ETCR 3000B User manual

Earth Resistance Soil Resistivity Tester
ETCR Electronic Technology Company

CONTENT
Warning.............................................................................................. 0
I．Introduction...................................................................................2
II．Technical Specifications............................................................3
1. Base Conditions and Working Conditions..............................3
2. General Specification..............................................................3
3. Intrinsic error and performance indicators under base
conditions.................................................................................... 5
III．Tester Structure....................................................................... 6
IV．LCD Display...............................................................................7
V．Measuring Principle...................................................................8
VI. Operation Methods.....................................................................9
1．Switch On/Off....................................................................... 9
2．Battery Voltage Check...........................................................9
3．AC Voltage Measurement................................................... 10
4．Earth Voltage Measurement................................................ 11
5．4-wires Precise Earth Resistance Measurement................. 12
6．3-Wires Earth Resistance Measurement............................. 15
7．2-Wires Simple Measurement.............................................15
8．Soil Resistivity Measurement............................................. 17
9．Backlight Control................................................................18
10．Alarm Settings...................................................................18
11．Data Lock/Storage.............................................................18
12．Data Reading/Deletion......................................................19
13．Data Upload...................................................................... 19
VII. Battery Replacement.............................................................. 19
VIII．Accessories........................................................................... 20

Warning
Thanks for your purchase of ETCR3000B Earth Resistance
Soil Resistivity Tester of our company. For better use of
the product, please make sure:
---to read this user manual in details.
---to abide by the safety regulations and precautions
strictly.
The tester is conforming to IEC61010 on design,
production and test.
Under any circumstance, it shall pay special attention on
safety in use of this tester.
Pay attention to words and symbols stick on the Tester.
It shall make sure that tester and accessories are in good
condition before use; it can be used only when there is no
damaged, naked or broken part in testing wires or insulation
layer.
During measurement, it is forbidden to touch bare
conductors and circuit under measurement.
Before measurement, please confirm whether FUNCTION
rotary switch has been set within the proper measuring
range.
Confirm that connector plug of lead has been inserted in
the tester interface closely.
Please don’t impose over 600V A.C. or D.C. voltage on
the part between testing end and interface. Otherwise, it may
have damage on the tester.
Please don’t measure in an inflammable place. The flame
sparkle maybe cause explosion.
During usage of tester, please stop using it when exposed
metal is caused by broken enclosure or testing wires.

-1-
Please don’t keep or store the tester in the spot with
high-temperature and moisture, or condensation, and under
direct daylight radiation for a long time.
If the instrument is damp, please dry it before keeping.
For replacing battery, please confirm testing wire has
moved apart the meter, and FUNCTION rotary switch is in
“OFF” position.
Please put the used batteries in appointed collection
place.
The Tester has no auto shut-off function. Please set
FUNCTION rotary switch to “OFF” after usage.
When the meter displays battery low voltage symbol ，
and you need to replace the battery in time.
If the Tester is not going to be used for a long period,
remove the battery.
Pay attention to measuring range and usage environment
stipulated for the Tester.
This measuring device is only to be used, disassembled,
adjusted and repaired by qualified personnel with
authorization.
When it may cause hazard by continuous use for the
reason of the Tester itself, it shall immediately stop using it
and deposit it at once, leaving it for disposal by authorized
agency.
For risk of danger icon in manual , users must perform
safety operations strictly in compliance with the manual
content.

-2-
I．Introduction
ETCR3000B Earth Resistance Soil Resistivity Tester is
specially designed and manufactured for measuring earth
resistance, soil resistivity, earth voltage, AC voltage. Adopting
the latest digital and micro-processing technology, precise
4-pole, 3-pole and simple 2-pole method for earth resistance
measurement, importing FFT and AFC technology, with a
unique function of anti-interference capability and the ability to
adapt to the environment, consistency of repeat testing, to
ensure high precision, high stability and reliability for prolonged
measure, which is widely used in electric power,
telecommunications, meteorology, oil field, construction,
lightning protection, industrial electrical equipment and other
earth resistance, soil resistivity, earth voltage, AC voltage
measurement.
ETCR3000B Earth Resistance Soil Resistivity Tester is
composed of host machine, monitoring software, testing wires,
auxiliary ground pillars, communication wires and others. The
large LCD display of host machine is with blue backlight and
bar graph indicating that can be seen clearly. At the same time
it can store 300 sets of data, fulfilling historical inquiry and
online real-time monitoring through monitoring software,
dynamic display, alarm indicator, and with the functions like
historical data access, reading, preservation, report forms,
printing and so on.
ETCR3000B Earth Resistance Soil Resistivity Tester
also named: Precise Earth Resistance Tester, 4-pole Earth
Resistance Tester, 2/3/4-pole Earth Resistance Tester, Soil
Resistivity Tester.

-3-
II．Technical Specifications
1. Base Conditions and Working Conditions
Influence Quantity
Base
Condition
Working
Conditions
Remark
Ambient Temp
23℃±1℃
-10℃-40℃
----
Ambient Humidity
40%-60%
＜80%
----
Working Voltage
9V±0.1V
9V±1.5V
rC、rP
Auxiliary Earth
Resistance
＜100Ω
＜30kΩ
----
Interference Voltage
~
＜20V
----
Interference Current
~
＜2A
Electrode Distance
when measuring R
a＞5d
a＞5d
----
Electrode Distance
when measuring ρ
a＞20h
a＞20h
----
2. General Specification
Function
Measurement of 2/3/4-pole earth resistance, soil
resistivity, earth voltage, AC voltage
Power Supply
DC 9V(Zi-Mn dry battery R14S 1.5V 6 PCS,
continuous standby for 300 hours )
Measurement
Range
Earth Resistance: 0.00Ω-30.00kΩ
Soil Resistivity: 0.00Ωm-9000kΩm
Measuring
Mode
Precise 4-pole measurement, 3-pole measurement,
simple 2-pole measurement
Measuring
Method
Earth Resistance: rated current change-pole method,
measurement current 20mA Max
Soil Resistivity: 4-pole measurement (Wenner
method)
Earth Voltage: average rectification(between P(S)-ES)
Test Frequency
128Hz/111Hz/105Hz/94Hz(AFC)
Short-circuit
Test Current
AC 20mA max
Open-circuit
Test Current
AC 40V max
Test Voltage
Wave
Sine wave
Electrode
Distance Range
Can be set 1m-100m

-4-
Shift
Earth resistance: 0.00Ω-30.00kΩ, automatic shift
Soil Resistivity: 0.00Ωm-9000kΩm, automatic shift
Backlight
Blue screen backlight, suitable for dim places
Display Mode
4-digital super-large LCD display, blue screen
backlight
Measuring
Indicator
During measurement, LED flash indicator, LCD count
down display, progress bar indicator
LCD Frame
Dimension
128mm×75mm
LCD Window
Dimension
124mm×67mm
Dimension
L×W×H: 215mm×190mm×95mm
Standard Test
Wire
4 wires: each for red 20m, black 20m, yellow 10m,
and green 10m
Simple Test
Wire
2 wires: each for red 1.6m and black 1.6m
Auxiliary
Earthing Rod
4 wires: Φ10mm×150mm
Measuring Rate
Voltage to ground: about 3 times/second
Earth resistance, soil resistivity: about 5 seconds/time
Measuring
Times
Over 5000 times (Short-circuit test, interval time
should be at least 30 seconds)
Circuit Voltage
below AC 600V
RS232 Interface
Possess RS232 interface, software supervision,
storage data can be uploaded to computer, saved or
printed.
Communication
Wire
One piece of RS232 communication wire, with length
1.5m
Data Storage
300 sets, “MEM” icon storage indicator, flash display
“FULL” icon to indicate storage is full
Data Hold
Data hold function: “HOLD” icon display
Data Read
Data read function: “READ” icon display
Overflow
Display
Exceeding measuring range overflow function: “OL”
icon display
Interference
Test
Recognize interference signal automatically, “NOISE”
icon display when interference voltage exceed 5V
Auxiliary
Earthing Test
Can measure auxiliary earth resistance,
0.00KΩ-30kΩ(100R+rC<50kΩ, 100R+rP<50kΩ)
Alarm Function
When measuring value exceeds alarm setting value,
there is “Toot-toot-toot” alarm hint
Battery Voltage
When battery voltage decreases to about 7.5V,

-5-
battery voltage low icon will display, reminding to
replace battery.
Power
Consumption
Standby: about 20mA (Backlight shut off)
Boot and with backlight: about 45mA (25mA without
backlight)
Measurement: about 100mA (Backlight shut off)
Weight
Total weight: 4.5kg (including package)
Tester: 1443g (including battery)
Tesing wires: 1560g
Auxiliary earthing rods: 935g (4pcs)
Working
Temperature &
Humidity
-10℃-40℃, below 80%rh
Storage
temperature &
humidity
-20℃-60℃, below 70%rh
Overload
Protection
Measuring earth resistance: between each interfaces
of C(H)-E、P(S)-ES, AC 280V/3 seconds
Insulation
Resistance
Over 20MΩ (between circuit and enclosure it is 500V)
Withstanding
Voltage
AC 3700V/rms (Between circuit and enclosure)
Electromagnetic
Features
IEC61326(EMC)
Protection Type
IEC61010-1 (CAT Ⅲ300V、CAT IV 150V、Pollution 2),
IEC61010-031, IEC61557-1 (Earth resistance),
IEC61557-5 (Soil resistivity), JJG 366-2004
3. Intrinsic error and performance indicators under base
conditions
Category
Measurement Range
Intrinsic Error
Resolution
Earth
Resistance
(R)
0.00Ω-30.00Ω
±2%rdg±3dgt
0.01Ω
30.0Ω-300.0Ω
±2%rdg±3dgt
0.1Ω
300Ω-3000Ω
±2%rdg±3dgt
1Ω
3.00kΩ-30.00kΩ
±4%rdg±3dgt
10Ω
Soil Resistivity
(ρ)
0.00Ωm-99.99Ωm
According to
the precision of
0.01Ωm
100.0Ωm-999.9Ωm
0.1Ωm

-6-
R
(ρ=2πaR
a:1 m-100m,
π=3.14)
1000Ωm-9999Ωm
1Ωm
10.00kΩm-99.99kΩm
10Ωm
100.0kΩm-999.9kΩm
100Ωm
1000kΩm-9000kΩm
1kΩm
Earth Voltage
AC 0.0-600V
±2%rdg±3dgt
0.1V
Note: 1. When rC max or rP max, additional error≤±3%rdg±5dgt.
(rC max: 4kΩ+100R＜50kΩ, rP max: 4kΩ+100R＜50kΩ)
2. When 5V interference voltage, additional error≤±5%rdg±5dgt.
III．Tester Structure
1. LCD
2. Button area
3. Rotary switch
for selecting function
4. USB Interface
5. Interface of
testing wires
6. C(H) interface:
Current electrode
7. ES interface:
Auxiliary earth electrode
8. Einterface:
Earth electrode
9. P(S) interface:
Voltage electrode
10. Standard test wires
11. Auxiliary grounding rod
12. Simple test line

-7-
IV．LCD Display
1. Progress bar (Dynamic display the progress of testing)
2. Alarm symbol (Display when open alarm function, flash when exceed
the alarm value)
3. Exceed voltage symbol (Display when the measured voltage exceed
30V, please pay attention to the safety)
4. AC symbol
5. Data hold symbol (Display when press MEM to hold data)
6. Data access symbol (Display when long press MEM for at least 3
seconds to access data)
7. Data storage symbol (Display when press MEM to hold data and store)
8. Interference signal symbol (Display when the interference voltage
exceed 5V)
9. Low battery symbol (Display when the battery voltage decreases to
7.5V)
10. Display the group number of stored data, and display countdown.
11. Interference electrode symbol (Display when the electrode exceed 5V
interference voltage)
12. Measured data
13. Voltage unit symbol
14. Resistance, soil resistivity, length unit symbol (Ω, kΩ, Ωm, kΩm, m)

-8-
V．Measuring Principle
1. Voltage to ground measurement adopts average value rectification
method.
2. Earth resistance measurement with fall-of-potential method. AC
constant current Iis applied between the measurement object Eearth
electrode and C(H) current electrode, and finding out the potential
difference Vbetween Eearth electrode and P(S) voltage electrode,
calculating the earth ground Raccording to formula R=V/I. To ensure the
accuracy of test, designed the 4-wires method, increase ES auxiliary
earth electrode, ES and Eclip on the same point during testing. The
4-wires method can eliminate influence of contact resistance (usually
result from dirty or rusty) between measured earthing body, auxiliary
earthing rods, test clips, meter’s input interface. The 4-wires method can
also eliminate influence of line resistance.
3．Maximum Operating Error ：Operating error(B) is an error obtained
within the rated operating conditions, and calculated with the intrinsic
error(A), which is an error of the instrument used, and the error(E) due to
variations.
A：Intrinsic error
E2：Variation due to power supply voltage
E3：Variation due to temperature change
E4：Variation due to interference voltage change
E5：Variation due to contact electrode resistance
4. Soil resistivity (ρ) is measured by 4-pole method (Wenner method):
There is a AC current Ibetween Eearthing electrode and C(H)

-9-
current electrode, find the potential difference Vbetween P(S)
voltage electrode and ES auxiliary earthing electrode, the potential
difference Vdivided by AC current Iis earth resistance R, electrode
distance is a(m), then soil resistivity can be got according to formula
ρ=2πaR(Ωm). If the electrode distance of C(H)-P(S) is equal to
P(S)-ES (both is a) that is for wenner method. In order to simple the
calculation, please make electrode distance afar more than
embedding depth h, generally should meet a>20h, as shown below.
VI. Operation Methods
1．Switch On/Off
Rotate FUNCTION rotary switch to fulfill switch on and off. When
rotary switch button displays “OFF” for shut-off. The Tester has no auto
shut-off function, so please shut it off after usage in case of battery
consumption saving.
2．Battery Voltage Check
After switch on, if LCD displays low battery voltage icon “ ”，
which indicates that battery voltage is low, and please replace the
battery in compliance with instructions. Adequate battery power can
ensure the accuracy of measurement.
Rated Cu rrent Generator
Voltmeter

-10-
3．AC Voltage Measurement
Ac line voltage measurement can't exceed 600 V.
Connect P(S) and ES interface to test commercial AC
voltage, no need to connect C(H) and E interface.
AC voltage measurement refers to the general commercial AC
voltage measurement, pay attention to the difference between grounding
voltage, the meter can be used for testing below 600V AC line voltage.
As shown below: Firstly connect test wires with P(S),ES interface,
secondly connect test wires with tested line, then rotate FUNCTION
rotary switch to “EARTH VOLTAGE” and start testing, LCD will display
the test results.
Green
Yellow

-11-
4．Earth Voltage Measurement
Earth voltage measurement need to use one auxiliary
earthing rod.
The meter connect with the earth only by testing wires and
auxiliary earthing rods. Other testing wires of meter’s
interface can’t connect with commercial power line L, N,
otherwise may cause leakage, the breaker may start, it is
dangerous.
Earth voltage measurement can't exceed 600 V.
Earth voltage: That is a potential differences between zero potential
differences and earthing equipment shell, earthing wires, earthing body
when electrical equipment has a earthing fault. Earth voltage is the
potential differences between the earth. As a reference point, the earth is
zero potential.
Earth voltage measurement need to use one auxiliary earthing rod.
Please pay attention to the difference from commercial AC voltage
measurement. As shown below: meter, auxiliary earthing rods, testing
wires are all connected, rotate FUNCTION rotary switch to “EARTH
VOLTAGE” and start testing, LCD will display the test results.
Yellow
Green Transformer
n2 n1
Measured Grounding
Commercial Grounding on the ground voltage test

-12-
5．4-wires Precise Earth Resistance Measurement
In the testing of earth resistance, should firstly confirm
the earth voltage of earthing wire, the voltage between
C(H) and E or P(s) and ES must under 20V, the meter
showing NOISE symbols when the earth voltage exceed
5V, and the measured value of earth resistance may
produce error. At this time, firstly interrupt power supply
to earthing equipment, make sure the earth voltage
decrease, and then test earth resistance again.
4-wires measurement: The 4-wires method can eliminate influence of
contact resistance (usually result from dirty or rusty) between measured
earthing body, auxiliary earthing rods, test clips, meter’s input interface.
The 4-wires method can also eliminate influence of line resistance. So it
is better than 3-wires measurement.
As shown below: Start from the measured body, interval 5m-20m,
respectively insert P(S),C(H) auxiliary earthing rods deep into the earth in
a straight line, and then connect testing wires (black, green, yellow, red)
from E,ES,P(S),C(H) interfaces corresponding to measured earth
electrode E, auxiliary voltage electrode P(S),auxiliary current electrode
C(H).
The distance from measured earthing body to current
electrode C(H), should at least five times longer than the
embedded depth of measured earthing body, or the
embedded electrode depth (d).
When measuring the total earth resistance of complex
earthing system, d is the length of the biggest diagonal
line of this earthing system.
Testing wires can’t be winded together, or may affect the
measuring accuracy.

-13-
Measured Grounding
Red Yellow
Green Black
For multi independent earthing system or larger earth net, 50m or longer
testing wire is optional, as shown below:
Red
Yellow
Green
Black

-14-
R=r1∥r2∥r3∥r4∥r5∥r6∥…∥rn (r1…rn are all independent
earthing points)
R—— The reading value on meter, the total earth resistance of the
earthing system.
r1…rn—— All are independent earthing points, each points have no
connection together under the ground.
rC—— The earth resistance rC of auxiliary current electrode C(H).
rP—— The earth resistance rP of auxiliary voltage electrode P(S).
n—— Number of independent earthing point, more points, smaller
the Rvalue.
After finishing wires connection, firstly rotate FUNCTION rotary
switch to “REARTH”, press “START” button to start testing. During
testing, display countdown and process bar indicator. Stable earth
resistance value is shown when finish testing.
Press “SET” button, the earth resistance rC of auxiliary current
electrode C(H) and earth resistance rP of auxiliary voltage electrode
P(S) will be displayed, and then automatically return display of
measured earth resistance R.
As shown below, the measured earth resistance is 2.05Ω, already
stored 8 sets of data. the earth resistance rC of auxiliary current
electrode C(H) is 0.36KΩ, the earth resistance rP of auxiliary voltage
electrode P(S) is 0.27KΩ.

-15-
6．3-Wires Earth Resistance Measurement
3-wires measurement: As shown below, short-circuit ES and Sinterface,
which is 3-wires measurement. The operation of meter is the same with
4-wires measurement. The 3-wires method can’t eliminate influence of
line resistance, also can’t eliminate influence of contact resistance
between meter and testing wires, testing wires and auxiliary Grounding
rods. Meanwhile, oxidation layer on measured Grounding body must be
removed when measuring.
7．2-Wires Simple Measurement
When select commercial use power supply system earth as
auxiliary earth electrode, it must use detector to confirm that is
it the earth ground electrode for commercial use power supply
system, otherwise the breaker may start, it is dangerous.
Using 2-wires simple method for measuring earth resistance,
try to choose a earthing body which has a small re value as
auxiliary earthing electrode, so that the reading value is more
close to the real value. The metal pipes, metal fire hydrant
have priority in choosing auxiliary earthing electrodes.
2-wires method: This method is a simple method for measurement
that does not use auxiliary earthing rod, taking the earth electrode with
the minimal existing earth ground resistance value as auxiliary earth
electrode, and connecting by two simple testing wires (in which C(H)-P(S),
E-ES interfaces are in short circuit). It can make use of metal pipes, fire
hydrants and other metal buried objects, common earthing of commercial
electric power system or lightning protection earth ground electrode and

-16-
others to replace auxiliary earthing rods C(H),P(S), and pay attention to
remove oxide layer on the connection point of the selected metal auxiliary
earthing object when making measurement.
Wire connection is as following figure, and refer to 4-wires
measurement for other operations.
2-wires simple method for measurement of earth ground resistance,
its reading on tester is the total value of earth ground resistance value of
measured earthing object and that of commercial earthing object, that is:
R=RX＋re
In which:
Ris the tester reading value;
RX is the earth ground resistance value of measured earthing object;
re is the earth ground resistance value of common earthing object
Black
Red
Transformer
Measured
Grounding Commercial
Grounding
Secondary
side Primary
side
Measu red Gr oun ding