Potential equalizing apparatus

An apparatus for reducing the difference in electrical potential between two electrical conducting objects located a distance from each other in an electrical conducting medium comprising:

• an equalizing cable detachably connected between the two objects for conducting an equalizing current from one object to the other, the equalizing cable having a predetermined resistance value and a temperature coefficient;
• a current detector coupled in series with the equalizing cable between the two objects for generating a first output voltage having a value dependent on the equalizing current in the equalizing cable;
• an instrument lead detachably connected between the objects;
• a voltage detector connected in series with the instrument lead between the objects for sensing the potential difference between the objects and generating a second output voltage having a value dependent on the sensed potential difference;
• a processing circuit coupled to receive the first and second output voltages and generate therefrom a third output voltage;
• and
• a decision circuit coupled to the third output voltage for generating an output signal representative of the deviation in electrical resistance between the objects along the equalizing cable and the predetermined resistance value of the equalizing cable.