__________________________________________________________Electrical Installation

Chapter 5

Earthing
Earthing means connection of the neutral point of a supply system or the non-current
carrying parts of electrical apparatus such as metallic frame work, metallic covering of
cables, metal covers of switches, metal casing of portable apparatus, frame of every
generator and motor etc. to the general mass of earth in such a manner that at all times
an immediate discharge of electrical energy takes place without danger.
Earth Electrodes Resistance
If we were to place an electrode in the earth and then measure the resistance between
the electrode and points at increasing larger distance from it, we would notice that the
resistance increased with distance until a point was reached (usually around 2.5m)
beyond which no increase in resistance was seen.
R(ohm)

1.5m 3m

6m

Distance(m)

Fig.1
The value of this electrode resistance will depend on the length and cross-sectional
area of the electrode and the type of the soil.
Typical Value of Soil Resistivity in Ohms
Garden Soil
5 to 50
Clay
10 to 100
Sand
250 to 500
Rock
1000 to 10,000
Earth-fault-loop path
Fig. 2 shows the path taken by an earth-fault current. This system has a direct
connection of the supply transformer to earth and a direct connection of the installation
metalwork to earth.

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Supply Transformer

Consumers installation protection

p
LOAD
N
E
If

CPC

General mass of earth

The total sum impedance of the individual parts of the path is known as the loop
impedance, Zs. This is made up of :
Ze which is the impedance external to the consumers intake terminals and
include the supply transformer secondary winding, the phase conductor and
the metallic return path (general mass of earth) back to the supply
transformer earthing arrangement.
The value of Zb depends on the type of supply system.
R1. Which is the resistance of the phase conductor from the supply intake
position to the final circuit load.
R2. Which is the resistance of the circuit protective conductor (CPC).
The total earth-loop impedance is thus:
and
Zs = Ze + (R1 + R2)Ohms
If = Vs / ZS
Where If is the fault current and VS is the nominal voltage to earth (usually 220 V).
The loop impedance Ze external to the installation may be measured in existing
installations using a phase-to-earth loop impedance tester. However, when a building is
noly at the drawing board stage, we have three methods available to assess the value of
Ze:
(I) determine it from details (if available) of the supply transformer, the main distribution
cable and the proposed service cable: or
(II) measure it from the supply intake position of an adjacent building having service cable
of similar size and length to that proposed; or
(III) use maximum likely values issued by the supply authority. Having established ZS, the
resistance of the phase conductor (R1) plus the resistance of the CPC (R2), i.e. R1+R2
calculated for the type of conductor used (normally copper or aluminum).

(I)
(II)

Earth-leakage protection may be afforded by means of fuses or excess-current circuit

breakers provided that the earth fault current available to operate the protective device
and to make the faulty circuit dead exceeds;
3 times the current rating of any semi-enclosed fuse or cartridge fuse
used to protect the circuit or
1.5 times the tripping current of any excess current circuit breaker used to protect
the circuit.

Testing of Installation
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The tests to be performed before a new installation or an addition to an existing
installation is connected to the supply mains are as follows:
1. Insulation Resistance
The insulation resistance between the wiring and earth with all fuses
(breakers) and lamps in and all switches ON
1.2. The insulation resistance between the conductors with all lamps out
and all switches ON
2. Testing of polarity of non-linked single pole switches.
3. Testing of earth continuity path.
4. Testing of earth-electrode resistance.

1. Insulation Resistance
The aim of this test is to know whether the wires or cables used in the wiring are
sufficiently insulated to avoid leakage current. Test is performed by a DC source not
less than twice of working voltage but not exceeding 500 V. A 500 V tester, known as
Megger is used for this purpose.
Since installation circuits are wired in parallel, one can see that for a very large
Installations an insulation resistance test at the intake position may show a low value,
which isnt actually due to bad insulation. In order to overcome this problem, EELPA
regulation (SECTION E-2) permits such installation to be broken down into smaller
units of not less than 50 outlets.
Testing of Insulation Resistance Between the Wiring and the Earth.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

The resistance offered to leakage from conductors to earth is known as insulation

resistance test between the wiring and earth. Before making an insulation test ensure
that:
Supply is isolated, i.e. the main switch, breaker or fuse is in OFF position.
All protective devices are in place.
All the switches are in ON position.
All the lamps are in their positions or the holders are short-circuited.
Link all the poles of the supply together i.e. line and neutral terminals are shorted on
the installation side.

Final
Circuits

Insulation
Resistance
Tester

All Switches
Closed
DB

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Fig. 1. Insulation Resistance to Earth
The line terminal of the megger (marked as L) is connected to the point where
the conductors have been shorted at the main switch and the E terminal is connected to
the earth. Now the handle of the tester is turned so that it begins to slip and the reading
on the dial gives the insulation resistance between the wiring and earth.
The insulation resistance to earth measured should not be less than 1 Mega
220v
)
ohm. Very small leakage current (IL =
1 M
Testing of Insulation Resistance Between Conductors

The objective of this test is to ensure that the insulation is sound between the
conductors so that there may not be an appreciable leakage between them.
In this test the circuit diagram remains the same as in Fig.1 except that all the lamps
and all metallic connections between the two wires of the installation are removed
from the holders.
With the supply isolated, all protective devices in place, and all single pole switches in
ON position; the terminals of the megger are connected between poles (i.e. R to S, R
to T, S to T, and each pole in turn to N). The reading should not be less than 1 Mega
ohm.

Final Circuit
Insulation
Resistance
Tester
DB
All switches closed

Fig. 2 Between Poles Test.

2 Testing of polarity of Single Pole Switches

Section E-2 of EELPAs regulation states that A verification of polarity shall be
made and it shall be ensured that all fuses and all single pole control devices are
connected in the live conductor only, that the outer contacts of center-contact bayonet
and Edison-type lamp holders are connected to the neutral or earthed conductor, and
that wiring has been correctly connected to plugs and socket outlets.
A convenient and quicker method of performing this test is by means of a small neon
tube tester.
1

See EELPAs regulation SECTION E-2

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P
Lamp Holder
SW
Test Lamp
(Light)

An alternative method is by means of a test lamp. In this method one end of

the test lamp is connected to earth and the other end is tapped to each contact of the
switch in turn. If the test lamp is in the live wire i.e. gives light, otherwise the
installation is wrong (see fig 3)

3 Testing of Earth Continuity Path

For safely all metal pieces or covering such as conduits, metal covers of
switches, metal casing of portable apparatus, frame of every generator and motor, etc,
must be solidly connected to earth otherwise on the damage of insulation, the leakage
current will start giving severe shock to the person touching it.
In case of conduit wiring there is a possibility of the conduit joints to become
loose to be separated resulting in high resistance in the earth path.
The test shall be made when the normal supply is disconnected from the final
sub-circuit under test. One end of the earth-continuity conductor shall be connected to
a cable of known resistance. An AC voltage not exceeding 40 V at approximately the
frequency of supply shall then be applied between the other end of the earth conductor
and the other end of the cable. Subject to the requirement for the total earth loop
impedance, it is satisfactory if, after allowance has been made for the return
conductor, value not exceeding 0.5 ohm for the ratio voltage/current is obtained where
steel conduit or pipe form part or whole of the earth-continuity conductor, or a value
of 1 ohm where the earth-continuity conductor is composed entirely of copper, copper
alloy or aluminum.

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