POST-LAB # 03

Group Members:
M.Sayem Suleman
M. Taha Zafar
M. Danish Baig
M. Ali Raza
M. Affaf ul Hasan

EE-060
EE-017
EE-036
EE-041
EE-301

Class: T.E
Section: E
Course Code: EE-342
Batch: 2012-13
Lab Teacher: Miss. Narjis Fatima
University: NED University of Engineering & Technology

Electrical Power Distribution & Utilization

Pre Lab#07

DIGITAL EARTH TESTER:

A digital earth tester allows for the measurement of Earth Resistances and Soil Specific
Resistivity, and also the spurious voltages caused by parasitic voltages present in the soil. This
equipment is suitable for fast and easy measurement of the grounding resistance in house and
industrial buildings, hospital installations, lightning rods, antennas, substations, etc.
Soil resistivity measurement allows for soil stratification in order to optimize the most complex
grounding systems engineering. Its state-of-the-art system of active and passive filters provides it
with high immunity to electric interferences, making it possible to obtain reliable measurements
even in the presence of spurious voltages, such as the ones that can be found in some urban areas
and near primary substations.

SOIL RESISTIVITY:
Soil resistivity is a measure of how much the soil resists the flow of electricity. It is a critical
factor in design of systems that rely on passing current through the Earth's surface. An
understanding of the soil resistivity and how it varies with depth in the soil is necessary to design
the grounding system in an electrical substation, or for lightning conductors.
It is needed for design of grounding (earthing) electrodes for substations and High-voltage direct
current transmission systems. In most substations the earth is used to conduct fault current when
there are ground faults on the system.

In single wire earth return power transmission systems, the earth itself is used as the path of
conduction from the end customers (the power consumers) back to the transmission facility. In
general there is some value above which the impedance of the earth connection must not rise,
and some maximum step voltage which must not be exceeded to avoid endangering people and
livestock.

Electrical Power Distribution & Utilization

Pre Lab#07

The soil resistivity value is subject to great variation, due to moisture, temperature and chemical
content. Typical values are:

Usual values: from 10 up to 1000 (-m)

Exceptional values: from 1 up to 10000 (-m)

GROUNDING RESISTANCE:
The earths ground resistance impacts the effectiveness of shunting high voltage surges from
lightning and other sources to the earth. The generally accepted practice is to have the earths
ground resistance not exceed 25. However, to protect communication systems (cell phone sites)
and sensitive electronic installations (computers), the voltage dissipation capability of the earth
(earth ground resistance) might be required to be less than 3 , and in some cases less than 1.
Failure to provide a low resistive earth ground can result in the migration of voltage from
lightning or line surges onto the premise wiring, which can cause electric shock and/or fire
within the building or structure.

Factors that significantly impact the earth ground resistance include the contact resistance of the
grounding conductor to the electrode, the type of electrode used and the resistivity of the soil.