I'm airfield systems tech at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. My issues is the grounding of the electronics that are located on a 200-300 meter thick ice shelf. Therefore, no earth ground is easily accessible for my equipment. We are having issues with our equipment and I believe that the lack of grounding has caused an increase of static electricity while replacing ESD sensitive circuit cards due to the charge our bodies naturally produce. In essence, we obtain a fault with our system, a tech replaces the indicated card, and the system continues to be inoperable. Is it possible to ground electronic equipment without an earth ground? Is it possible to minimize static electricity by any other means?

I appreciate any advice,
K. Hall

There are volumes of products and methods for reduction or control of static. Flooring for example in hospitals...
The solution begins where your power is produced. The point where your "zero" of neutral is established needs to include the bonding of all potentially conductive components like building steel, concrete footings of your building, all metal piping, metal ventilation duct-work, etc...

A survey of all electrical distribution systems should be done to verify multiple neutral to equipment ground bonds "have not" been made. Bonding of neutral and equipment ground needs to be made "one time" only or circulating currents could be produced which can generate noise.

IEEE has books on grounding and bonding that may be helpful...

Stay warm..

I found this online: supporting hfcarson's advice, you create a single "equipotential" plane" and use it as the common ground. Apparently this is similar to how "grounding" is done onboard ships.

See: http://redirect.viglink.com/?format=...sp-e1_spsm.pdf

and if you wish to explore creating an "equipotential plane" let us know,
If your buildings contain mostly concrete and steel this may not be difficult..