According to best practice, where should the transmitter ground plate or rod be placed relative to the connection point?

• A. As far away as possible from the connection point
• B. Adjacent to the connection point
• C. On the opposite side of the property
• D. Inside the structure near the panel

Answer: (A)

To complete the circuit through the earth, the transmitter ground plate or rod should be placed as far from the connection point as possible. This distance helps the injected current travel through the soil along the path of the buried utility rather than taking a nearby, short return path back to the source. The result is a stronger, clearer signal for the receiver to detect. Placing the grounding electrode adjacent to the connection point would shunt current locally and weaken the signal along the target, while putting it on the far side of the property or inside the structure wouldn’t provide the proper soil return path and can be unsafe or impractical.