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Types of Earthing Systems

There are four main types of earthing systems: TN-C, TN-S, TT, and IT. TN-C combines the neutral and protective conductors, while TN-S uses separate conductors. TT directly earths equipment without connecting to the neutral, and IT intentionally isolates the neutral from earth. Each system has advantages like safety, fault current, and continuity of service, but also disadvantages such as cost, installation complexity, and shock risk.

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487 views

Types of Earthing Systems

There are four main types of earthing systems: TN-C, TN-S, TT, and IT. TN-C combines the neutral and protective conductors, while TN-S uses separate conductors. TT directly earths equipment without connecting to the neutral, and IT intentionally isolates the neutral from earth. Each system has advantages like safety, fault current, and continuity of service, but also disadvantages such as cost, installation complexity, and shock risk.

Uploaded by

alimran.tec1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Types of Earthing systems:

 TN-C system: Combines the neutral and protective conductor (PEN conductor).
 TN-S system: Separate neutral (N) and protective (PE) conductors.
 TT system: Equipment directly earthed, no connection to the supply system's
neutral.
 IT system: Isolated system, no direct connection to ground.

1. TN System (Combined Neutral and Protective conductor):

 TN-C system: This system combines both the neutral conductor (N), carrying
return current under normal conditions, and the protective conductor (PE),
providing a path for fault currents, into a single conductor called the PEN
conductor.
 Advantages: Simple and economical due to fewer wires, commonly used in
domestic installations.
 Disadvantages:
o Reduced safety: A fault on the PEN conductor can cause the entire metalwork of
the installation to become live, increasing the risk of electric shock.
o Limited fault current: The combined function of the PEN conductor can limit the
fault current, potentially delaying the activation of protective devices.

2. TN-S System (Separate Neutral and Protective conductors):

 TN-S system: This system uses separate conductors for the neutral
(N) and protective (PE) functions. The neutral conductor carries return current
under normal operation, and the PE conductor provides a dedicated path for fault
currents.
 Advantages:
o Improved safety: Separation of conductors reduces the risk of electric shock as a
fault on the PE conductor doesn't affect the neutral and metalwork.
o Higher fault current: Dedicated PE conductor allows for higher fault currents,
enabling faster tripping of protective devices.
 Disadvantages: Requires more conductors compared to TN-C, increasing
installation cost.
3. TT System (Direct Earthing):

 TT system: In this system, the exposed conductive parts of the electrical


installation are directly earthed** with a separate earthing electrode**
independent of the supply system's neutral. There is no connection between the
equipment and the supply system's neutral point.
 Advantages:
o High safety: Provides a high level of safety as the earthing path is independent
of the supply system, minimizing the risk of fault currents affecting other
installations.
 Disadvantages:
o Requires a robust earthing system: Maintaining a low earth resistance is crucial
for effective fault current clearance.
o Limited use: Primarily used in situations where TN or IT systems are not suitable,
like construction sites or IT equipment.

4. IT System (Isolated Earthing):

 IT system: This system has the supply system's neutral point intentionally
isolated from earth or connected to earth through a high impedance (resistance
or reactance). Fault currents are limited by the high impedance, allowing
continued operation for critical loads.
 Advantages:
o Continuity of service: Maintains power supply even during first earth faults,
crucial for critical applications like hospitals or data centers.
 Disadvantages:
o Complex and expensive: Requires specialized equipment and monitoring to
detect and isolate earth faults effectively.
o Reduced safety: Requires additional protective measures like residual current
devices (RCDs) for personnel protection due to potential voltage rise on faulty
equipment.

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