A popular intrinsically-safe hazardous-area grounding clamp that protects against static electricity build-up in mobile or portable equipment now offers advanced features. The rugged Bond-Rite™ clamp from Newson-Gale Inc. creates and continuously monitors a low-resistance connection to ground, while providing visual verification through a flashing LED indicator. Now, however, it includes a re-designed electronic module for enhanced battery/working life, effectively doubling the life of a single battery. Users of the new units report up to 12 months of service between battery changes, based on a typical duty cycle of three hours per day.In addition, the new design also includes an in-line Quick-Connect feature as standard, allowing quick and easy field replacement of the clamp and/or retractable cables should they be damaged in service. The process requires no special skills or tools, eliminating the cost of materials and extensive down-time.Although mobile and portable items such as drums and other containers are well knows as being difficult to bond effectively, the Bond-Rite clamp is at home in even the most demanding applications. Its sharp tungsten carbide teeth and unique clamping-action easily bite through insulating layers such as coated surfaces and built-up paint, resins, adhesives common in processing applications.The instrument’s intrinsically safe body is made of 304 stainless steel and is powered by a long-life lithium battery, mounted internally for ease of installation. It is also dust and water tight and FM, CSA and ATEX approved. Application areas include Class I, Div. 1 and 2 Groups A,B,C,D; Class II, Div. 1 and 2, Groups E, F, G; Class III, T4.Models for two standard configurations are offered: For ground-loop monitoring the clamp is equipped with a two-core self-retracting spiral cable, an in-line quick-connector junction box with ground-connection cables and a clamp stowage point. For clamp monitoring, the clamp is equipped with a single-core self-retracting spiral cable and connection lug and clamp stowage point.