Electrostatic grounding helps effectively protect the process of filling or emptying conductive containers, IBCs or drums from explosions caused by static electricity.
Electrostatic charging occurs when transporting, filling, pouring or mixing flammable liquids or bulk materials into or out of containers. In such processes, there is a risk of a sudden and uncontrolled electrostatic discharge, such as a spark. Importantly, such discharges can release enough energy to ignite an explosive atmosphere.
Electrostatic grounding is used as a preventive measure of explosion protection to dissipate electrostatic charges in a controlled and safe manner. This prevents uncontrolled discharge of static electricity, reducing the risk of ignition of an explosive atmosphere.
The revolutionary Timm Bite Smart LED makes it easy and quick to check that the grounding connection is fully secure in potentially hazardous areas. The innovation of this device lies in its ability to be used in areas where it is impossible to use a traditional grounding control system due to lack of access to power supply, or where a traditional solution is not economically viable.
The principle of operation of the system
The Timm Bite Smart LED grounding control system continuously, by means of built-in LEDs, informs the operator about the current state of the grounded component.
When the resistance exceeds 10 Ω, the Smart LED informs the user with a flashing red light. When the resistance value falls below the safe limit of 10 Ω, correct grounding is indicated by green LEDs. The orange color indicates the need to replace the batteries.
The SMART LED device comes in two versions:
- mobile version,
- wall-mounted version (this solution has a special parking station for hanging up the monitoring module and hangers for grounding terminals).
The TIMM BITE Smart LED is powered by a 3.6V lithium battery, designed for long-term applications, which allows the system to operate for about 36 months with an operating mode of 6 hours a day.
The measuring circuit is designed with energy efficiency in mind, so the device features an integrated motion sensor, which ensures an extremely long battery life.
The system is factory-set to a flashing cycle every 4 seconds, which is an energy-saving mode. There is also an adjustment function, allowing you to lengthen or shorten the light pulses, which, however, involves higher energy consumption.
System components:
The TIMM BITE Smart LED monitoring module consists of a main housing (tube) made of aluminum, which minimizes weight, and a transparent display, behind which are 3 LEDs. They are arranged in such a way that they are visible from all sides of the device, so that we get a 360° lighting effect.
The main housing contains the power supply battery, measurement electronics and ground wire connection terminals. At the end of the housing are cable glands with strain relief on both sides to allow the introduction of the ground wire. TIMM BITE Smart LED is available with or without plug-in connectors in the ground wire.
Depending on the intended use of the SMART LED system, the appropriate grounding terminals are selected. As many as 3 models of clamps are available, some of which can be equipped with very sharp teeth that pierce paint and varnish coatings, or have strong and profiled jaws that work perfectly with IBC tanks and other process plant components.
In addition, the TIMM BITE Smart LED can come in the following versions:
Portable version: It consists of a monitoring module, which is terminated on both sides with grounding terminals (selection of terminals depends on their purpose). The terminals with the module are connected by means of spiral grounding cables, which have a special protective coating against chemical and mechanical agents and are equipped with quick connectors for quick terminal replacement.
Wall version: It has only one grounding terminal and a monitoring module. The other side is completed with a parking station that can be mounted on a wall or metal pole. The parking station is equipped with a junction box with strain relief so that the operator does not pull out the wire, special clips for putting down SMART LED and hangers for hooking up the terminal.
The length of the spiral grounding cables in both versions ranges from 3 to 15 meters.
Certification and compliance of the system
The TIMM BITE Smart LED is an explosion-proof device and complies with the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU and the requirements of European standards EN IEC 60079-0:2018, IEC 60070:2023 – COR:2023 and IEC 60079-31:2022.
As a category 2G electrical equipment, it can be used in hazardous areas in zones 1 and 2 or as a category II 2D device in the areas of zones 21 and 22.
