EARTHING PRACTICES

Based on IS:3043-1987 Standard

• Classification of Electrical Equipment IS: 9409-1980

• Important Rules for Safety and Earthing practice is

based on IE Rules 1956

• Guide on effects of current passing through Human

body – IS:8437-1997

• Protection of Buildings and Structures from

Lightning – IS:2309-1969
 EARTHING PRACTICES
Based on IS:3043-1987 Standard

• Earth: The conductive mass of the earth, whose Electric Potential at any
point is conventionally assumed and taken as ZERO.
• Earth Electrode: A Conductor or group of Conductors in Intimate
contact with and providing as electrical connection to earth.
• Earth Electrode Resistance: The resistance of an earth electrode to
the general mass of earth.
• Earthing Conductor: A protective conductor connecting the main
earthing terminal to an earth electrode or other means of earthing.
• Equipotential Bonding: Electrical connection putting various
exposed conductive parts and extraneous conductive parts at a
substantially equal potential.
Example: Inter connect protective conductor, earth continuity
conductors and risers of AC/HV Systems if any.
 EARTHING PRACTICES
Based on IS:3043-1987 Standard

• Potential Gradient: The Potential Difference per unit length

measured in the direction in which it is max.
• Touch Voltage: The P.D. between a grounded metallic structure and a
point on the earth’s surface separated by a horizontal reach of one
Metre.
• Step Voltage: The P.D. between two points on the earth’s surface
separated by a distance one pace (Step) assumed to be one Metre.
• Earth grid: A System of grounding electrodes consisting of
Interconnected Connectors buried in the earth to provide a common
ground fro electrical devices and metallic structures.
• Earth mat: A grounding system formed by a grid of horizontally buried
conductors - Serves to dissipate the earth fault current to earth and also
as an equipotential bonding conductor system.
 STATUTORY PROVISIONS FOR EARTHING
• All medium Voltage equipment shall be earthed by two separate and
distinct connections with earth.

• In case of HV and EHV Voltage systems, the neutral points shall be

earthed by not less than two separate and distinct connections with
earth. (If necessary, the neutral may be earthed through a suitable
Impedance)

• Where Earthing may prove harmful rather than provide safety,

relaxation may be obtained from competent authority.

• All Earth connections shall be Visible for Inspection.

• Each Earth System shall be so devised the testing of Individual

electrode is possible (By complete Isolation with the System)

• It is recommended that an Earth System Drawing is made for every

Installation.

• No cutout or link or switch other than earthed switches shall be

inserted on any supply system.
 COMMON SOURCES OF OVER VOLTAGES ON A POWER
SYSTEM

• Lightning
• Switching Surges
• Static Electricity
• Contact with High Voltage
• Resonant Condition
• Restriking ground faults
 International Classification of System Earthing

1. TN System: There is a metallic path for Earth fault currents

to flow from the Installation to the earthed point of the
Source. It is subdivided to TN-C, N-S, TN-C-S Systems.

2. TT System: One or more points of source of Energy directly

earthed and the exposed and extraneous Conductive Parts
of the Installation are connected to local earth electrodes.

3. IT System: It has Source unearthed or earthed through a

high impedance and exposed Conductive parts of the
Installation are connected to local earth electrodes.
 MARKING OF CONDUCTORS (IS:11353-1986)

RED, YELLOW , BLUE Phase Conductors

BLACK Neutral
GREEN Earth Conductors
GREEN/YELLOW Combination Protective Conductor
Bare (no Colour/no Insulation) Earthing Conductor

Note: Neutral of the System earthing

conductor shall not be accessible,
shall be insulated where exposed.
Earthing resistance of an Electrode is made up of :

a) Resistance of Electrode metal

b) Contact Resistance between electrode & soil
c) Resistance of the Soil from the electrode surface to
electrode at infinity (Depends on Soil Resistivity)
Selection of Site for Substations &
Earth Installations
a) Wet marshy ground
b) Clay, loamy, arable land
c) Clay and loam mixed
d) Damp, wet sand and peat

AVOID DRY SAND, GRAVEL, CHALK,

LIME STONE GRANITE, STONY GROUND
 SOIL TREATMENT
• To improve electrode Contact resistance may be adopted in
special and difficult locations.
• Migration and leaching of applied Chemicals warrants
Constant monitoring and periodical replacement of
additives.
• Earth electrodes packaged with Bentonite are more
preferable for permanent solutions, rocky terrains.
• Strip electrodes laid in shallow trenches packed with
Bentonite (Sodium based – Kutch origin) are best solutions
for Rocky areas).
• To reduce Soil resistivity, Materials like Cacl2 (Calcium
Chloride), Na2Co3 (Sodium Carbonate), CuSo4 (Copper
Sulphate), Soft Coke, Common Salt, Bentonite may be used.
 Resistance Computation of Electrodes
Plates: R = r/A x P/A Ohms
r = Resistivity of Soil in Ohm - Meters
A = Area of both sides of the plate in meter2
Preferable sizes: 1.2Mx1.2M or 0.9Mx0.9M G.I/C.I >6.5mm, Cu – 3.15mm.

Pipes or Rods: R = 100r/2Pl loge 4 l /d Ohms

l = Length of rod/pipe in cm
d= Diameter of rod/pipe in cm
r = Resistivity of Soil in Ohm – Meters
C.I. pipes not less than 100 mm dia 12mm thk – 3M long
G.I. pipes not less than 40 mm dia 3.5mm thk – 3M long
Rods G.I./Steel 16/19mm 2.45M long

Strips: R = 100r/2Pl loge 2 l 2 /wt Ohms

r = Resistivity of Soil in Ohm – Meters
l = Length of strip in cm
t= Width of strip in cm
w=Depth of burial in cm
Strips may be laid parallel or radial from a point.
Pile foundations as Electrodes
• Connect the earth grid strip to the reinforcement of piles. At
least 4 piles may be connected like thus.
Cable sheaths as earthing electrodes
• Use metallic cable sheaths as earthing electrodes for return
paths of fault currents. These are to be effectively connected
to earth grid / electrodes on either side.
Corrosion of metals
• Copper 0.2% per year.
• CI, WI, Mild steel 2.2% per year.
• Galvanized steel 0.5% per year.
• A DC current of 1 A leaving a buried steel structure can
remove 9 KG of metal per year.
 Cathodic Protection
• High pressure gas pipe lines are wrapped and Cathodically
protected with a galvanic potential of 0.5 V (-). The accepted
material of copper with galvanic potential of 0.2 V (-)
decrease the total Galvanic voltage and increases the need
for current from the corrosion protection Impressed current
System, when the earth electrode is connected to the pipe
line.
• An earth electrode with a galvanic potential nearer to the
protected structure has to be used overcome the above and
be certain the pipe line is protected.
• The materials for these electrodes are austenitic Iron or
Austenitic Cast Ni-Cr Alloy with Spherodical graphite
present.
 Why pipe lines are earthed?
1) Pipe line should not on its own be a carrier of low voltage
fault current.
2) It may have low voltage operated equipment like
electrically operated valves.
3) It may have Instrumentation connected to it, which may
have to be earthed for signal reference.
4) It may require connection to earth at points to discharge
unwanted induced currents and voltages from other
sources such as OH lines.

Hence a compromise between low electrode resistance for

instrumentation and higher earth value for corrosion
protection - minimum buried metal connected to pipe
line.
 Protective Conductors
a) Conductors in multi core cables.
b) Insulator or bare conductors in common
enclosure.
c) Fixed bare or insulated conductors.
d) Metal coverings, Sheaths, Screens, Armours of
cables.
e) Metal conduits.
f) Metallic water pipes (If Authorities permit)
Note: Gas pipes are not allowed to be used as PEN
conductors.
 Minimum Cross Sectional Area of Protective
Conductors
A = Cross Sectional Area (Sq. mm)
If = Fault current (AC, RMS) in Amps
t = Operating time of the disconnecting device (Sec)
K= Factor dependent on material of protective Conductor

If / A = K x 1/  t or A = If  t / K

K1sec =136 – 170 for copper, 90 – 112 for Al, 49 – 62 for Steel
K3sec =79 – 98 for copper, 52 – 65 for Al, 28 – 36 for Steel

1 sec Current ratings (Amp.mm2) : 205 Cu, 126 Al, 80 Steel

Initial Temp : 400 C to 3950 C for Cu, 3250 C for Al, 5000 C Steel
 Earth Fault Protection
• Firstly – Voltages appear between exposed conductive parts
if constituting a shock hazard (Indirect Contact)
• Secondly – Fault current that flows in phases and protective
conductors of the circuit fading the faulty equipment which
may be of a such a magnitude as to cause excessive
Temperature.
The earth fault loop Impedance has to be low enough to
allow adequate earth fault current to flow to cause an over
current protective device in the faulty circuit to operate in
sufficiently short time.
Where it is not possible to achieve a low enough earth fault
loop impedance, disconnection may be initiated by fitting a
RCD or Voltage operate ELCB.
 Earthing Conductors
• Bare Copper Conductors – minimum 25 mm2 cross
section Area.
• Bare Steel Conductors – minimum 50 mm2 cross
section Area.
• Aluminium or Copper clad Aluminium conductors
not allowed underground.
• Minimum Cross section area of copper or coated
steel should be 16 mm2.
• Metallic conduits, Ducts, trunks can be used as
circuit protective conductors.
• If flexible metal conduits are used, separate
conductor to be used to maintain integrity of the
path.
 O.C.Protective device for E/F Protection
• A contact potential of 65 Volts can be tolerated by human
body for 10 sec.
• A contact potential of 250 Volts can be withstood by a
human body for not more than 100 milli sec.

The above requirements should be met by the operating

characteristics of the over current of the protective devices
or Voltage operated ELCBs.

Reference: IS:8437 – 1977

“Guide of effects of current passing through the Human
Body”
 Earthing in Power Stations & Substations
Earthing Installations will be required for :
 The neutral points of each separate electricity System
which has to be earthed at the power stations /
Substations
 Equipment framework or other non-current carrying metal
work associated. Ex: Transformer Tanks, Switch pan
enclosures, Cable sheaths.
 Extraneous metal work not associated with the power
system. Ex: Fence, sheaths of Communication Cables,
Communication Powers etc.,
 Surge protection equipment earthed to dissipate the
surges into the mass of Earth. Ex: L.Assy.System.
 General Earthing Arrangement
• Connect reinforcement of foundations of
S.S.Building and Switch yard masts.
• The perimeter fence need to be earthed
separated from the main station earth
electrode system.
• The tertiary winding of a power transformer
tank by a connection of sufficient cross
sectional area to carry the primary
S.C.Current.
Neutral Earthing of Generator Circuits

 Earthing through the primary winding of a

matching transformer with resistor connected
across the secondary winding.
 Earthing through a resistor.
 Earthing through the primary winding of a Voltage
transformer.

Neutral Earthing of Power Station Auxiliary Systems

 Solid Earthing
 Earthing through a voltage transformer
 Resistance Earthing
 Characteristics of Earth Electrodes for Power
Stations & Substations
 A suitable low resistance under all variations due to
climatic conditions and for fault currents envisaged.
 Current carrying capability for all currents and durations
without undue increase in resistance.
 Suitable location in the vicinity of any L.A.devices with as
short and straight as possible to minimize surge
impedance.
 The earth electrode materials and size should be durable
to avoid corrosions.
 At Power stations and Substations the steel reinforcement
in foundations and piles can be used to provide effective
electrode system.
 Laying and Jointing of Earth Conductors
• Bare Conductors buried in ground shall be below 600 mm
deep (for Copper and Steel conductors only)
• Aluminium conductors shall be used above ground only.
• Earth conductors in trenches containing power/control
cables should be fixed to walls near the top (100 mm below
top)
• Copper earth strip if coming in contact with steel/ GI should
be tinned to prevent electrolytic action.
• All bimetallic joints should be encapsulated in a grease
impregnated tape or bitumastic paint.
• Aluminium to Aluminium joints should be TIG or MIG
welding or Oxyacetylene gas welding or Brazing.
 Laying and Jointing of Earth Conductors
• Compression fittings can be used for round conductors.
• Rectangular conductors can be joined or terminated by
drilling and bolting. Cold pressure welding and explosive
bonding can be used for joints.
• Aluminium to Copper joints – bimetallic strips used
between the conductors used for bolting, copper is tinned
and approved greases used for jointing. Joints are projected
by Bitumastic paint.
• Copper – Copper joints : Brazing using Zinc free brazing
material with melting point more than 6000 C.
• For Steel conductors, only welding is preferred and joints
are to be painted with bitumastic paint.
 Maintenance of Earth Electrodes
• It is recommended that periodical check/tests of earth
electrodes should be carried out. Records should be
maintained. (Preferably 6 monthly)
• The neighboring soil to earth electros shall be kept moist,
where necessary, by periodically pouring water through a pipe
where fitted along with it.
• Records shall be kept of initial resistance of substation and
generating station earth electrodes and subsequent tests
carried out.
• Annual measurements of earth resistance of S.S shall be
carried out. The periodicity shall not exceed two years.
• Periodical visual examination/inspection of all earth electrode
connections and condition.
• Periodical earth grid resistance and supplement the system by
additional electrodes or special chemical treatment.
• Check the joints and tighten them and paint the joints.
 Measurement of Earth Resistivity
r = 2Psv / I r = Resistivity of Soil in Ohm - Meters
s = Distance between successive
(or) r = 2PSR electrodes in meters
I = Current flowing through the two outer
electrodes in Amps.
v = Voltage difference between the two
electrodes in Volts
R = Megger reading in Ohms

Note: The depth of the burial is not more than 1/20th of spacing.
The Crank of the megger should be 135 rpm.
 DATA Processing Installations
Leakage current measurements are prescribed in is : 10422
– 1982.
High Integrity Earth Connections: The aim of providing
high integrity earth connection by using robust or
duplicate conductors in association with permanent
connections.

a) Independent protective conductors with a cross sectional

area of not less than 10 m2 or ore number of conductors
equal to 10mm2 in which each conductor not less than 4
mm2.
b) The sum total cross sectional area of all the conductors
shall not be less than 10mm2.
c) Protective conductors parallel to conduits for electrical
continuity – each conductor shall not be less than 2.5mm2.
 Salient Points of Earthing Practice
• The most important in Electrical Installations .
• Earthing saves people and properties from danger of
electricity.
• Earthing is Engineering with precise practice methods.
• Earthing is fundamentally low resistance metallic path to
dissipate leakage and fault currents from the Electrical
System.
• There is always pair of earth buses, Earth Stations just like
pair of Magnetic Poles (N-S) – to remember as a thumb rule.
• The primary savior of humans, animals and properties from
three dangers of Electrical Power – SHOCK, BURNS & FIRE.