The gold standard for grounding testing is IEEE Std. 81–2025, Guide for Measuring Earth Resistivity, Ground Impedance, and Earth Surface Potentials of a Grounding System. Its purpose is to assist engineers and technicians in obtaining accurate, reliable grounding system measurements and interpreting data for design validation. This standard covers: In addition to being familiar with this standard, successful testers must …
Quiz #153: Electrical Equipment Advanced Technology
The basics of electrical equipment remain constant; however, modern technologies continue to transform how equipment is monitored, controlled, and maintained. To remain industry leaders, NETA Certified Technicians must continuously learn and develop expertise in these advanced solutions. 1. Which online monitoring device is used to detect the development of insulation voids?a. Power monitorb. Partial discharge monitorc. Arc flash sensord. Corona …
Vehicle Safety for the Workforce
Commuting to and from work by car is a daily routine for most people. Many people are also required to be on the road to a jobsite, client site, the shop, the parts supplier, or anything in between. One thing that is often overlooked is that driving is one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities. According to the Insurance …
Designing Adaptive Trip Logic for Large Generators
Large generators, such as coal-fired and nuclear, are grounded through a high impedance to limit fault current flowing in the stator winding during ground faults. The high impedance is a resistor located across the secondary winding of a single-phase distribution transformer connected from the machine neutral to ground. Large generators typically have a main set for protection and a backup …
On Surge Arresters and Power Factor
If you’ve done power factor testing, you will have noticed that while said testing yields multiple valuable parameters—e.g., watts loss, capacitance, total current, etc.—power factor itself gets the most attention. Indeed, power factor is a critical indicator of electrical equipment performance. However, an important exception to this claim exists, and it exists for surge arresters. Power factor is the ratio …
History Does Not Repeat Itself, But It Rhymes
Often attributed* to Mark Twain, the phrase “History does not repeat itself, but it rhymes” seemed appropriate as we look back on our electrical journeys. The 2027 edition of NFPA 70E was recently approved, with an effective date of May 6, 2026, and we are excited about the improvements and enhancements to this very important electrical safety work practices standard. …
Meeting the Challenges of a Changing Power Landscape
The electrical industry is in the midst of its most significant transformation in a generation. The rapid growth of EV charging infrastructure, the integration of renewable energy resources, the proliferation of data centers, and the increasing complexity of the modern grid are all reshaping the environment in which our members work every day. This issue of NETA World addresses that …






