Scribd
Upload
15 views3 pages

Sizing of protective earthing conductor

The document outlines the sizing of protective earthing (PE) and protective earth and neutral (PEN) conductors based on IEC 60364-5-54, detailing two methods: Adiabatic and Simplified. It specifies minimum cross-sectional areas for PE and PEN conductors, including conditions for mechanical protection and material considerations. Additionally, it provides guidance on the k factor values for low voltage installations, ensuring compliance with national standards.

Uploaded by

Joseph Poplinger
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
15 views3 pages

Sizing of protective earthing conductor

The document outlines the sizing of protective earthing (PE) and protective earth and neutral (PEN) conductors based on IEC 60364-5-54, detailing two methods: Adiabatic and Simplified. It specifies minimum cross-sectional areas for PE and PEN conductors, including conditions for mechanical protection and material considerations. Additionally, it provides guidance on the k factor values for low voltage installations, ensuring compliance with national standards.

Uploaded by

Joseph Poplinger
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Sizing of protective earthing conductor

Figure G59 below is based on IEC 60364-5-54. This table provides two methods of determining the appropriate c.s.a.
for both PE or PEN conductors.

[a] Data valid if the prospective conductor is of the same material as the line conductor. Otherwise, a correction factor must be applied.
[b] When the PE conductor is separated from the circuit phase conductors, the following minimum values must be respected:
- 2.5 mm2 if the PE is mechanically protected
- 4 mm2 if the PE is not mechanically protected
[c] For mechanical reasons, a PEN conductor, shall have a cross-sectional area not less than 10 mm2 in copper or 16 mm2 in aluminium.
[d] Refer to table A.54 of IEC60364-4-54 or Figure G60 to get values of k factor.

Fig. G59: Minimum cross section area of protective conductors


The two methods are:

• Adiabatic (which corresponds with that described in IEC 60724)

This method, while being economical and assuring protection of the conductor against overheating, leads to
small c.s.a.’s compared to those of the corresponding circuit phase conductors. The result is sometimes
incompatible with the necessity in IT and TN schemes to minimize the impedance of the circuit earth-fault
loop, to ensure positive operation by instantaneous overcurrent tripping devices. This method is used in
practice, therefore, for TT installations, and for dimensioning an earthing conductor[1]

• Simplified

This method is based on PE conductor sizes being related to those of the corresponding circuit phase
conductors, assuming that the same conductor material is used in each case.
Thus, in Fig. G58 for:
Sph ≤ 16 mm2 : SPE = Sph
16 < Sph ≤ 35 mm2 : SPE = 16 mm2
Sph > 35 mm2 : SPE = Sph / 2

Note: when, in a TT scheme, the installation earth electrode is beyond the zone of influence of the source earthing
electrode, the c.s.a. of the PE conductor can be limited to 25 mm2 (for copper) or 35 mm2 (for aluminium).

The neutral cannot be used as a PEN conductor unless its c.s.a. is equal to or larger than 10 mm2 (copper) or 16 mm2
(aluminium).

Moreover, a PEN conductor is not allowed in a flexible cable. Since a PEN conductor functions also as a neutral
conductor, its c.s.a. cannot, in any case, be less than that necessary for the neutral, as discussed in Sizing the neutral
conductor.

This c.s.a. cannot be less than that of the phase conductors unless:

• The kVA rating of single-phase loads is less than 10% of the total kVA load, and
• Imax likely to pass through the neutral in normal circumstances, is less than the current permitted for the
selected cable size.

Furthermore, protection of the neutral conductor must be assured by the protective devices provided for phase-
conductor protection (described in Protection of the neutral conductor)
Values of factor k to be used in the formulae

These values are identical in several national standards, and the temperature rise ranges, together with factor k values
and the upper temperature limits for the different classes of insulation, correspond with those published in IEC60364-
5-54, Annex A.

The data presented in Figure G60 are those most commonly needed for LV installation design.

Fig. G60: k factor values for LV PE conductors, commonly used in national standards and complying with
IEC60364-5-54 Annex A

You might also like