ELECTRICAL

SERVICES

Compiled by
Ar. B. K. Prabu
Electricity
 Electricity is the flow of electrons in metal wires.
 Rate of flow of electrons can be measured similar to rate
of flow of water.
 Measured in amperes or amps.
 Voltage is the pressure due to which current flows
 Ohms is the measure of resistance to the flow of current
Electric power
 Electric power is the rate at
which electric energy is transferred by
an electric circuit. The SI unit
of power is the watt,
one joule per second.
 Electric power is usually produced by
 electric generators
 electric batteries
 electric power industry supplied to
businesses and homes
 Electric power is usually sold by
the kilowatt hour (3.6 MJ) which is the
product of power in kilowatts
multiplied by running time in hours
Electrical design for building
 Step 1
Mark the various electrical
points in the plan and
determine the various loads
 Step 2
Determine the type of
phase, type of conductor
and type of conduit based
on the building typology,
load and design.
Draw the conduit lines.
Electrical design for building
 Step 3
If total load is less than 4kw
single phase can be availed
Based on the standards,
loads are segregated and
single line network diagram is
drawn.( 10 points per circuit
or 800 watt)
 Step 4
Now locate the EB Meter,
consumer main switch board
and distribution board on the
plan
Decide the number and
placement of earth pit
electrodes
Electrical design for building
 Step 5 : for large buildings
For large buildings the principle is
same .If total load is more than
4kw three phase can be availed
Phases separated and
distribution board and fuses or
MCBs are added
For residential flats and
commercial buildings, EB installs
transformer and pillar box.

In tamilnadu if the total load of a

single customer exceeds 112kw
the consumer should avail HT
supply at 11000 v. he should
install his own step down
transformer and connected
switch gears (sub- station)
Component
of electrical
design of a
building
Electrical circuit
An electrical circuit is a path in which electrons from a current source
flow. Electric current flows in a closed path called an electric circuit.

Electrical Load Definition:

the Electrical Load is The part or component in a circuit that converts
electricity into light, heat, or mechanical motion. Examples of loads are a light
bulb, resistor, or motor.

another definition:
If an electric circuit has a well-defined output terminal, the circuit connected
to this terminal (or its input impedance) is the load
 Electrical load
 Electric power is transformed to other
forms of power when electric
charges move through an electric
potential (voltage) difference, which
occurs in electrical components in
electric circuits. When electric
charges move through a potential
difference from a high voltage to a
low voltage, the energy in the
potential is converted to kinetic
energy of the charges, which
perform work on the device. Devices
in which this occurs are
called passive devices or loads; they
consume electric power, converting
it to other forms such as mechanical
work, heat, light, etc. Examples
are electrical appliances, such
as light bulbs, electric motors,
and electric heaters.
Load classification
Electrical Load Classification
and Types:
 the electrical loads can
be classified into various cate
gories according to various
factors as follows:
1- According To Load Nature-1
 Resistive Electrical Loads.
 Capacitive Electrical Loads.
 Inductive Electrical Loads.
 Combination Electrical Loads.
2- According To Load Nature-2
 Linear Electrical Load.
 None-Linear Electrical Load.
3- According To Load Function
o Lighting Load.
o Receptacles / General /
Small Appliances Load.
o Power Loads.
4- According To Load
Consumer Category
o Residential Electrical Loads
o Commercial Electrical
Loads.
o Industrial Electrical Loads.
o Municipal / Governmental
Electrical Loads (Street
Lighting, For Water Supply
and Drainage Purposes,
Irrigation Loads
power sources
 If the charges are forced to
move by an outside force in
the direction from a lower
potential to a higher, work is
being done on the charges,
so power is transferred to the
electric current from some
other type of energy, such
as mechanical
energy or chemical energy.
 Devices in which this occurs
are called active devices
or power sources; sources of
electric current, such
as electric generators
and batteries.
 Direct current and alternating
current
 Electricity flows in two ways; either in alternating current
(AC) or in direct current (DC). Electricity or 'current' is nothing
more than moving electrons along a conductor, like a wire,
that have been harnessed for energy. Therefore,
the difference between AC and DC has to do with the
direction in which the electrons flow. In DC, the electrons
flow steadily in a single direction, or "forward." In AC,
electrons keep switching directions, sometimes going
"forwards" and then going "backwards.
 Difference between AC and DC
ALTERNATING CURRENT DIRECT CURRENT
Safe to transfer over longer city Voltage of DC
Amount of energy that distances and can provide more cannot travel very
can be carried power. far until it begins to
lose energy.

Cause of the direction Rotating magnet along the wire. Steady magnetism
of flow of electrons along the wire.
The frequency of alternating current is The frequency of
Frequency 50Hz or 60Hz depending upon the direct current is zero.
country.
It reverses its direction while flowing in It flows in one
Direction a circuit. direction in the
circuit.
It is the current of magnitude varying It is the current of
Current with time constant
magnitude.
Difference between AC and DC
ALTERNATING CURRENT DIRECT CURRENT

It is the current of magnitude It is the current of

Current varying with time constant magnitude.
Electrons keep switching Electrons move steadily
Flow of Electrons directions - forward and in one direction or
backward. 'forward'.

Obtained from A.C Generator and mains. Cell or Battery.

Passive Parameters Impedance. Resistance only

Power Factor Lies between 0 & 1. it is always 1.

Sinusoidal, Trapezoidal, Pure and pulsating.

Types Triangular, Square.
Converting AC to DC

 Alternating current (AC) is the

most efficient way to deliver
electrical power. However, most
electronic devices need direct
current (DC) to function. For this
reason, AC to DC converters are
either a part of devices
themselves or as part of their
power cords. If you've built a
device you wish to power from an
AC outlet, you must add an AC to
DC converter.
 rectifiers
 Rectifier
 A rectifier is an electrical device
that converts alternating current(AC),
which periodically reverses direction,
to direct current (DC), which flows in
only one direction. The process is known Selenium rectifier for
as rectification.
electronic devices
 Physically, rectifiers take a number of
forms, including
 vacuum tube diodes,
 mercury-arc valves, copper and Vacuum
selenium oxide
rectifiers, semiconductor tube
diodes, silicon-controlled rectifiers and rectifiers
other silicon-based semiconductor
switches.
 Historically, even synchronous
electromechanical switches and
motors have been used.
rectifier
Rectifiers have many uses, but are often found
serving as components of DC power
supplies and high-voltage direct current power
transmission systems. Rectification may serve in
roles other than to generate direct current for use
as a source of power. As
noted, detectors of radio signals serve as
rectifiers. In gas heating systems flame
rectification is used to detect presence of flame.
 Because of the alternating nature of the input
AC sine wave, the process of rectification
alone produces a DC current that, though
unidirectional, consists of pulses of current.
Many applications of rectifiers, such as power
supplies for radio, television and computer
equipment, require a steady constant DC
current (as would be produced by a battery).
In these applications the output of the rectifier
is smoothed by an electronic filter to produce
a steady current.
 A more complex circuitry device that performs
the opposite function, converting DC to AC, is
called an inverter.
 Half –wave rectifier
 Half-wave rectifier
 The simplest type of rectifier is made from a single diode. This type of rectifier is
called a half-wave rectifier because it passes just half of the AC input voltage to
the output.
 When the AC voltage is positive on the cathode side of the diode, the diode
allows the current to pass through to the output. But when the AC current
reverses direction and becomes negative on the cathode side of the diode, the
diode blocks the current so that no voltage appears at the output.
 simple enough to build but aren't very efficient. That’s because the entire
negative cycle of the AC input is blocked by a half-wave rectifier. As a result,
output voltage is zero half of the time. This causes the average voltage at the
output to be half of the input voltage..
Full –wave rectifier
 Full-wave rectifier
 A full-wave rectifier uses two diodes, which enables it to pass both the
positive and the negative side of the alternating current input. The
diodes are connected to the transformer.
 Notice that the full-wave rectifier requires that you use a center-tapped
transformer. The diodes are connected to the two outer taps, and the
center tap is used as a common ground for the rectified DC voltage.
The full-wave rectifier converts both halves of the AC sine wave to
positive-voltage direct current.
 The result is DC voltage that pulses at twice the frequency of the input
AC voltage. In other words, assuming the input is 60 Hz household
current, the output will be DC pulsing at 120 Hz.
 Bridge rectifier
 Bridge rectifier
 The problem with a full-wave rectifier is that
it requires a center-tapped transformer, so
it produces DC that’s just half of the total
output voltage of the transformer.
 A bridge rectifier overcomes this limitation
by using four diodes instead of two. The
diodes are arranged in a diamond pattern
so that, on each half phase of the AC sine
wave, two of the diodes pass the current to
the positive and negative sides of the
output, and the other two diodes block
current. A bridge rectifier doesn't require a
center-tapped transformer.
 The output from a bridge rectifier is pulsed
DC, just like the output from a full-wave
rectifier. However, the full voltage of the
transformer’s secondary coil is used.
 Conductor
 a conductor is an object or type of material
which permits the flow of electric charges in
one or more directions. For example, a wire
is an electrical conductor that can carry
electricity along its length.
 In metals such as copper or aluminum, the
movable charged particles are electrons.
 Conductors may be solid round wire,
stranded wire, or bus bars of rectangular
cross section.
 Usually, conductors are wrapped in
insulation of a type that prevents electric
shock to persons in contact with it.
 The type of insulation also depends on the
immediate environment surrounding the wire
in its proposed use; dry or moist air, wetness,
buried in earth, temperature, and exposure
to mechanical or rodent damage
Wire sizes
 Wires are measured by their
cross section. In many
countries, the size is expressed
in square millimeters.
 For flow of large quantity of
current, large and thick wires
are required.
 If we force large quantity of
current through thin wires , it
gets heated and melt.
 Say 1sqmm (14/0.3mmcu) <
2sqmm (28/0.3mmcu)
 Each carries 11 and 17 amp
respectively
 Cu means copper and al
means aluminium.
 Resistance
 Some metal offers resistance to the
flow of current and they get heated
up.
 Such metals are used in our heaters
and bulbs
 The resistance of a given conductor
depends on the material it is made of,
and on its dimensions. For a given
material, the resistance is inversely
proportional to the cross-sectional
area;
 for example, a thick copper wire has
lower resistance than an otherwise-
identical thin copper wire. Also, for a
given material, the resistance is
proportional to the length; for example,
a long copper wire has higher
resistance than an otherwise-identical
short copper wire.
 Conductor material
 Copper has a high conductivity. Annealed copper is the
international standard to which all other electrical
conductors are compared. The main grade of copper
used for electrical applications, such as building
wire, motor windings, cables and busbars, is electrolytic-
tough pitch (ETP) copper (CW004A or ASTM designation
C100140). This copper has an electrical conductivity of at
least 101% IACS (International Annealed Copper
Standard).]
 Silver is more conductive than copper, but due to cost it is
not practical in most cases. However, it is used in
specialized equipment, such as satellites, and as a thin
plating to mitigate skin effect losses at high frequencies.
 Aluminum wire, which has 61% of the conductivity of
copper, has been used in building wiring for its lower cost.
By weight, aluminum has higher conductivity than copper,
but it has properties that cause problems when used for
building wiring. It forms a resistive oxide within
connections, causing terminals of wiring devices to heat.
Aluminum can "creep", slowly deforming under load,
eventually causing device connections to loosen, and
also has a different coefficient of thermal
expansion compared to the materials used for
connections. This accelerates the loosening of
connections. These effects can be avoided by using
wiring devices approved for use with aluminum
Ampacity
 Conductor ampacity
 The ampacity of a conductor, that is, the amount of current it can
carry, is related to its electrical resistance: a lower-resistance
conductor can carry a larger value of current. The resistance, in turn,
is determined by the material the conductor is made from (as
described above) and the conductor's size. For a given material,
conductors with a larger cross-sectional area have less resistance
than conductors with a smaller cross-sectional area.
 For bare conductors, the ultimate limit is the point at which power lost
to resistance causes the conductor to melt. Aside from fuses, most
conductors in the real world are operated far below this limit,
however. For example, household wiring is usually insulated
with PVC insulation that is only rated to operate to about 60 °C,
therefore, the current in such wires must be limited so that it never
heats the copper conductor above 60 °C, causing a risk of fire.
Other, more expensive insulation such as Teflon or fiberglass may
allow operation at much higher temperatures.
 The American wire gauge article contains a table showing allowable
ampacities for a variety of copper wire sizes.
 Race ways
 A raceway is an enclosed conduit that
forms a physical pathway for electrical
wiring. Raceways protect wires and
cables from heat, humidity, corrosion,
water intrusion and general physical
threats.
 A well-grounded metallic conduit
provides RF(radio frequency) shielding
that minimizes the risk of trouble with
electromagnetic interference (EMI). In
some systems, plastic conduit is sufficient.
However, because it offers no
electrical grounding or RF shielding,
plastic conduit is used mainly to
contain coaxial cables or other forms of
cable that have their own RF shielding.
 Raceways are an important component
in the design of complex data centers
and blade servers.
 Surface Mounted Raceway (wire molding)
 This type of "decorative" conduit is designed to
provide an aesthetically acceptable passageway
for wiring without hiding it inside or behind a wall.
This is used where additional wiring is required, but
where going through a wall would be difficult or
require remodeling. The conduit has an open face
with removable cover, secured to the surface, and
wire is placed inside. Plastic raceway is often used
for telecommunication wiring, such
as network cables in an older structure, where it is
not practical to drill through concrete block.
Advantages :Allows adding new wiring to an
existing building without removing or cutting holes
into the drywall, lath and plaster, concrete, or other
wall finish.
Allows circuits to be easily locatable and accessible
for future changes, thus enabling minimum effort
upgrades.
 Underfloor raceways
 Under floor raceways are ducts placed under a
new floor in office spaces where desks and other
equipment are frequently moved. Laid in
parallel runs 6 to 8 ft apart, with separate ducts
for power, signal, and telephone wires,these
raceways may have flat-plate outlet covers
spaced 4 to 6 ft along each run. Large retail
stores also find these installations a great
convenience. The alternative is feeder runs
above the hung ceiling of the story below, with
fire rated, poke-through construction to reach
new outlets above the floor.
 Underfloor raceways may be singlelevel or
two-level.In steel-frame buildings, with cellular
 steel decking, single-level raceways may be
included in the structure of the floor itself. A
concrete header across the cellular runs
provides the means of entering from the finished
floor. A similar arrangement can be used in
cellular precast-concrete decks, with metal
headers for connections.
Electrical phase
 An electrical phase is a process or
a procedure used to transfer
electricity throughout a power
grid. The main electrical phases
are three-phase and single-phase.
A three-phase electric power is
commonly used for industrial
purposes, while the single-phase is
widely used in homes.

Phase difference is the difference,
expressed in electrical degrees or
time, between two waves having
the same frequency and
referenced to the same point in
time.[1]Two oscillators that have
the same frequency and no
phase difference are said to be in
phase.
 In electrical engineering, single-phase electric
power refers to the distribution of alternating
current electric power using a system in which all
the voltages of the supply vary in unison. Single-
phase distribution is used when loads are mostly
lighting and heating, with few large electric
motors. A single-phase supply connected to an
alternating current electric motor does not
produce a revolving magnetic field; single-phase
motors need additional circuits for starting, and
such motors are uncommon above 10 or 20 kW
in rating.
 In contrast, in a three-phase system, the currents
in each conductor reach their peak
instantaneous values sequentially, not
simultaneously; in each cycle of the power
frequency, first one, then the second, then the
third current reaches its maximum value. The
waveforms of the three supply conductors are
offset from one another in time (delayed
in phase) by one-third of their period. When the
three phases are connected to windings around
the interior of a motor stator, they produce a
revolving magnetic field; such motors are self-
starting.
Cable trays
 In the electrical wiring of buildings, a cable
tray system is used to support insulated
electric cables used for power distribution and
communication.
 Cable trays are used as an alternative to open
wiring or electrical conduit systems, and are
commonly used for cable management in
commercial and industrial construction.
 They are especially useful in situations where
changes to a wiring system are anticipated,
since new cables can be installed by laying
them in the tray, instead of pulling them through
a pipe
Types of cable tray
 Several types of tray are used in different
applications.
 A solid-bottom tray provides the
maximum protection to cables, but
requires cutting the tray or using fittings
to enter or exit cables. A deep, solid
enclosure for cables is called a cable
channel or cable trough.
 A ventilated tray has openings in the
bottom of the tray, allowing some air
circulation around the cables, water
drainage, and allowing some dust to fall
through the tray. Small cables may exit
the tray through the ventilation
openings, which may be either slots or
holes punched in the bottom. A ladder
tray has the cables supported by a
traverse bar, similarly to the rungs of a
ladder, at regular intervals on the order
of 4 to 12 inches (100 to 300 mm).
 Cable tray covers
 Ladder and ventilated trays may have
solid covers to protect cables from falling
objects, dust, and water. Tray covers for
use outdoors or in dusty locations may
have a peaked shape to shed debris
including dust, ice or snow.
 Solid covers
These covers provide maximum
mechanical protection for cables with
limited heat build up. Solid covers are
available with or without flange. Flanged
covers have 1/2" flange
 Ventilated flanged cover
This design offers excellent mechanical
protection while allowing heat produced
by cables to dissipate.
 Cable basket
 Lighter cable trays are more
appropriate in situations where a
great number of small cables are
used, such as for telephone or
computer network cables. These trays
may be made of wire mesh, called
"cable basket", or be designed in the
form of a single central spine (rail) with
ribs to support the cable on either
side.
 Large power cables laid in the tray
may require support blocks to
maintain spacing between conductor
to prevent overheating of the wires
 Cable tray
 Smaller cables may be laid unsecured in horizontal
trays, or secured with cable ties to the bottom of
vertically mounted trays.
 To maintain support of cables at changes of
elevation or direction of a tray, a large number of
specialized cable tray fittings are made compatible
with each style and manufacturer.
 Horizontal elbows change direction of a tray in the
same plane as the bottom of the tray and are
made in 30, 45 and 90 degree forms; inside and
outside elbows are for changes perpendicular to
the tray bottom. These can be in various shapes
including tees and crosses. Some manufacturers
and types provide adjustable elbows, useful for
field-fitting a tray around obstacles or around
irregular shapes.
 Various clamping, supporting and splicing
accessories are used with the cable tray to provide
a complete functional tray system. For example,
different sizes of cable tray used within one run can
be connected with reducers
materials
Materials used
 Common cable trays are made of galvanized steel
 stainless steel
 aluminum
 glass-fiber reinforced plastic
 The material for a given application is chosen based
on where it will be used. Galvanized tray may be
made of pre-galvanized steel sheet fabricated into
tray, or may be hot-dip galvanized after fabrication.
When galvanized tray is cut to length in the field,
usually the cut surface will be painted with a zinc-rich
compound to protect the metal from corrosion.
Fire safety concerns and solutions
 Combustible cable jackets may catch on fire and
cable fires can thus spread along a cable tray within
a structure. This is easily prevented through the use of
fire-retardant cable jackets, or fireproofing coatings
applied to installed cables. Heavy coatings or long
fire-stops may require adjustment of the cable current
ratings, since such fireproofing measures may reduce
the heat dissipation of installed cables.
 Regular housecleaning is important for safety, as
cable trays are often installed in hard to reach
places. Combustible dust and clutter may
accumulate if the trays are not routinely checked
and kept clean.
 Plastic and fibre glass reinforced plastic cable trays are
combustible; the effect is mitigated through the use of fire
retardants or fireproofing.
 Ferrous cable trays expand with the increasing heat from
accidental fire. This has been proven by the German Otto-
Graf-Institut Test Report III.1-80999/Tei/tei "Supplementary
Test On The Topic Of Mechanical Force Acting On Cable
Penetration Firestop Systems During The Fire Test", dated 23
October 1984, to dislodge "soft"firestops, such as those
made of fibrous insulations with rubber coatings. This also
applies to any silicone foam seals, but is easily remedied
through the use offirestop mortars of sufficient compression
strength and thickness, as shown above. Also,
some building codes mandate that penetrants such as
cable trays are installed in such ways so as to avoid their
contribution to the collapse of a firewall.
 See also
 To carry large amount of current we require
large cross section wires or conductors
 If large current flow through small wires it gets
heated up and burn leading to electric shock
 A fuse interrupts excessive current (blows) so that
further damage by overheating or fire is
prevented. Wiring regulations often define a
maximum fuse current rating for particular
circuits. Overcurrent protection devices are
essential in electrical systems to limit threats to
human life and property damage
 Miniature circuit breaker
 MCBs or Miniature Circuit
Breakers are electromechanical
devices which protect an
electrical circuit from an
overcurrent. The overcurrent, in
an electrical circuit, may result
from short circuit, overload or
faulty design. An MCB is a better
alternative to a Fuse since it does
not require replacement once an
overload is detected. Unlike fuse,
an MCB can be easily reset and
thus offers improved operational
safety and greater convenience
without incurring large operating
cost.
Mcb-principle
 The principal of operation is simple. An MCB functions by
interrupting the continuity of electrical flow through the
circuit once a fault is detected. In simple terms MCB is a
switch which automatically turns off when the current
flowing through it passes the maximum allowable limit.
Generally MCB are designed to protect against over
current and over temperature faults (over heating).

Rated current not more than 100

A.
Trip characteristics normally not
adjustable.
Thermal or thermal-magnetic
operation
 Fuses
 fuse a type of low resistance resistor that
acts as a sacrificial device to provide
overcurrent protection, of either the load
or source circuit. Its essential component is
a metal wire or strip that melts when too
much current flows, which interrupts
the circuit in which it is connected. Short
circuit, overloading, mismatched loads or
device failure are the prime reasons for
excessive current.
 . The time and current operating
characteristics of fuses are used to
provide adequate protection without
needless interruption. Slow blow fuses are
designed to allow harmless short term
higher currents but still clear on a
sustained overload. Fuses are
manufactured in a wide range of current
and voltage ratings to protect wiring
systems and electrical equipment.
 fuse—An overcurrent protective device with a circuit-opening fusible part that is
heated and severed by the passage of overcurrent through it.
 circuit breaker—A device designed to open and close a circuit by non-automatic
means and to open the circuit automatically on are determined overcurrent
without damage to itself when properly applied within its rating
 Advantages and Disadvantages
 which can depend on the situation in which they are used.
 Fuses are inexpensive and can be purchased from any hardware store. They also
tend to react very quickly to overloading, which means that they can offer more
protection to sensitive electronic devices. This quick reaction can be a
disadvantage, however, if the circuit is prone to surges that regularly cause fuses to
blow.
 Fuses must always be replaced once they are blown, which can be challenging in a
darkened room or if the appropriate replacement is not immediately available.
Another issue is that a do-it-yourselfer can mistakenly select a fuse that has a
voltage or current rating that is too high for his needs, which can result in an
overheated circuit. In addition, there may be exposed electrical connections in a
fuse box, which can pose a danger to someone who does not follow the proper
safety precautions.
 Circuit breakers have many advantages, they can be reset quickly. It is usually clear
which switch has tripped, and it can be easily reset in most cases. it is also safer
because there is no question about choosing the right fuse rating and all of the
electrical connections are hidden in a breaker box.
 A drawback to using a circuit breaker -more expensive to install and repair. A circuit
breaker also typically does not react as quickly as a fuse to surges in power,
meaning that it is possible that electronics connected to the circuit could be
damaged by "let-through" energy. It also is more sensitive to vibration and
movement, which can cause a switch to trip for reasons unrelated to an electricity
overload.
Molded case circuit breaker
 Large industrial molded case
circuit breakers can also have
an adjustable range setting
included on the face of the
device. Generally used for
higher amperages, 100
amperes or greater, these main
circuit breakers can be
adjusted for spikes that may
occur in starting certain
equipment.
 Rated current up to 1000 A.
 Trip current may be adjustable.
 Thermal or thermal-magnetic
operation
Air circuit breaker
 Rated current up to 10,000 A.
 Trip characteristics often fully
adjustable including
configurable trip thresholds and
delays.
 Usually electronically
controlled—some models are
microprocessor controlled.
 Often used for main power
distribution in large industrial
plant,
 where the breakers are
arranged in draw-out enclosures
for ease of maintenance.
 VCB & ocb
 With rated current up to 3000 A,
 These breakers interrupt the arc
in a vacuum bottle.
 These can also be applied at
up to 35,000 V. Vacuum circuit
breakers tend to have longer
 life expectancies between
overhaul than do air circuit
breakers.
 Earthing is a safety device used to prevent a shock due to leakages
arising from weak insulation, breaking of the element or otherwise.
The metal bodies of appliances handled like the electric iron, kettle
or refrigerator must be earthed, that is, connected to a pipe leading
deep into the earth on to a metal plate. In case the metal body
becomes live, the circuit is completed through the live wire and the
earth, resulting in a high current. The fuse on the live-wire side should
blow out immediately, and the matter should be investigated and
the fault rectified. In case the fuse does not blow out, and a person
touches it, a severe shock is still prevented. This is because most of the
current flows directly to the earth via the earth connection which has
negligible resistance. An extremely small current, if at all, may pass
through the person’s body which offers a resistance, resulting in only
a mild shock.
 For an earth connection, a three-pin socket and plug are required.
Due to the high current it draws, the earth pin is made thicker and
larger than the other two pins. This ensures that the plug fits firmly into
the socket, reducing the chances of sparking. The heat caused by
sparking causes the terminals to wear off and damages the socket
and the plug. Because it is larger, the earth connection is made first
acting as a safety device.
 Earthing is the process of creating an
alternative path for the flow of fault/excessive
currents safely into the ground in the presence
of minimal resistance or impedance.
The primary purpose of earthing is to reduce
the risk of serious electric shock from current
leaking into uninsulated metal parts of an
appliance, power tool, or other electrical
devices. In a properly earthed system, such
leaking/fault current is carried away harmlessly
while tripping the fuse.
 Earthing also provides protection from large
electrical disturbances like lightning strikes and
power surges. It also aids in the dissipation of
hazardous static electrical charges.
Although most electrical systems have fuses or
circuit breakers for protection against a fault
current, the human body may be fatally
electrocuted by a current of less than one
ampere which is well below the point at which
a fuse or breaker will operate. Earthing helps
minimize such hazards from occurring
 Pipe Earthing
 Earth electrode made of a GI (galvanized) iron pipe
of 38mm in diameter and length of 2m (depending
on the current) with 12mm holes on the surface is
placed upright at a depth of 4.75m in a permanently
wet ground. To keep the value of the earth resistance
at the desired level, the area (15 cms) surrounding
the GI pipe is filled with a mixture of salt and coal..
The efficiency of the earthing system is improved by
pouring water through the funnel periodically. The GI
earth wires of sufficient cross- sectional area are run
through a 12.7mm diameter pipe (at 60cms below)
from the 19mm diameter pipe and secured tightly at
the top as shown in the following figure

 Plate Earthing
 In this method a copper plate of 60cm x 60cm x
3.18cm or a GI plate of the size 60cm x 60cm x
6.35cm is used for earthing. The plate is placed
vertically down inside the ground at a depth of 3m
and is embedded in alternate layers of coal and salt
for a thickness of 15 cm. In addition, water is poured
for keeping the earth electrode resistance value well
below a maximum of 5 ohms. The earth wire is
securely bolted to the earth plate. A cement masonry
chamber is built with a cast iron cover for easy
regular maintenance.

 Pipe Earthing
 Earth electrode made of a GI (galvanized) iron pipe
of 38mm in diameter and length of 2m (depending
on the current) with 12mm holes on the surface is
placed upright at a depth of 4.75m in a permanently
wet ground. To keep the value of the earth resistance
at the desired level, the area (15 cms) surrounding
the GI pipe is filled with a mixture of salt and coal..
The efficiency of the earthing system is improved by
pouring water through the funnel periodically. The GI
earth wires of sufficient cross- sectional area are run
through a 12.7mm diameter pipe (at 60cms below)
from the 19mm diameter pipe and secured tightly at
the top as shown in the following figure
