be used with either twin or single core grounding cables:

In the configuration known as Ground Loop Monitoring, where two core grounding cables are used, there is the added benefit of also confirming the integrity of the cable and its connection to the earthing point or bus bar via the in-line quick-connect (fig. 1).

The Clamp Monitoring configuration, where single core grounding cables or reels are used, only monitors back to the quick-connect and ensures that this is correctly connected (fig. 2).

Specifications

Approvals & Certification	FM: Cl. I Div. 1&2 Grps A-D T4; Cl. II Div. 2 Grps E,F,G; Cl. III; T4 CSA: Cl. I Div. 1&2 Grps A-D T4; Cl. II Div. 2 Grps E,F,G; Cl. III; T4 ATEX: II 1 GD EEx ia IIC T4
Clamp	Body material: 316L stainless steel Contact points: two, tungsten carbide Jaw opening: 1" max.
Cable	Hytrel coated spiral cables in various lengths. Fitted with in-line quick-connects to facilitate battery changes (in non-classified location).
Monitored Resistance	Setpoint: 10 ohms
Status Indication	Flashing green LED indicates a satisfactory connection.
Battery	9V lithium manganese ULTRALIFE U9VL-J (included).
Ingress Protection	NEMA 4X
*Options:*	Various length cables. Cable reels. Additional ground connection junction boxes with quick-release sockets for multiple clamp installations.

Standard Configurations

CONFIGURATION	DESCRIPTION	PART NUMBER
Ground loop monitoring	Bond-Rite with 16' two core blue Hytrel coated spiral cable, in-line quick-connect, junction box with ground connection cables and clamp parking point.	VESC52
Clamp monitoring	Bond-Rite with 16' single core green Hytrel coated spiral cable and connection lug, in-line quick-connect and clamp parking point.	VESC55
Ground loop or clamp monitoring	Bond-Rite with in-line quick-connect for use with alternative cables and cable reels.	VESC50

Photo of the Newson Gale Bond-Rite Remote intrinsically safe static control system

Bond-Rite REMOTE STATIC CONTROL

Self testing system
Easy to use
Pulsing green LED indication on wall mounted electronics enclosure.
Intrinsically safe – FM, CSA, ATEX
Battery or AC powered
Water & dust tight
Choice of clamp & teeth materials
Quick release connections

The revolutionary design of the Bond-Rite REMOTE provides enhanced safety and security by continuously testing the connection of the clamp to the container or other conductive item of plant, and back to the grounding point. It provides visual verification of this condition to the operator via a flashing green LED. The sensing circuit itself meets intrinsic safety codes and is both FM and CSA approved.

Illustration of the Newson Gale Bond-Rite Remote intrinsically safe static control system used to monitor multiple drum containers

The Bond-Rite REMOTE system is available in two primary versions:

Battery powered for simplicity or for temporary installations.

AC line powered via an I.S. power supply which can be shared by up to three monitors (shown at left).

Specifications - battery powered

Approvals & Certification	FM: Cl. I Div. 1&2 Grps A-D T4; Cl. II Div. 2 Grps E,F,G; Cl. III; T4 CSA: Cl. I Div. 1&2 Grps A-D T4; Cl. II Div. 2 Grps E,F,G; Cl. III; T4 ATEX: II 1 GD EEx ia IIC T4
Clamp	Optional designs and materials
Bonding Cable	16' two-core blue Hytrel coated spiral cables
Monitored Resistance	Setpoint: 10 ohms
Status Indication	Flashing green LED indicates a satisfactory connection
Battery	9V lithium manganese ULTRALIFE U9VL-J (included)
Enclosure	NEMA 4X, 316L stainless steel, 6.7"x5.2"x3.0"/170x130x75mm
*Options:*	Alternative cable lengths Sunlight hood for LED Quick release male/female connector on enclosure for spiral cable

Standard Configurations - battery powered

DESCRIPTION	PART NUMBER
Bond-Rite REMOTE c/w 16' two-core blue Hytrel coated spiral cable and FM/ATEX approved Model REB-IP anodized diecast aluminum clamp	VESC61
Bond-Rite REMOTE c/w 16' two-core blue Hytrel coated spiral cable and Model GAT-IP clamp	VESC62
Bond-Rite REMOTE c/w 16' two-core blue Hytrel coated spiral cable and ATEX approved stainless steel Dual Circuit clamp	VESC63
Bond-Rite REMOTE c/w 16' two-core blue Hytrel coated spiral cable and ATEX approved stainless steel Medium Duty IP clamp	VESC64
Bond-Rite REMOTE without clamp or cable	VESC60
Sunlight hood for LED added to enclosure	add suffix: /SH
Quick release connector added to enclosure for end of spiral cable	add suffix: /QC

Specifications - AC line powered

Approvals & Certification — Monitor	FM: Cl. I Div. 1&2 Grps A-D T4; Cl. II Div. 2 Grps E,F,G; Cl. III; T4 CSA: Cl. I Div. 1&2 Grps A-D T4; Cl. II Div. 2 Grps E,F,G; Cl. III; T4 ATEX: II 1 GD EEx ia IIC T4
Approvals & Certification — I.S. Power Supply	FM: Cl. I Div. 1&2 Grps A-D T4; Cl. II Div. 2 Grps E,F,G; Cl. III; T4 ATEX: II (1) GD [EE ia] IIC T4
Clamp	Optional designs and materials
Bonding Cable	16' two-core blue Hytrel coated spiral cables
Monitored Resistance	Setpoint: 10 ohms
Status Indication	Flashing green LED indicates a satisfactory connection
Supply Voltage	Optional: 230/240VAC, or 110VAC
Monitor Enclosure	NEMA 4X, 316L stainless steel, 6.7"x5.2"x3.0"/170x130x75mm
*Options:*	Alternative cable lengths Sunlight hood for LED Quick release male/female connector on enclosure for spiral cable

Standard Configurations - AC line powered

DESCRIPTION	PART NUMBER
Bond-Rite REMOTE (EP) I.S. Power Supply Unit, 230/240VAC, ATEX approval	VESC90
Bond-Rite REMOTE (EP) I.S. Power Supply Unit, 110VAC, ATEX approval	VESC90/110
Bond-Rite REMOTE (EP) I.S. Power Supply Unit, 110VAC, FM approval	VESC91
Bond-Rite REMOTE c/w 16' two-core blue Hytrel coated spiral cable and FM/ATEX approved Model REB-IP anodized diecast aluminum clamp	VESC61/EP
Bond-Rite REMOTE c/w 16' two-core blue Hytrel coated spiral cable and Model GAT-IP clamp	VESC62/EP
Bond-Rite REMOTE c/w 16' two-core blue Hytrel coated spiral cable and ATEX approved stainless steel Dual Circuit clamp	VESC63/EP
Bond-Rite REMOTE c/w 16' two-core blue Hytrel coated spiral cable and ATEX approved stainless steel Medium Duty IP clamp	VESC64/EP
Bond-Rite REMOTE without clamp or cable	VESC60/EP
Multi-Way Junction Box for connecting 2 or 3 Bond-Rite REMOTE (EP) units to a single I.S. power supply	VESM63
Sunlight hood for LED added to enclosure	add suffix: /SH
Quick release connector added to enclosure for end of spiral cable	add suffix: /QC

Earth-Rite PLUS (single mode)

Photo of a Newson Gale Earth-Rite PLUS intrinsically safe static control system being used by an operator for safe drum filling

Confirms low resistance static path from tanker/drum to designated grounding point
Includes interlock control contact
Red/green LED status indication
Meets NFPA 77 recommended practice
Intrinsically safe
UL, CSA and ATEX approvals
Easy to install & operate

For many flammable material transfer applications involving fully conductive items of plant (drums, IBC’s, vessels, rail tanker cars, etc.) the Earth-Rite PLUS Single Mode monitors the static earth path down to an acceptably low level according to international static control requirements. The system only becomes permissive when this condition is within correct parameters, thereby preventing the accumulation of dangerous electrostatic charge.

Local indicator LEDs confirm the earth condition to the operator, whilst the internal voltage free switch contacts may be interlocked with pumps, valves, alarms etc. For applications involving road tanker trucks, a special dual mode version of the Earth-Rite PLUS is available - see below.

Options include self-retracting cable reel (in place of spiral cable), enclosure for IIC gas groups, safe area-mounted variations, and choice of 110V or 230V 50Hz power supplies.

Schematic diagram of a Newson Gale Earth-Rite PLUS intrinsically safe static control system with safety interlock for drum filling

You may also be interested in these related products:
multipoint static systems • road tanker loading • FIBC static control • shoe testing stations

legal notice • site map • top of page