Earthing

https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2015/05/
earthing-and-electrical-grounding-types-of-
earthing.html
 Concept of Earthing Systems
To connect the metallic parts of electric machinery
and devices to the earth plate or earth electrode
(which is buried in the moisture earth) through a
thick conductor wire (which has very
low resistance) for safety purpose is known
as Earthing or grounding.
 What Is Earthing
The process of connecting metallic bodies of
all the electrical apparatus and equipment to
huge mass of earth by a wire having negligible
resistance is called Earthing.
 What Is Earthing
The term earthing means connecting the neutral point of
supply system or the non current carrying parts of the
electrical apparatus to the general mass of earth in such a
manner that all times an immediate discharge of electrical
energy takes place without danger.
Difference between Earthing, Grounding and
Bonding.
Earthing and Grounding is the same terms used for earthing. Grounding is
the commonly word used for earthing in the North American standards
like IEEE, NEC, ANSI and UL etc while, Earthing is used in European,
Common wealth countries and Britain standards like IS and IEC etc.

The word Bonding used for jointing two wires (as well as conductors, pipes or
appliances together. Bonding is known as connecting the metallic parts of
different machines which is not considered to be carrying electric current during
normal operation of the machines to bring them at the same level of electric
potential.
Need of Earthing or Grounding. Why Earthing is Important?
The primary purpose of earthing is
• To avoid or minimize the danger of electrocution,
• Fire due to earth leakage of current through undesired path To
protect human lives as well as provide safety to electrical
devices and appliances from leakage current.
• To keep voltage as constant in the healthy phase (If fault occurs
on any one phase).
• To serve as a return conductor in electric traction system and
communication.
• To avoid the risk of fire in electrical installation systems during
lighting .
• To neutralize the effect of lighting
POINTS TO BE EARTHED
According to IE rules and IEE (Institute of Electrical
Engineers) regulations,
• Earth pin of 3-pin lighting plug sockets and 4-pin power
plug should be efficiently and permanently earthed.
• All metal casing or metallic coverings containing or
protecting any electric supply line or apparatus such as GI
pipes and conduits enclosing VIR or PVC cables, iron clad
switches, iron clad distribution fuse boards etc should be
earthed (connected to earth).
• The frame of every generator, stationary motors and
metallic parts of all transformers used for controlling energy
should be earthed by two separate and yet distinct
connections with the earth.
• In a dc 3-wire system, the middle conductors should be
earthed at the generating station.
• Stay wires that are for overhead lines should be connected
Components of Earthing System
Earth Continuity Conductor
Earthing Lead
Earth Electrode
 Qualities Of Good Earthing
• Must be of low electrical resistance
• Must be of good corrosion resistance
• Must be able to dissipate high fault current
repeatedly
 Electric shock
• An electric shock (electrocution)occurs when two portion of a
person’s body come in contact with electrical conductors of a
circuit which is at different potentials, thus producing a
potential difference across the body.
• The human body does have resistance and when the body is
connected between two conductors at different potential a
circuit is formed through the body and current will flow
• When the human body comes in contact with only one
conductor, a circuit is not formed and nothing happens. When
the human body comes in contact with circuit conductors, no
matter what the voltage is there is potential for harm.
 Electric shock
• The higher the potential difference the more
the damage. The effect of an electric shock is a
function of what parts of body come in contact
with each conductor, the resistance of each
contact point the surface resistance of the body
at the contact as well as other factor.
• When the electrical contact is such that the
circuit path through the body is across the
heart, you have the greatest potential for death.
 Electric shock
• Resistance of human body varies from as low as 500
ohms to as high as 600,000 ohms. As the skin
become moist the contact resistance drop. If the skin
is moist due to sweat that contain salt the resistance
drop further
• The amount of current that can flow through human
body at three different potential differences across
the body also shown is the effect of different current
level both AC and DC the ultimate effect is
fibrillation which cause the heart to stop and result in
death.
 Electric shock
• When a high voltage such as 13,800V is
involved the body is literally cooked and at
times explodes
 Equipment Earthing
• In case of insulation failure, the primary object
of connecting all the above points and
apparatus to earth is to release the charge
accumulated on them immediately to earth so
that the person coming in contact may not
experience electric shock.
 Equipment Earthing(Cont.)
The other object is that a heavy current when
flows through the circuit that operates the
protective devices that is fuse or CB, which
open the circuit
 Max. Value of Earth Resistance to
be achieved
Equipment to be Earthed Max. Value of Earth Resistance to be
achieved in Ohms
Large Power Stations 0.5
Major Substations 1.0
Small Substations 2.0
Factories Substations 1.0
Lattice Steel Tower 3.0
Industrial Machine and Equipment 0.5

* The Earth Resistance depends upon the moisture content in the soil.
 Methods of Earthing
• Conventional Earthing
• Maintenance Free Earthing
 Conventional Earthing
• The Conventional system of Earthing calls for
digging of a large pit into which a GI pipe or a
copper plate is positioned in the middle layers
of charcoal and salt.
• It requires maintenance and pouring of water
at regular interval.
FIGURE:.

CONVENTIONAL EARTHING
 Maintenance Free Earthing
• It is a new type of earthing system which is
Readymade, standardized and scientifically developed.
Its Benefits are
• MAINTENANCE FREE: No need to pour water at
regular interval- except in sandy soil.
• CONSISTENCY: Maintain stable and consistent earth
resistance around the year.
• MORE SURFACE AREA: The conductive compound
creates a conductive zone, which provides the increased
surface area for peak current dissipation. And also get
stable reference point.
Maintenance Free Earthing(Contd.)

• LOW EARTH RESISTANCE: Highly

conductive. Carries high peak current
repeatedly.
• NO CORROSION:
• LONG LIFE.
• EASY INSTALLATION.
Methods of Conventional Earthing
1. Plate Earthing
2. Pipe Earthing
3. Rod Earthing
4. Strip Earthing
5. Earthing through Water Mains
 Earthing Electrode
The resistance of a ground
electrode has 3 basic
components:
A)The resistance of the ground
electrode itself and the connections
to the electrode.
B)The contact resistance of the
surrounding earth to the electrode.
C) The resistance of the surrounding
body of earth around the ground
Electrode. It consist of three basic components:
1. Earth Wire
2. Connector
3. Electrode
 Plate Earthing
• In this type of earthing plate either of copper or of
G.I. is buried into the ground at a depth of not less
than 3 meter from the ground level.
• The earth plate is embedded in alternative layer of
coke and salts for a minimum thickness of about
15cm.
• The earth wire(copper wire for copper plate
earthing and G.I. wire for G.I. plate earthing) is
securely bolted to an earth plate with the help of
nut- bolt and washer made of copper, in case of
copper plate earthing and of G.I. in case of G.I.
plate earthing.
PLATE EARTHING
 Pipe earthing
• Pipe earthing is best form of earthing and it is cheap also in this system
of earthing a GI pipe of 38 mm dia and 2meters length is embedded
vertically in ground to work as earth electrod but the depth depend upon
the soil conditions, there is no hard and fast rule for this.
• But the wire is embedded upto the wet soil.
• The earth wire are fastened to the top section of the pipe with nut and
bolts.
• The pit area arround the GI pipe filled with salt and coal mixture for
improving the soil conditions and efficiency of the earthing system.
• It can take heavy leakage current for the same electrode size in
comparison to plate earthing.
• The earth wire connection with GI pipes being above the ground level
can be checked for carrying out continuity test as and when desired,
while in plate earthing it is difficult.
• In summmer season to have an effective earthing three or four bucket of
water is put through the funnel for better continuity of earthing.
PIPE EARTHING
 ROD EARTHING
• In this system of earthing 12.5mm diameter solid rods of
copper 16mm diameter solid rod of GI or steel or hollow
section of 25mm GI pipe of length not less than 3 meters are
driven vertically into the earth
• In order to increase the embeded length of electrod under the
ground, which is some time necessary to reduce the earth
resistance to desired value more than one rod section are
hammered one above the other.
• This system of earthing is suitable for area which are sandy in
character .
• This system of earthing is very cheap
 STRIP OR WIRE EARTHING
• In this system of earthing strip electrode of cross section not less
than 25mm X 1.6mm of copper or 25mm X 4mm of GI or steel
are burried in horizontal trenches of minimum depth of 0.5m
• If round conductor are used their cross sectional area shall not be
smaller than 3.0mm2 if copper is used and 6mm2 if GI or steel
is used.
• The length of burried conductor shall be sufficient to give the
required earth resistance (about 0.5Ωto 1.5Ω It shall however be
not less than 15 mtr.
• The electrod shall be as widely distributed as possible in a single
straight or circular trenches radiating from a point
• This type of earthing is used in rockey soil earth bed because at
such places excavation work for plate earthing is difficult
 Earthing through the Waterman
 In this method of earthing, the waterman (Galvanized GI) pipes are used for
earthing purpose. Make sure to check the resistance of GI pipes and use
earthing clamps to minimize the resistance for proper earthing connection

 If stranded conductor is used as earth wire, then clean the end of the strands of the
wire and make sure it is in the straight and parallel position which is possible then to
connect tightly to the waterman pipe.
 General method of Earthing / Proper Grounding Installation (Step by Step)

1. First of all, dig a 5x5ft (1.5×1.5m) pit about 20-30ft (6-9 meters) in the ground.
(Note that, depth and width depends on the nature and structure of the ground)

2. Bury an appropriate (usually 2’ x 2’ x 1/8” (600x600x300 mm) copper plate in

that pit in vertical position.

3. Tight earth lead through nut bolts from two different places on earth plate.

4. Use two earth leads with each earth plate (in case of two earth plates) and tight
them.

5. To protect the joints from corrosion, put grease around it.

6. Collect all the wires in a metallic pipe from the earth electrode(s). Make sure the
pipe is 1ft (30cm) above the surface of the ground.

7. To maintain the moisture condition around the earth plate, put a 1ft (30cm) layer
of powdered charcoal (powdered wood coal) and lime mixture around the earth
plate of around the earth plate.

8. Use thimble and nut bolts to connect tightly wires to the bed plates of machines.
Each machine should be earthed from two different places. The minimum
9. Earth continuity conductor which is connected to the body
and metallic parts of all installation should be tightly
connected to earth lead.

10. At last (but not least), test the overall earthing system
through earth tester. If everything is going about the
planning, then fill the pit with soil. The maximum allowable
resistance for earthing is 1Ω. If it is more than 1 ohm, then
increase the size (not length) of earth lead and earth
continuity conductors. Keep the external ends of the pipes
open and put the water time to time to maintain the
moisture condition around the earth electrode which is
important for the better earthing system.
Various specifications in respect to earthing as recommended by
Indian Standards

 An earthing electrode should not be situated (installed) close to

the building whose installation system is being earthed at least
more than 1.5m away.
 The earth resistance should be low enough to cause the flow of
current sufficient to operate the protective relays or blow fuses.
It’s value is not constant as it varies with weather because it
depends on moisture (but should not be less than 1 Ohm).

 The earth wire and earth electrode should be of the same

material.

 The earthing electrode should always be placed in a vertical

position inside the earth or pit so that it may be in contact with
all the different earth layers.
 Standard Pipe & Plate Type Earthing Design for the
11 Kv. System Equipments, Distribution Transformer
Centers, L.T. Distribution System Equipments

• Design Details :
1. Earthing Pit : Size 1000 X 1000 X 1800 mm
Depth.M.S. / C.I. Plate : 500 X 500 X 8 mm
Thick.
2. Electrode Assembly : 40 mm Ø GI / CI
Perforated pipe duly fitted or welded with base
plate and 50 X 6 mm flat termination taken on
top for equipment earthing as shown in drawing.
Standard Pipe & Plate Type Earthing Design for the 11
Kv. System Equipments, Distribution Transformer
Centers, L.T. Distribution System Equipments
4. Mixture - I : Homogeneous mixture of black
soft soil 0.3 CMT. approx.
5. Mixture - II : Homogeneous mixture of
common salt 25 Kgs. + wood charcoal pieces
25 Kgs. + Black soft soil 1 CMT. Approx.
6. Crushed Rock pieces Gravel Size 50 X 35 mm
0.1 CMT. Approx.
7. Arrangement for earthing lead terminations
from equipment body, and connection for
main earthing Grid.
 Factors affecting the Earth resistivity

1. Soil Resistivity
It is the resistance of soil to the passage of electric current. The earth resistance
value of an earth pit depends on soil resistivity. It varies from soil to soil. It depends
on the physical composition of the soil, moisture, dissolved salts, grain size and
distribution, seasonal variation, current magnitude etc.
2. Soil Condition

Different soil conditions give different soil resistivity. Most of the soils are very poor
conductors of electricity when they are completely dry.
3. Moisture
Moisture has a great influence on resistivity value of soil. The resistivity of a soil can
be determined by the quantity of water held by the soil and resistivity of the water
itself.
4. Dissolved salts
Pure water is poor conductor of electricity. Resistivity of soil depends on
resistivity of water which in turn depends on the amount and nature of
salts dissolved in it.

5. Climate Condition
Increase or decrease of moisture content determines the increase or
decrease of soil resistivity. Thus in dry whether resistivity will be very
high and in rainy season the resistivity will be low.

6. Physical Composition
Different soil composition gives different average resistivity. Based on
the type of soil, the resistivity of clay soil may be in the range of 4 – 150
ohm-meter, whereas for rocky or gravel soils, the same may be well
above 1000 ohm-meter.
7. Location of Earth Pit
The location also contributes to resistivity to a great extent. In a
sloping landscape, or in a land with made up of soil, or areas which
are hilly, rocky or sandy, water runs off and in dry weather conditions
water table goes down very fast. In such situation back fill compound
will not be able to attract moisture, as the soil around the pit would
be dry.
8. Effect of grain size and its distribution
Grain size, its distribution and closeness of packing are also
contributory factors, since they control the manner in which the
moisture is held in the soil.
9. Effect of current magnitude
Soil resistivity in the vicinity of ground electrode may be affected by
current flowing from the electrode into the surrounding soil. The
thermal characteristics and the moisture content of the soil will
determine if a current of a given magnitude and duration will cause
significant drying and thus increase the effect of soil resistivity.
10. Area Available
Single electrode rod or strip or plate will not achieve the desired
resistance alone.If a number of electrodes could be installed and
interconnected the desired resistance could be achieved. The
distance between the electrodes must be equal to the driven depth
to avoid overlapping of area of influence. Each electrode,
therefore, must be outside the resistance area of the other.
11. Obstructions
The soil may look good on the surface, but there may be
obstructions below a few feet like virgin rock. In that event
resistivity will be affected. Obstructions like concrete structure near
about the pits will affect resistivity.
12. Current Magnitude
A current of significant magnitude and duration will cause
significant drying condition in soil and thus increase the soil
resistivity.
Resistivity Decreases with Moisture and Dissolved Salts
In soil, conduction of current is largely electrolytic. Therefore, the
amount of moisture and salt content of soil radically affects its
resistivity.
The amount of water in the soil varies, of course, with the
weather, time of year, nature of sub-soil, and depth of the
permanent water table. With a moisture content of 15 percent,
however, note the dramatic decrease in resistivity (by a factor of
100,000). Actually, pure water has an infinitely high resistivity.
Naturally occurring salts in the earth, dissolved in water, lower the
resistivity. Only a small amount of salt can reduce earth resistivity
quite a bit
 Maximum allowable Earth resistance
· Major power station = 0.5 Ohm
· Major Sub-stations = 1.0 Ohm
· Minor Sub-station = 2 Ohm
· Neutral Bushing = 2 Ohm
· Service connection = 4 Ohm
· Medium Voltage Network = 2 Ohm
· L.T.Lightening Arrestor = 4 Ohm
· L.T.Pole = 5 Ohm
· H.T.Pole = 10 Ohm
· Tower = 20-30 Ohm
 Treatments for minimizing Earth resistance

· Remove Oxidation on joints and joints should be tightened.

· Poured sufficient water in earth electrode.
· Used bigger size of Earth Electrode.
· Electrodes should be connected in parallel.
· Earth pit of more depth & width- breadth should be made
 Resistivity of Different Soils

Soil Resistivity of Soil Ohm-cm (Range)

Surface soils, loam, etc. 100 -5,000
Clay 200 - 10,000
Sand and gravel 5,000 - 100,000
Surface limestone 10,000 - 1,000,000
Shales 500 - 10,000
Sandstone 2,000 - 200,000
Granites, basalts, etc. 100,000
Decomposed gneisses 5,000 - 50,000
Slates, etc. 1,000 - 10,000