Chemical earthing; Maintenance free earthing; Gel earthing

Chemical Earthing: Working, Treatment Methods, and Benefits

Introduction

Earthing is one of the most critical safety measures in any electrical system. Traditional earthing methods often require regular maintenance and may not provide consistently low resistance in high-resistivity soil conditions. To overcome these limitations, Chemical Earthing has become increasingly popular in industrial, commercial, and residential installations due to its long life, minimal maintenance, and reliable performance.

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Why Chemical Earthing is needed?

In conventional earthing systems, multiple rods or electrodes may still fail to achieve a low resistance path to ground—especially in rocky or high-resistivity soil.
This problem can be solved by artificial treatment of earthing pits, where the soil resistivity around the electrode is reduced by mixing it with conductive substances.

Traditional Earthing Treatment Materials

In conventional practice, substances like the following are added around the electrode to lower resistance:

• Sodium chloride (NaCl – common salt)
• Calcium chloride (CaCl₂)
• Sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃)
• Copper sulphate (CuSO₄)
• Salt and charcoal mixture

While effective, these materials often leach out with water, corrode electrodes, and require frequent recharging, leading to high maintenance.

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What is Chemical Earthing?

Chemical Earthing is an advanced form of earthing where special chemical compounds are used instead of common salts. These compounds:

• Retain soil moisture for long durations
• Provide consistent low resistance values
• Exhibit anti-corrosive properties
• Eliminate the need for frequent maintenance

The key difference lies not in the method of construction but in the type of treatment material used in the earthing pit.

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Chemical Compounds Used in Chemical Earthing

Chemical compounds used typically include:

• Bentonite Clay – retains moisture naturally
• Electric Carbon – improves conductivity
• Copper Silicate – protects electrode surface
• Sodium Silicate – enhances bonding and conductivity
• CCM (Carsolinite Conductive Mixture) – proprietary blend that increases soil conductivity

These materials do not wash away easily, unlike salts, making the system more reliable and eco-friendly.

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Example: RIYA CGM Chemical Earthing

A commonly used product in India is RIYA CGM (Conductive Ground Mixture), which has the following features:

• High conductivity and anti-corrosive nature
• Significantly reduces soil resistivity
• Retains moisture for a long time by absorbing water from the soil
• Eliminates harmful salts like NaCl and CuSO₄
• Eco-friendly and non-toxic
• Extended lifespan with negligible maintenance

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Cost Aspect

From a construction perspective, there is no major difference in cost between conventional and chemical earthing pits. However, since chemical earthing requires no recharging or frequent maintenance, the lifecycle cost is far lower, making it more economical in the long run.

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Advantages of Chemical Earthing

✔ Provides stable low resistance for a long time
✔ Maintenance-free operation
✔ Eco-friendly and non-polluting
✔ Prevents corrosion of electrodes
✔ Reliable performance in high-resistivity soils
✔ Cost-effective over lifecycle

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Conclusion

Chemical Earthing is a reliable, long-lasting, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional earthing systems. With minimal maintenance requirements and superior performance, it is becoming the preferred choice across industries, commercial complexes, and even residential setups.

For organizations seeking long-term safety, reduced maintenance costs, and compliance with modern electrical standards, Chemical Earthing is the future of safe grounding practices.

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