Power Quality & Utilisation Guide

Designing low voltage supply systems for

electromagnetic compatibility
Increasing protection by improved earthing

Friedrich Hendel
Siemens AG Stuttgart, I&S IS STG 17GL

Anton Kohling
Siemens AG Erlangen, A&D ATS SR

Diethard Möhr
Siemens AG Erlangen, I&S CTF

November 2008

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1. Introduction
Electrical safety of low voltage supply systems is the subject of many national and
international standards. Installation rules providing electromagnetic compatibility were
introduced during the last decade, but still are not well known to installers and system
designers.

From the perspective of electromagnetic compatibility, there must be no operating

currents, not even stray currents (as defined in IEC 60364-5-54) flowing through the
earth wire and earthing and equipotential bonding system.

In an earthed supply, this requirement can only be achieved by a TN-S system. This is
the only way to prevent galvanic couplings with other circuits and cable shields and to
reduce the sum of currents in one cable or bus system roughly to zero, thus minimising
the line frequency magnetic fields. Practical measures necessary in order to reach these
objectives are discussed.

2. The advantages of the TN-S system

In single-fed supplies, a TN-S system is easy to realize. Figure 1 shows two equivalent
solutions to supplying a TN-S system from a single transformer.

When planning and implementing multiple supplies, special features must be used in
order to match the electromagnetic compatibility objectives to be attained as initially
formulated (Table 1).

Figure 2 shows two options for a single supply from two differently located transformers
or generators. Option A consists of an insulated PEN conductor, while option B has a 4-
pole switch for switching off the PE conductor.

The existence of a PEN conductor in a TN-S system initially caused some confusion. The
reason for choosing this designation was because this conductor may carry operating as
well as fault currents. Until recently it has been common practice to earth each neutral
point in a multiply fed system individually, but this practice is at present abandoned by
standards, since it allows both return currents as well as fault currents to split among the
return and earthing conductors. This needs to be avoided by installing one and only one
connection between return conductor and earth, however many feeding points there may
be in an installation. As a side effect problems may arise when a fault occurs e. g. inside
a generator or transformer leading to extraneous conductive parts to go live. The fault
current no longer stays inside the device, but passes via the protective conductor, along
the sole existing central earthing point (CEP) and back along the return conductor.
Therefore, a return conductor is called PEN from one of the power sources to the CEP,
while for the remainder is designated neutral conductor N.

The old prohibition to switch a PEN conductor remains valid as long as there is not, as in
this case, a PE conductor installed in parallel.

Figure 3 shows the measures formulated in Table 1 in case of multiple supplies.

Figure 4 shows the stray current: operating currents split among the PEN conductors, the
cable screens and the equipotential conductor in a TN-C system according to Kirchhoff’s
Law: operating currents flow through the conductive parts of the building.

Figure 5 shows the same situation in a TN-S system planned and implemented to be
electromagnetically compliant.

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Figure 1a: TN-S system supplied by one transformer

Figure 1b: TN-S system supplied by one transformer

The following measures need to be taken when installing multiply supplied systems:

• Neutral points of the sources not to be connected directly to earth, but routed
towards the low voltage main distribution system.
• These conductors must be designated as PEN conductors, since they carry both
operating current and have a protective function.
• PEN busbar has to be connected to earth only once at the main earthing terminal
bar in the low voltage main distribution, and thus only once within the entire
system.
• The protective conductor has to be connected to the PEN conductor only at one
point. The N and PE conductors shall not be contacted to each other anywhere
else within the system.
• The protective conductor may be multiply earthed; in fact it is recommended that it
be connected to earth at as many points as possible.
• Attention must be paid to the spatial extent of the installation, so as not to impair
the effectiveness of the protective measures.

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Table 1—Contextual relationship between EN 50174 series and other relevant

standards
Building design Generic cabling Specification Installation phase Operation phase
phase design phase phase
EN 50310 EN 50173 series EN 50174-1 EN 50174-1
except
EN 50173-4

5.2: Common bonding 4: Structure 4: Requirements for 4: Requirements for

network (CBN) within a specifying installations specifying installations
building 5:Channel performance of information technology of information
cabling technology cabling
6.3: AC distribution 7:Cable requirements
system and bonding of 5: Requirements for
the protective conductor 8:Connecting hardware installers of information
(TN-S) requirements technology cabling

9:Requirements for cords

and jumpers

A:Link performance limits

Planning phase

EN 50174-2 EN 50174-2
and
EN 50173-4

4 and 5: Structure 4: Requirements for 5: Requirements for the

planning installations of installation of information
6: Channel performance information technology technology cabling
cabling
8: Cable requirements 6: Segregation of metallic
information technology
9: Connecting hardware 6: Segregation of metallic cabling and mains power
requirements information technology cabling
cabling and mains power
10: Requirements for cords cabling
and jumpers
7: Mains power and
A: Link performance limits lightning protection

and and
EN 50174-3 EN 50174-3

and and
(for equipotential bonding) (for equipotential bonding)
EN 50310 EN 50310

5.2: Common bonding 5.2: Common bonding

network (CBN) within a network (CBN) within a
building building
6.3: AC distribution 6.3: AC distribution
system and bonding system and bonding
of the protective of the protective
conductor (TN-S) conductor (TN-S)

and
EN 50346

4:General requirements
5: Test parameters for
balanced cabling
6: Test parameters for
optical fibre cabling

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Figure 2: TN-S system alternatively supplied from various supplies

Figure 3: Multiply supplied TN-S system

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Figure 4: Stray and operating currents in the PEN, PE and N conductors in an

installation with a TN-C system

Figure 5: TN-S system free of stray current

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The figures clearly show the necessity for professional quality planning and construction
and maintenance staff training, particularly in order to avoid additional connections
between PE and PEN to be made later.

3. Line frequency magnetic fields in the TN system

Blurred images, unsteady characters and color distortions can make it difficult to work
with a CRT. These disturbances are often caused by external low frequency magnetic
fields [1].

In the TN-C system the PEN conductor is often multiply earthed, i.e. part of the load
current flows through the equipotential bonding and earthing system, as well as all across
any earthed metal part (extraneous conductive parts), such as heating pipes, etc. These
currents are missing in the feeder and in the cables to consumers and sub-distribution
panels, so the currents within one cable do not cancel out. This results in a significant
magnetic field in the proximity of cables, causing disturbances in particular to nearby
CRT’s. These disturbances are noticed as an unsteadiness of characters due to the
interference between the image deflection frequency and the 50 Hz of the supplied
current. Depending on the screen size, CRT’s are unsuitable due to an external magnetic
field strength of approximately H≈0.5 A/m. This may be expressed as a function of the
current. If a current of just 10 A does not flow back along the cable it came through? As a
first approximation, the cable can be seen as a single conductor of infinite length for
carrying 10 A. The magnetic field strength is found from Ampere’s law:

I
H =
2πd
For 0.5 A/m this results in a distance d of

I 10 A 20
d= = = ≈ 3m
2πH 6.28 ⋅ 0.5 A / m 6.28
Thus all areas closer than 3 m to the cable are unsuitable for CRT’s. This is merely a
simple example. In buildings with a TN-C system, complete sections or entire floors may
be unsuitable for CRT’s. These influences can only be avoided by implementing a TN-S,
TT or IT system or by using flat screens instead of CRT’s.

In the TN-C system not only the fields discussed above have a detrimental influence on
electromagnetic compatibility. The galvanically coupled share of the operating currents
flowing through all conductive metal parts, including screens of signal lines and cable
shields, may result in undesired influences. In addition, a high proportion of 150 Hz
current flows through the building, since even under symmetric load they do not cancel
out in the PEN conductor as they have a homopolar nature.

4. Alternative supply of a consumer from two directions

If for purposes of redundancy, a consumer is supplied from power sources installed at
different locations, four-pole switching must be used so that the neutral conductor of the
consumer is not wired parallel to the PEN conductor in the main low voltage supply
system. Then the current cannot split between these two conductors and the total current
in the supply cable becomes zero. Figure 6 shows the situation.

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Figure 6: Alternative supply of a consumer from different power sources

5. Concentric earth wire

Even in a fault-free TN-S system, significant currents can be measured in the earthing
conductor. The reason is that the cable earthing conductor is connected to the
equipotential bonding system or earth at both ends, so that it acts as the short circuited
winding of a transformer. These currents can be reduced significantly through the use of
cables with a concentric earth wire. This is illustrated by an experiment [2].

Example:

• Cable length 10 m, rated current 80 A

• Earth wire connected at both ends to the equipotential bonding system

a. Cable type with one core used as earthing conductor:
An induced current of 1.6 A was measured in the earthing conductor.

b. Cable type with screen:

An induced current of 27 mA was measured in the earthing conductor.

6. Leakage currents from filters

Unfortunately this term is inappropriately chosen. It is technically sound to speak of
leakages against earth through faulty insulators and parasitic capacitances, but the
currents to be discussed here mainly arise from the Y-type capacitors that connect a
certain filtering capacitance from L to PE and from N to PE. Especially in inverter drives
relatively large capacitors are used for filtering the high frequency disturbances. Leakage
currents with plug-in-ready equipment are also limited by limiting the Y-type capacitors in
the appliance standards. Higher leakage currents are to be expected only with hard-wired

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devices or those connected by CEE plug connectors. To reduce the leakage currents, it
is advised to use so-called low-discharge filters. In these filters the capacitors are wired
from the phase conductors to the N conductor, and a common capacitor from the N
conductor to the earth wire. In this way the leakage current is determined by the
difference in potential between the N and PE conductors. This makes it possible to
reduce the leakage currents substantially in the entire grid. Leakage currents can be
regarded in the potential equalization system as partial operating currents.

7. Residual current devices (RCD)

The majority of the above measures are necessary even when RCD’s are used. If the
sum of currents in a protected circuit deviates from zero, the difference is registered as a
fault current and the protective device performs its protective function and trips.

8. Summary
Planning and setting up low voltage supply systems for proper electromagnetic
compatibility is not trivial, and the rules and their backgrounds are certainly new for many
of those involved. The basis for ensuring electromagnetic compatibility in buildings and
facilities is an earthing and equipotential bonding system, free of operating current. The
indicated measures must be taken into account and coordinated with the safety
requirements of IEC 60364, but setting up low voltage supply systems for proper
electromagnetic compatibility involves more than earthing for voltage protection in
accordance to the standards.

9. Literature
[1] G., Zimmer, Beeinflussung von Bildschirmarbeitsplätzen durch Magnetfelder; EMV
von Gebäuden, Anlagen und Geräten ['The influence of magnetic fields on CRT
workstations; electromagnetic compatibility of buildings, facilities and equip-ment'].
VDE-Verlag, pp. 357-366; ISBN 3-8007-2261-5.
[2] B. Jäkel and R. Messer, Niederfrequente Streufelder von Energiekabeln und deren
Kopplung mit Masseschleifen ['Low-frequency stray fields of energy cables and
coupling them with earth loops']. EMV 96, 5th International Trade Exhibition and
Congress on Electromagnetic Compatibility, pp. 71 – 78.