EARTHING:

Earthing is an essential requirement to drain the potential deposition on any

machine frame, structure, support, electrical installation etc due to poor
insulation for achieving a safe work upon.
Max: permissible resistance of earthing system as per I.E.ule!"#.
$arge power station: ! %.& ohms.
Ma'or sub!station: !#.% ohms.
(mall sub!station: !).%% ohms.
In all other cases: !*.% ohms
+he earth continuity inside an installation: #.% ohms.
,b'ect of earthing:
+he ob'ect is to provide as nearly as possible a surface under and around
a station, which shall be at a uniform potential and as nearly to -ero or
absolute earth potential as possible.
.ll parts of apparatus other than live parts shall be at earth potential, as
well as to ensure that operators or attendants shall be at earth potential at
all times, so that there will be no potential difference to cause shock or
in'ury to a person, whenever any short circuit takes place.
+ouch potential:
+he potential difference between the grounded metallic structure and any
point on earth surface separated by a difference equal to normal
maximum hori-ontal reach i.e., one meter.
It is observed that, highest potential gradient is always at the near the
electrode during heavy fault current.
/ence it is recommended that, earth electrode terminals should be
protected and not to be kept exposed as a general rule.
(tep! potential:
+he potential difference between two points on earth surface separated
by a distance, assumed one meter in the direction of maximum potential
gradient.
0lassification of earthing:
(ystem earthing
Equipment earthing
(tatic and lightening protection earthing.
System earthing :
(ystem earthing is designed to maintain security of the system by
ensuring the potential on each conductor to be restricted to a value
consistent with the level of insulation applied.
It is very important that earthing should be ensured, in such a manner to
operate the protective gears fast and efficiently in case of any earth fault.
+he system resistance should be such that, when any fault occurs against
which earthing is designed, should protect or operate the gear to achieve
the faulty main or plant harmless.
In such cases, the faulty main or plant is generally isolated with the help
of circuit breakers or fuses.
In case of overhead equipments it becomes very difficult to arrange the
value of earth resistance of the system to achieve protection when the
conductor falls due to breakage and makes a good contact with the
ground.
. low system earth resistance is required even in cases where an arc
supression coil is installed, as its operation may be frustrated by too high
an earth electrode resistance.
1or example,
If a phase of an overhead line brakes at the remote proportion from the
supply, and falls on the ground, it is unlikely that any protective gear
relying on earthing.
,nly current balancing protection, will operate.
+he earth fault current of the circuit includes the impedance of the load
which will be relatively high compared with the rest of the circuit.

2esigning the capacity of a fuse for earth fault protection:
# )&.
#
#
. 3
# * )
If supply voltage )4%5
In case . ,
the circuit resistance 6 * 7 8#7 8#7 8#7 8#7 6#)7 ,
hence, current in the circuit 6 )4%9#) 6#:.;say<
In case 3,
the circuit resistance 6 )7 8#7 8#7 8#7 8#7 6 "7
hence the current in the circuit 6 )4%9" 64* .;say<
G
M
Explanation:
In case of . the rating of fuse if kept )&., it will not blow hence there will
be no protection in case of earth fault, as the fault current is less than the
fuse rating.
In case of 3, the rating of the fuse if kept )&., it will blow, because the fault
current is much higher than the rating of the fuse, hence the circuit will be
protected.
Equipment earthing.
It pertains to those electrical conductor,by which all metalic structures
through which the energised conductor passes will be inter connected.
+he purpose of equipment earthing is=
+o maintain low potential difference between nearby metallic structure in
any area to achieve freedom from electrical shock to person or animal
etc.
+o provide an effective and easy path over which short circuit current
involving ground can flow without heating or sparking or fire to
combustible atmosphere.
.ll housings of electrical conductors, equipment encloser, motor frame
shall be interconnected by equipment earthing and two separate and
distinct connection to be made to main earthing.
Static & lightning protection earthing:
+he ob'ect of static grounding is to provide a discharge path for
electricity accumulated on equipment and free the person who is
operating it.
+he lightening protection earthing is concerned with the earthing
arrangement to discharge the atmosphere originating electrical charges
due to cloud formation etc.
Earth electrode:
. conductor or a group of conductors in intimate contact with and
providing an electrical connection to earth.
Earth electrode resistance:
It is the resistance of an earth electrode to an earth, consists of following
!
esistance of electrode.
0ontact resistance between the electrode and soil.
(oil resistivity.
esistance of electrode and contact resistance between electrode and soil
is practically very small i.e., fraction of an ohm.
(oil resistivity is the ma'or factor and affected by the following!
>rain si-e of the soil.
0hemical composition of soil.
Moisture content.
+emperature.
Earthing electrode (i-es:
+he si-e of the earth electrode is selected according to the fault current to
be passed through it.
1or small installation! # no.! )? in dia and "!*ft. long
perforated galvanised
iron pipe.
$arge installation
including substation! (everal at an interval of &!#%ft. in
parallel;depending on the value of
earthing resistance<. )ft.x)ft.x #9)?
thick cast iron plate, or @? dia *!#%A
long cast iron pipe.;where fault
current is more than "k..
5ery large installation ! nest of electrodes separated by @%!&%A, @x@Ax
#9)? thick cast iron plate or "? dia. *!#%A long cast iron pipe.
0ross section of earthing lead should be at least half of the main supply wire
feeding the installation.
Points to be earthed:
0hapter I5 of I.E. ules gives the details. /owever, summari-e as
follows:!
#. +he metallic frames of heavy power equipment by two independent earth
conductor.
). 1abricated steel transmission lines, towers, tubular steel or rail post
which carry ,/ lines.
4. (tay wires provided for ,/ lines.
@. Metal casing of portable apparatus.
&. Metal body of iron clad switches, >I pipes and conduit pipes enclosing
cables, iron clad fuse board, metallic reflectors and down rod of fans.
". Earth pin of 4 9@9& pin plug sockets.
Measurement of earth resistance:
esistance of earth electrodes and of earth continuity to electrical equipment
may be measured by the following methods.
#. 3y the voltmeter B amp. meter method, using ac or dc source.
). 3y a portable Megger earth tester.
4. 3y an ohmmeter.
@. 3y an earth loop tester.
IMC,+.D+ I.E. E$E( E$.+ID> +, E.+/ID>:!
ule Do.44: Earth terminal on consumerAs premises
ule Do."#: 0onnection with earth.
i< Earthing of neutral conductor of a
4 phase, @ wire system.
ii< Earthing of all metal casing9 coverings of electric
supply lines or apparatus.
iii< +esting of such earth resistance not less than once
in every two years during a dry day of a dry season
shall be conducted and recorded.
iv< +he test result should be recorded and shall be
made available to the inspector or any officer,
when required.
ule Do."F: 0onnection with earth:
i< .ll equipments associated with /59E/5
installations, shall be earthed by not less than )
distinct and separate connections with the earth
having its own electrode, except an earthing mat.
ii< +esting of such earth resistance not less than once
in a year during a dry day of a dry season shall be
conducted and recorded.
ule Do.:%: Earthing:
i< In distribution system, all metal supports and all
reinforced9 pre!stressed cement concrete supports
of overhead line and metallic fittings attached shall
be permanently and effectively earthed.
ii< Each stay wire shall be similarly earthed, unless
insulators have been provided in it at a height not
less than 4 mtrs from the ground.
iii< Every &
th
pole as a minimum shall be grounded, if
the foundations are not cement concrete blocks.
ule Do.:#: (afety and Crotective devices:!
i< Every overhead line erected over any part of street
or public place shall be protected with a device,
approved by the inspector, for rendering the line
electrically harmless in case it brakes.
ii< +he owner of every high and extra high overhead
line, shall be protected to the satisfaction of the
inspector, to prevent unauthorised persons from
ascending any of the supports of such overhead
lines.
ule Do.:): Crotection against lightening:!
i< +he owner of every overhead line which is so
exposed, as may be liable to in'ury from
lightening, shall adopt efficient means for diverting
to earth, any electrical surge during lightening.
ii< +he earthing lead for any lightening arrester shall
not pass through any iron or steel pipe but shall be
taken as directly as possible from the lightening
arrester to a separate earthing electrode9 mat.
IMC,+.D+ I.E. E$E( E$.+ID> +,
E$E0+I0.$ 0$E..D0E(:!
ule Do."@: Ese of energy at high and extra high voltage:
+he following minimum clearances shall be maintained for bare conductors
or live parts of any apparatus in outdoor substations, excluding overhead
lines of /59 E/5 installations.
5oltage 0lass
;Dot exceeding<
>round clearance
;Meters<
(ectional9safety9
working clearances
;Meters<
## G5 ).F& )."
44 G5 4.F ).*
"" G5 @.% 4.%
#4) G5 @." 4.&
))%G5 &.& @.4
@%%G5 *.% ".&