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Calculate Numbers of Plate/Pipe/Strip

Earthings (Part-3)

APRIL 1, 2013 30 COMMENTS

(HTTPS://ELECTRICALNOTES.WORDPRESS.COM/2013/04/01/CALCULATE-NUMBERS-OF-
PLATEPIPESTRIP-EARTHINGS-PART-3/#COMMENTS)

Calculate Min. Cross Section area of Earthing

Conductor:

Cross Section Area of Earthing Conductor As per IS 3043

Cross Section Area of Earthing Conductor (A) =(If x√t) / K

Where t= Fault current Time (Second).

K= Material Constant.
Example:
Calculate Cross Section Area of GI Earthing Conductor for System has 50KA Fault Current for 1
second. Corrosion will be 1.0 % Per Year and No of Year for Replacement is 20 Years.
Cross Section Area of Earthing Conductor (A) =(If x√t) / K
Here If=50000 Amp
T= 1Second
K=80 (Material Constant, For GI=80, copper K=205, Aluminium K=126).
Cross Section Area of Earthing Conductor (A) =(50000×1)/80
Cross Section Area of GI Earthing Conductor (A)=625 Sq.mm
Allowance for Corrosion = 1.0 % Per Year & Number of Year before replacement say = 20 Years
Total allowance = 20 x 1.0% = 20%
Safety factor = 1.5
Required Earthing Conductor size = Cross sectional area x Total allowance x Safety factor
Required Earthing Conductor size = 1125 Sq.mm say 1200 Sq.mm
Hence, Considered 1Nox12x100 mm GI Strip or 2Nox6 x 100 mm GI Strips
Thumb Rule for Calculate Number of Earthing Rod:

The approximate earth resistance of the Rod/Pipe electrodes can be calculated by

Earth Resistance of the Rod/Pipe electrodes R= K x ρ/L

Where ρ = Resistivity of earth in Ohm-Meter

L= Length of the electrode in Meter.
d= Diameter of the electrode in Meter.
K=0.75 if 25< L/d < 100.
K=1 if 100 < L/d < 600
K=1.2 o/L if 600 < L/d < 300

Number of Electrode if find out by Equation of R(d) =(1.5/N) x

R

Where R(d) = Desired earth resistance

R= Resistance of single electrode
N= No. of electrodes installed in parallel at a distance of 3 to 4 Meter interval.
Example:
Calculate Earthing Pipe Resistance and Number of Electrode for ge ing Earthing Resistance of 1
Ω ,Soil Resistivity of ρ=40, Length=2.5 Meter, Diameter of Pipe= 38 mm.
Here L/d = 2.5/0.038=65.78 so K=0.75
The Earth Resistance of the Pipe electrodes R= K x ρ/L =0.75×65.78=12 Ω
One electrode the earth resistance is 12 Ω.
To get Earth resistance of 1 Ω the total Number of electrodes required =(1.5×12)/1 =18 No

Calculating Resistance & Number of Earthing Rod:

Reference: As per EHV Transmission Line Reference Book page: 290 and Electrical Transmission
& Distribution Reference Book Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Section-I Page: 570-590.

Earthing Resistance of Single Rods: R = ρx[ln

(2L/a)-1]/(2×3.14xL)
 Earthing Resistance of Parallel Rods: R = ρx[ln (2L/A]/
(2×3.14xL)

Where L= length of rod in ground Meter,

a= radius of rod Meter
ρ = ground resistivity, ohm- Meter
A= √(axS)
S= Rod separation Meter

(h ps://electricalnotes.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/untitled.png)

Factor affects on Ground resistance:

The NEC code requires a minimum ground electrode length of 2.5 meters (8.0 feet) to be in
contact with the soil. But, there are some factor that affect the ground resistance of a ground
system:
Length / Depth of the ground electrode: double the length, reduce ground resistance by up to
40%.
Diameter of the ground electrode: double the diameter, lower ground resistance by only 10%.
Number of ground electrodes: for increased effectiveness, space additional electrodes at least
equal to the depth of the ground electrodes.
Ground system design: single ground rod to ground plate.

The GI Earthing Conductor sizes for various

Equipments:

No Equipments Earth Strip Size

1 HT switchgear, structures, cable trays 55 X 6 mm (GI)
& fence, rails, gate and steel column
2 Lighting Arrestor 25 X 3 mm (Copper)
 3 PLC Panel 25 X 3 mm (Copper)

4 DG & Transformer Neutral 50X6 mm (Copper)

5 Transformer Body 50X6 mm (GI)

6 Control & Relay Panel 25 X 6 mm (GI)

7 Lighting Panel & Local Panel 25 X 6 mm (GI)

8 Distribution Board 25 X 6 mm (GI)

9 Motor up to 5.5 kw 4 mm2 (GI)

10 Motor 5.5 kw to 55 kw 25 X 6 mm (GI)

11 Motor 22 kw to 55 kw 40 X 6 mm (GI)

12 Motor Above 55 kw 55 X 6 mm (GI)

Selection of Earthing System:

Installations/ IR Value Soil Type/ Resistivity Earth System

Isc Capacity Required

House hold 8 ohm Normal Soil/ up to 50 ohm-meter Single Electrode

earthing/3kA
Sandy Soil/ between 50 to 2000 ohm- Single Electrode
meter
Rocky Soil/ More than 2000 ohm- meter Multiple
Electrodes
Commercial 2 ohm Normal Soil/ up to 50 ohm-meter Single Electrode
premises,Office /
Sandy Soil/ between 50 to 2000 ohm- Multiple
5kA
meter Electrodes
Rocky Soil/ More than 2000 ohm- meter Multiple
Electrodes
Transformers, less than Normal Soil/ up to 50 ohm-meter Single Electrode
substationearthing, 1 ohm
Sandy Soil/ between 50 to 2000 ohm- Multiple
LT line equipment/
meter Electrodes
15kA
Rocky Soil/ More than 2000 ohm- meter Multiple
Electrodes
LA, High current less than Normal Soil/ up to 50 ohm-meter Single Electrode
Equipment./ 50kA 1 ohm
Sandy Soil/ between 50 to 2000 ohm- Multiple
meter Electrodes
 Rocky Soil/ More than 2000 ohm- meter Multiple
Electrodes
PRS, UTS, RTUs, less than Normal Soil/ up to 50 ohm-meter Single Electrode
Data processing 0.5 ohm
Sandy Soil/ between 50 to 2000 ohm- Multiple
centre etc./5KA
meter Electrodes
Rocky Soil/ More than 2000 ohm- meter Multiple
Electrodes

Size of Earthing Conductor:

Ref IS 3043 &Handbook on BS 7671: The Lee Wiring Regulations by Trevor E. Marks.

Size of Earthing Conductor

Area of Phase Conductor Area of Earthing conductor Area of Earthing conductor

S (mm2) (mm2) When It is Same (mm2) When It is Not Same
Material as Phase Material as Phase Conductor
Conductor
S < 16 mm2 S SX(k1/k2)
16 mm2<S< 35 mm2 16 mm2 16X(k1/k2)
S > 35 mm2 S/2 SX(k1/2k2)
K1 is value of Phase conductor,k2 is value of earthing conductor
Value of K for GI=80, Alu=126,Cu=205 for 1 Sec

Standard Earthing Strip/Plate/Pipe/wire Weight:

GI Earthing Strip:

Size (mm2) Weight

20 x 3 500 gm Per meter
25 x 3 600 gm Per meter
25 x 6 1/200 Kg Per meter
32 x 6 1/600 Kg Per meter
40 x 6 2 Kg Per meter
50 x 6 2/400 Kg Per meter
65 x 10 5/200 Kg Per meter
75 x 12 7/200 Kg Per meter
GI Earthing Plate:

Plate Weight
600 x 600 x 3 mm 10 Kg App.
600 x 600 x 4 mm 12 Kg App.
600 x 600 x 5 mm 15 Kg App.
600 x 600 x 6 mm 18 Kg App.
600 x 600 x 12 mm 36 Kg App.
1200 x 1200 x 6 mm 70 Kg App.
1200 x 1200 x 12 mm 140 Kg App.

GI Earthing Pipe:

Pipe Weight
3 meter Long BISE 5 Kg App.
3 meter r Long BISE 9 Kg App.
4.5 meter (15′ Long BISE) 5 Kg App.
4.5 meter (15′ Long BISE) 9 Kg App.
4.5 meter (15′ Long BISE) 14 Kg App

GI Earthing Wire:

Plate Weight
6 Swg 5 meter in 1 Kg
8 Swg 9 meter in 1 Kg
FILED UNDER UNCATEGORIZED

About Jignesh.Parmar
Jignesh Parmar has completed M.Tech (Power System Control), B.E(Electrical). He is member of
Institution of Engineers (MIE) and CEng,India. Membership No:M-1473586.He has more than 16
years experience in Transmission -Distribution-Electrical Energy theft detection-Electrical
Maintenance-Electrical Projects (Planning-Designing-Technical Review-coordination -Execution). He
is Presently associate with one of the leading business group as a Deputy Manager at
Ahmedabad,India. He has published numbers of Technical Articles in “Electrical Mirror”, “Electrical
India”, “Lighting India”,”Smart Energy”, “Industrial Electrix”(Australian Power Publications)
Magazines. He is Freelancer Programmer of Advance Excel and design useful Excel base Electrical
Programs as per IS, NEC, IEC,IEEE codes. He is Technical Blogger and Familiar with English, Hindi,
Gujarati, French languages. He wants to Share his experience & Knowledge and help technical
enthusiasts to find suitable solutions and updating themselves on various Engineering Topics.

30 Responses to Calculate Numbers of Plate/Pipe/Strip

Earthings (Part-3)

Deepak Agrawal says:

April 2, 2013 at 4:18 am
pls send something on capacitor power factor correction, by varying input voltage to capacitors,
their KVAr can be changed, can we design such system, it could work as an APFC without
switching ON/off of capacitors

Reply
asadullah amiri says:
April 2, 2013 at 4:37 am
Thank you very much from your help.

Eng.Amiri

Reply
narayan says:
April 2, 2013 at 4:56 am
Thanks for sending electrical notes.

Reply
Rahul says:
April 2, 2013 at 6:55 am
Dear Sir,

55 x 6 mm GI Strip is a standard size..?

Regards

Rahul

Reply
sanjay says:
April 4, 2013 at 11:42 am
Thanks for the information…..

Reply
yogesh jadhav says:
May 11, 2013 at 11:35 am
he is champ

Reply
Mukesh aggarwal says:
September 25, 2013 at 9:08 am
Send all electrical goods of industries rates with specifications
Mukesh
engineer electrical

Reply
Jignesh.Parmar says:
September 25, 2013 at 2:14 pm
Yes Sir,
Give me your Address!!!!!!!

Reply
Dhanaji.s.jadhav says:
January 18, 2014 at 11:34 am
Dear sir please Send me all electrical goods of industries latest rates with specifications

sakir khan says:

December 5, 2014 at 10:56 am
sir will you please reply how did you calculate:cross sec area x safety factor x total
allowance to 1125 sq.mm=625×1.5×20%=1125 say 1200 sir please reply….

Vipin Gupta says:

October 10, 2013 at 9:45 am
Great Information.

keep it up.

Reply
thomas says:
September 22, 2015 at 12:26 pm
i have also the same doubt

Reply
farhan says:
February 27, 2014 at 2:19 am
mujey bi send kardey electrical i m student of electrical.mera last year chal raha hey agar notic to
is id per send karday,.

Reply
Noorudheen says:
March 26, 2014 at 6:16 am
It was very useful information, from where I can get the K(materiel constant) value chart for GI
Strips

Reply
Jignesh.Parmar says:
March 26, 2014 at 3:51 pm
Already given in the explanation…”K=80 (Material Constant, For GI=80, copper K=205,
Aluminium K=126).” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply
Rahul says:
May 3, 2014 at 6:58 pm
Dear Sir,
Thank you for the valuable information.

I have a query

It seems like the equation for calculating the resistance of plate electrode and rod are different in
IS 3043:1987 and BS 7430:1998

Which is the right one..?

Regards

Rahul

Reply
Vikas Singh says:
May 30, 2014 at 5:53 am
First of all a zillion thanks for democratizing electrical knowledge for the world. I have shifted my
career from electrical maintenance to designing and finding your articles very helpful. You have
really upholded rig veda saying ‘Let knowledge come from every direction’
Sir, regarding a project in Qatar I need the conductor size for COPPER for earthing non-current
carrying metallic part like steel structures and process equipments like tanks, vessels, pipe rack,
pipes, stairways, towers etc.
If you can provide the data according to BS 7430 it will be best because I have to follow that
standard in Qatar.

Reply
Rajinder Prabhakar says:
September 25, 2014 at 8:13 am
very use ful for estimating cost for quotating rates

Reply
Karthick says:
October 31, 2014 at 6:27 am
I am having two earth pits- Is it possible to combine the both earth pits and connect it for MCC
Panel, 2*55 KW Motor, 0.37KW Motors. WIll it with stand

Reply
ANANT D.LINGAYAT says:
January 27, 2015 at 2:22 pm
sir i required how to mtr to kg any gi and cu earthig size ,pls

Reply
ravi says:
April 24, 2015 at 8:00 am
sir,
i want to know why cable or wires size are calculated in mm2.

Reply
Prashant Lawand says:
October 22, 2015 at 5:22 pm
plz sir contact me my name is prashant lawand i am earthing electrode manufacturer in pune
9975977674

Reply
 harvinder Singh sethi says:
November 19, 2015 at 3:24 pm
Thanks Sir It is Very Much Informative.

Reply
salah says:
December 12, 2015 at 8:09 am
you mean Here If=50000 Amp is fault of system if you mean that what is relation between fault of
system and earhtig?

Reply
vamshi says:
June 1, 2016 at 11:18 am
Number of Electrode if find out by Equation of R(d) =(1.5/N) x R
how 65.78 value is taken in place of rho/l

Reply
santosh says:
October 2, 2016 at 10:42 am
how to do complete building electrification /house/commercial complex .plz send idea with real
examples with estimatin and calculation

Reply
Tp says:
December 28, 2016 at 7:48 am
Sir
Safety factor = 1.5
But how ?

Reply
Isa Bilgin SOYLU says:
November 20, 2018 at 5:11 am
Mr. Parmar,
Can you help me about earting.34,5/400 1000kVA power system. can you calculation earthing
impedance in AG side.

Reply
Mahesh Pawar says:
December 31, 2018 at 1:58 pm
Dear Sir,
I chose 3 mtr, 100 mm dia, 3.6 mm thickness pipe electrode for soil resistivity of 1360 ohm-mtr. but
my calc. for earth rod required are not matching by thumb rule, acc. to formulas iI calc it as 259
electrodes but by thumb rule it is coming as 34. I am not ge ing why are you replacing rho/L with
L/d? please help…

Reply
khoshhal says:
February 17, 2019 at 12:19 pm
Dear Sir
thank you from your calculation

Reply

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