test stations good-bad-ugly
TRANSCRIPT
CathodicProtectionTestStations
TheGood,TheBad,andTheUgly!
JeffSchramukNACECPSpecialist#7695
630‐235‐1559www.cpsolutionsinc.net
1
Post‐TypeTestStation– ThirdPartyDamage
Wasn’t it obvious?
2
HowNOTtoWiretheTerminalBoard
Is there room for any more wires?
Lost my head!
3
HowNOTtoInstalltheTerminalBoard
Can I close the test station cover without
breaking off the wires?
Will the enclosure
drain?
4
FlushTestStation– WhoWillBeAbletoReadIt?
Future Traffic Lane
5
TerminalBoardw/oRingTongueWireConnectors
Test station wires merely wrapped around terminal posts will slip off when cover is twisted to close-lock
Bad Practice!
6
“Economy”Flush‐TypeTestStation&TerminalBoard
Can you see it?
Terminal Corrosion?
Bad Practice!
7
Flush‐StyleTestStation(ConcreteFilled)
Wires encased in concrete sidewalk cavity w/o proper drainage
Bad Practice!
8
FlushTestStation(WireHousingCutOff)
Bottom shaft of test station has been cut off
Bad Practice!
9
FlushTestStation(TooManyWires)
Where’s the Decoder?
Bad Practice!
10
CPTHHN‐THWNTestStationWireFailures
11Insulation crackedPoor Splice Technique
Bad Practice!
TestStationWiresNotProperlyBuried
Test station wires exposedBad
Practice!12
13
ShoddyRingTongueConnectorsonTestWires
If ring tongue connectors are used, make sure they are properly connected to the test wires!
Bad Practice!
TypicalUSACEFlushTestStationInstallation
Two test leads (gray) are
connected to the pipe. One pipe lead is connected to the anode (red wire) via the wire shunt. The other pipe lead is
terminated separately for
testing purposes.
Good Job!
14
T.S.Head– InstalledwithoutPEMountingPost
Result: Water and Silt Accumulates within Upside-Down Test Station
Problem: No Crushed Stone Installed on Bottom of Enclosure
Problem: Terminal Board Not Installed Upright within Enclosure
Result: Water and Silt Fills Test Station Enclosure
water
silt
15
16
CPTestStationWires– Protected UptoGrade
Test Station terminal board is mounted to top
of PE pipe
CP Test WiresRed: AnodesBlue: Pipe
Yellow: Reference Electrode
PE pipe protects CP wires down to bottom of
pipe trench
17
T.S.Enclosurew/oProperDrainage–After1Year
Cap is optional!?
Just cover it up!?
Bad Practice!
Interior of Enclosure w/TS Head (Damaged)Flush Enclosure
Standing water due to poor drainage from enclosure
Enclosure is poorly placed in low spot along roadside
T.S.Enclosurew/oDrainage–RealityPoursIn
18
TestStationEnclosure– AreTestWiresOptional?
Bad Practice!
Interior of Test Station Enclosure filled with mud but no test wires19
T.S.Enclosures– Designedfor“Incidental”Traffic
Bad Practice!Test station enclosures should never be paved over
20
ProperDrainageandWiringareImportant
ITS - No Gravel Drainage CTS - Proper Gravel Drainage
Disconnected wire from ring tongueMud fills bottom of enclosure21
AnodesWorkBetterWhenTheyAreConnected
Test Station w/Cover Removed
Terminal Board Front Terminal Board Back
Note: No wire shunt connection is installedbetween bonded 2 x #8 anode cables (red)and 1 x #8 structure (blue) cable
Wet sand fills bottom of enclosure22
Properly‐WiredAnodeTSTerminalBoard
Screw Terminals (Shunt & Shorting Bar) Binding Posts (All Incoming TS Wires)
23
InstalltheCorrect(Specified)TestStation
The test station cover is not suitable for teststations set within a flush enclosure since thecap’s “locking tab” cannot be easily released.
24
25
ASuitablePost‐TypeCPTestStationInstallation
Shown w/cap removed
Good Job!
26Concrete pad is optional per owner
Terminal board is mounted to PE Pipe
Crushed gravel provides drainage
Good Job!
SuitableFlush‐TypeCPTestStationInstallation
27
MoreFlush‐TypeCPTestStationInstallations
Good Job!
Note siltation - gravel allows thorough drainage
Marker Post is Optional
28
JeffSchramukNACECPSpecialist#7695
630‐235‐1559www.cpsolutionsinc.net
DoYouNeedMoreInformation
RegardingYourSpecificProject?
PleaseContactMe!
TechnicalAssistanceisAlwaysAvailable
All material in this presentation is, unless otherwise stated, the property of CP Solutions, Inc (CPSI). Copyright and other intellectual property laws protect these materials. Reproduction or retransmission of the materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, without the prior written consent of CPSI, is a violation of copyright law.