Newson Gale: Advanced-Design Static Grounding Clamp Serves Mobile/Portable Equipment

A popular intrinsically-safe hazardous-area grounding clamp that protects against static electricity build-up in mobile or portable equipment now offers advanced features. 

The rugged Bond-Rite clamp from Newson-Gale Inc. creates and continuously monitors a low-resistance connection to ground, while providing visual verification through a flashing LED indicator. Now, however, it includes a re-designed electronic module for enhanced battery/working life, effectively doubling the life of a single battery. Users of the new units report up to 12 months of service between battery changes, based on a typical duty cycle of three hours per day.

In addition, the new design also includes an in-line Quick-Connect feature as standard, allowing quick and easy field replacement of the clamp and/or retractable cables should they be damaged in service. The process requires no special skills or tools, eliminating the cost of materials and extensive down-time.

Although mobile and portable items such as drums and other containers are well knows as being difficult to bond effectively, the Bond-Rite clamp is at home in even the most demanding applications. Its sharp tungsten carbide teeth and unique clamping-action easily bite through insulating layers such as coated surfaces and built-up paint, resins, adhesives common in processing applications.

The instrument’s intrinsically safe body is made of 304 stainless steel and is powered by a long-life lithium battery, mounted internally for ease of installation. It is also dust and water tight and FM, CSA and ATEX approved. Application areas include Class I, Div. 1 and 2 Groups A,B,C,D; Class II, Div. 1 and 2, Groups E, F, G; Class III, T4.

Models for two standard configurations are offered: For ground-loop monitoring the clamp is equipped with a two-core self-retracting spiral cable, an in-line quick-connector junction box with ground-connection cables and a clamp stowage point. For clamp monitoring, the clamp is equipped with a single-core self-retracting spiral cable and connection lug and clamp stowage point. 

The Bond-Rite clamp is just part of the broad range of static grounding and bonding equipment available from Newson Gale Inc., the Jackson, NJ based specialists in static control for hazardous areas.