Copper Bonded vs. GI Earthing Rods: Which One Is Better?

Choosing between a GI rod and a Copper Bonded Earthing Rod is necessary for providing electrical safety during installation and ensuring long-term performance. In simple terms, it safely discharges fault currents into the earth grounds, with the material, conductivity, and durability being the major points of dissimilarity.

GI rods present an iron core protected (painted) with zinc and sometimes preferred for low cost with basic grounding requirements in low-risk areas. But GI rods are susceptible to corrosion within moist or acidic soils, which further renders it useless with the passage of time.

While a copper bonded rod offers an advantage over others, as they consist of a steel middle, which is electroplated with a thick coat of metallic copper, usually about 100-250 microns thick. This way, these rods have the potential to combine the mechanical strength of steel along with the high conductivity and corrosion resistance ability of copper. This means better performance of grounding, longer service life, and low maintenance.

While it is true that GI might be considered for budget installations, yet Copper Bonded Earthing Rods, which reflect utmost reliability, durability, and high conductivity, are the best long-term option for critical or high-risk work. Copper Bonded Earthing Rod retains ultimate notoriety for ensuring safety and performance.