Beware of counterfeit ground rods!
Defying the impression that knock off
artists specialize in well-known consumer product brands, we have
learned that a substantial number of counterfeit and substandard ground
rods were imported into the United States and sold here last year. A
ground rod is vital to the safety of
a home or buidling's electric system and appliances. A ground rod is
typically an 8 foot copper-coated steel rod, that is driven into the
ground near the home or building's metering system that provides excess
current a place to go. Without it, the excess current will have to
find another pathway -- and that just might be into your home or
building's electrical system or appliances leading to fire or damaged
property.
The copper coating is a key to the
product's durability. The Underwriters Laboratories' ground rod
standard (UL 467) requires 10 mils of copper around the steel rod, and
with this thickness a ground rod might expect a 40 year or
more lifespan before corrosion impedes its ability to protect. The counterfeit ground rods have
only a fraction of the required copper coating -- in the vicinity of
only 2 mils, or 20% of what is required. These rods might last as long
as 6 or 8 years, before your property is at risk for lack of
protection. The knock off artists put the UL mark on these rods,
leading people to believe that it meets the UL requirements and that
they can expect the kind of durability a UL listed product offers.
Why are people selling these
substandard counterfeit products? So they can unfairly compete.
Copper is an expensive commodity these days, and given that there is a
world price for copper and steel, China does not enjoy a comparative
advantage over the United States in their manufacture. Because the
imported product cannot fairly compete with the domestic ground rod,
the counterfeiters have to cheat by cutting back on the copper
component so they can undersell domestic producers. And public safety
is at risk for this crime. This is clearly a case where the lower
price for a commodity product tells you something is wrong.
Posted
01-09-2008 2:13 PM
by
Silcox, Clark