How does this work? do the alloying metals in the SS make it more prone to galvanic action than regular or galvinised steel?
How soon until we need catodic protection systems with sacrificial anodes to go with our ground rods?
Personally, I've always been of the opinion that ground rods don't provide an adaquate path to ground regardless of state of decomposition.
Bear in mind Will, that there are over 90 types(grades) of Stainless available.
One thing that has to also be remembered about stainless, is the fact that it contains a fair amount of Nickel and Chromium, Nichrome wire is used for heating elements.
Down here in damp New Zealand, earth electrodes can have a very short life, especially near the coast.
As an inspector, the Earthing test is often the first to be done when checking out faults.
Our supply system depends on good earthing, to clear faults on the system, with reasonably large fault currents being sent down the Earth circuit, back to the transformer.
I have, before today buried heavy copper wire in the soil as an alternative to an actual stake in the ground, where the soil is too stony to get an effective earth.
Some people over here (even some electricians) have the tainted idea that an earth electrode should last the life of the building.
Umm, no, it might if your soil has a neutral pH, but these are few and far between.
In a totally safe building, there should be no current flow in the earth electrode at all, this is not achievable, there will always be a small amount of current flow there, this is what causes galvanic corrosion, to a degree.
The other part is the fact that the metal-soil contact area, is often not a 100% thing due to stones and other larger particles in the soil.
