User friendly interface and operation:           

The MGV system has a user friendly operator interface which indicates when transfer operations are safe to begin. The grounding system is connected, with a quick release static grounding clamp, to either buried structural metal work or to rods that are hammered into the ground. When the operator connects the clamp to the object believed to have a low resistance ground connection, the MGV system immediately verifies whether or not the contact resistance of the object to earth is sufficiently low enough to dissipate static charges that could build up on the truck’s transfer system. This function is referred to as “Static Ground Verification”.

The system also confirms that the truck’s connection to the proven ground point is less than 10 ohms and monitors the health of this connection for the duration of the transfer process. This function is referred to as “Continuous Ground Loop Monitoring”. This function ensures that static charges generated on the transfer system have a clear, low resistance path to the verified ground point.

When both conditions are positive, a cluster of attention grabbing green LEDs pulse continuously, informing operators that they are in a safe position to start material transfer operations. A strobe light, which can be mounted at an elevated position on the truck, provides a wider field of vision to the operators when they are fully engaged in the transfer operation. Should the clamp be disconnected during transfer the system will shut down the LEDs and the elevated strobe light.

An additional factor of safety can be introduced by interlocking the pump with the grounding system so that if the truck loses its ground connection, the system shuts down the transfer process, thereby cancelling out the generation of electrostatic charges.

If the system remains in a non-permissive state when the clamp is connected to the grounding point, a simple and effective visual diagnostic tells the operator if this condition is due to the ground point not having a sufficiently low enough contact resistance to true earth or if the truck’s connection to the ground point, via the grounding clamp, is greater than 10 ohms.

If the ground connection resistance to true earth is negative, the operator may reattach the clamp to another buried structure. If grounding rods are being used, the operator may spread a conductive solution around the rod, enhancing the conductivity of the soil, or relocate the grounding rod, or bury additional grounding rods to lower the system’s overall resistance to earth.

If the ground loop monitoring 10 ohm resistance reading is negative, the operator may need to ‘jig’ the clamp to enable the teeth to bite through contact resistance inhibitors, particularly if the grounding point is covered in protective coatings, rust or dirt. The system will then register if the clamp has achieved a connection resistance of less than 10 ohms.

Easy Installation:

This system is permanently fitted to the truck and is powered by the trucks’ 12V or 24V battery power supply. The system PCB is protected in a robust IP66 GRP enclosure and is supplied with an ATEX / Factory Mutual approved grounding clamp and a range of quick releasing Hytrel^® protected 2 conductor cable options.