SAE Inc.'s ConduDisc FLEX is a conductive, corrosion-proof ground plate built for jobs where the utility needs flexibility in conductor and connector sizes. Unlike the ConduDisc PRO, which ships with the wire attached, the FLEX has connection slots and you attach the wire and connectors in the field. SAE lists it for any grounding application, including padmount transformers and grids. This guide covers the specs, SAE's test results, how it differs from the PRO, and the approvals SAE lists.
From SAE's January 2022 ConduDisc brochure and its May 2023 ConduDisc Flex specification resource.
| Item | What SAE lists |
|---|---|
| Application | Any grounding application |
| Material | Conductive, polymeric, molded material |
| Steel plate | Mild steel, 1/4 in. thick and 13.5 in. across, hot dip galvanized to ASTM A123 with an average zinc thickness of 3.0 mils |
| Finished size | 2 in. thick and 14.5 in. across |
| Surface area | The steel plate equals the surface area of one 3/4 in. x 10 ft ground rod |
| Weight | 25 lb |
| Wire | Self attached. You attach the wire and connectors in the field. |
| Connection options | 1 slot, 3 slots or 4 slots |
| Bolt connections | 6 mm, 12 mm, 1/4 in. or 1/2 in. |
| Installation time | 5 minutes |
| Approvals | RUS approved, CSA compliant, NESC compliant |
SAE's brochure groups the ConduDisc collection into three uses. The FLEX is listed for any grounding application, so it fits all three.
| Use | Notes |
|---|---|
| Overhead transmission and distribution grounding | Pole grounding |
| Underground equipment grounding | The brochure shows a padmount transformer |
| Electric vehicle charger grounding | Listed for the collection |
| ConduDisc FLEX | ConduDisc PRO | |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Any grounding application | Distribution, transmission, EV, telecom |
| Weight | 25 lb | 25 lb plus wire |
| Wire | Self attached in the field | Attached at the factory, user specified |
| Connection | 1, 3 or 4 slots with 6 mm, 12 mm, 1/4 in. or 1/2 in. bolts | One pre-determined connection. You order the wire gauge and length. |
| Installation time | 5 minutes | 2 minutes |
Pick the FLEX when the conductor or connector size varies from job to job, or you want to choose the hardware yourself. Pick the PRO when you want the wire gauge and length set at the factory.
SAE lists the same figures for the FLEX and the PRO, tested to SAE Standard 100. These are SAE's numbers, not Powertech test results.
| Metal | Electrical corrosion resistance |
|---|---|
| Copper | 100% |
| Steel | 98.09% |
| Galvanized steel | 99.91% |
SAE buried plates in wet, salty soil for one year with 10 mA of current running through each one. This table shows how much of each plate's mass was lost.
| Plate | Mass lost |
|---|---|
| Blackburn GP-100 copper grounding plate | 74.40% |
| Galvanized steel grounding plate | 1.25% |
| Galvanized steel plate encased in ConduDisc | None. SAE recorded a 0.07% gain and credits it to surround material left on the plate. |
These come from SAE's ConduDisc Flex specification resource.
| Test | Result | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Freeze-thaw withstand | 30 years, shown over 90 freeze-thaw cycles | SAE Standard 102 |
| Water permeability | 1.72 x 10-7 cm/sec | ASTM D5084 at 2.6 psi |
| Compression | 2.2 mm (4.3%) at 7,000 kg and 3.1 mm (6.1%) at 16,771 kg, the maximum load applied | SAE Standard 103 |
| Resistivity | 30.39 ohm-cm | SAE Standard 105 |
| Fault current withstand | Tested from 1,040 A to 4,990 A for up to 508 milliseconds | SAE test |
| Flammability | No ignition under a propane torch (about 2000 °C) for 60 seconds | SAE test |
| Leachate | Environmentally neutral. TCLP results are below the USEPA limits. | Ontario Regulation 558/00 |
| Approval | What SAE says |
|---|---|
| RUS | USDA Rural Utilities Service approved |
| CSA | Complies with CSA Standard C22.2 No. 41-13 and No. 65-13 |
| NESC | National Electrical Safety Code compliant |
| ESA (Ontario) | Meets the ESA Technical Guideline for Section 6 "Approval of Electrical Equipment" with regards to Ontario Regulation 22/04 |
| NEC | SAE calls the ConduDisc fully NEC compliant |
A conductive, polymeric, molded ground plate from SAE with connection slots for field wiring. It is the newer model in the ConduDisc collection.
The PRO comes with the wire attached at the factory in the gauge and length you order. The FLEX has 1, 3 or 4 slots and you attach the wire and connectors yourself. SAE lists a 5 minute install for the FLEX and 2 minutes for the PRO.
SAE lists 6 mm, 12 mm, 1/4 in. and 1/2 in. bolt connections.
No. SAE lists the wire as self attached, so you supply the wire and connectors.
SAE lists it for any grounding application, and shows it for padmount transformers and grids in its brochure.
SAE says up to 60 years, the life of a utility pole. In SAE's testing, a galvanized steel plate encased in ConduDisc showed no mass loss after a year in wet, salty soil with 10 mA running through it, and the material passed 90 freeze-thaw cycles, which SAE equates to 30 years.
RUS approved, CSA compliant and NESC compliant. SAE also says it meets the ESA guideline for Ontario Regulation 22/04.
To order a ConduDisc FLEX, contact Powertech Associates at info@powertech-upsc.com or (860) 678-8772 with the number of slots and bolt size you need. View the ConduDisc FLEX brochure.
