Earthing Concepts

By Vinay Rai
Technology Conclave at STC Vadodara
11th & 12th July 2014

Earthing Fundamentals

What is Earthing ?

By earthing we mean making electrical

connection to the general mass of
conducting earth

Earthing : Fundamentals

Vinay Rai

Slide 3

Safety Provided By Earthing

Safety of Life

Safety of Property/Installation
Safety of Power System

Earthing : Fundamentals

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Types of Earthing

System Earthing
Equipment Earthing
Lightning Protection Earthing
Static Earthing

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As per IS : 3043
Definition

L1
L2
L3
N

Earthing of the current

carrying conductor which is
usually the neutral point of
the transformer or the
generator is known as
System Earthing

Rn

Earthing : Fundamentals

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As per IS : 3043
Definition

L1
L2
L3
N

Earthing of the current

carrying conductor which is
usually the neutral point of
the transformer or the
generator is known as
System Earthing
Earthing of non current
carrying exposed
conductive parts of the
installation is known as
Equipment Earthing

Rn

Earthing : Fundamentals

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PE
RA

Slide 7

System Earthing Why ?

Limitation of abnormal voltage hazards
Reduction in occurrences of multiple faults to
ground
Easier location of faults
Fewer arcing fault burndowns

Greater service continuity

Greater safety

Earthing : Fundamentals

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System Earthing - How?

Solid (Effective) Earthing

Resistance Earthing
Inductance Earthing

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Equipment Earthing Why ?

Provides Safety of Life & Property by:
By ensuring freedom from dangerous electric
shock voltages exposure (Uc) to persons in the
area
By ensuring current carrying capability both in
magnitude & duration adequate to accept the
ground fault current without creating a fire or
explosive hazard
By ensuring the proper return path for earth
fault currents & hence better performance of
the electrical system
Earthing : Fundamentals

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Equipment Earthing - How?

As direct as possible
by ensuring equipotential bonding
between all simultaneously
accessible exposed & extraneous
conductive parts

Earthing : Fundamentals

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As per IS: 3043

Equipotential Bonding Electrical connection putting
various exposed conductive parts and extraneous
conductive parts at a substantially equal potential.

Earthing : Fundamentals

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Equipotential Bonding

No bonding - Unsafe

Earthing : Fundamentals

Earthed equipotential bonding - safe

Vinay Rai

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IS : 3043
Earthing of all the exposed conductive parts of electrical
equipment and all accessible conductive parts
Simultaneously accessible exposed and extraneous
conductive parts must be connected to the same earth
electrode/earth grid.

Earthing : Fundamentals

Vinay Rai

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No Equipotential Bonding
L1 L2 L3

Earthing : Fundamentals

L1 L2 L3

Vinay Rai

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Grounding & Bonding

Grounding is about connecting parts to the

earth, while bonding is about connecting parts
to each other. One achieves 'zero-potential' &
other 'equi-potential.'

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Network Classification

Classification Of Earthing Systems

TN System
TN-S
TN-C
TN-C-S

TT System
IT System
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TN-S System

Earthing : Fundamentals

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TN-C System

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TN-C-S System

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TT System

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IT System

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Human Safety In TT System

U0 = 240 V

SCPD
100 A

415V / 240V

L1
L2
L3
N

Exposed conductive
metallic part

Rc
1000

Id = 34.3A

Ud
Load

Rn =Rn
2
2

Earthing : Fundamentals

RA
5

RA = 5

Vinay Rai

Uc = 171 V
Uc = 171 V

Slide 25

Human Safety In TN-S System

U0 = 240 V

415V / 240V

L1
L2
L3
N
PE

SCPD 100 A

Id = 3850A

ZS= 50m
Exposed
conductive
metallic part

Uc
Fault
Load

Uc = Uc
120=V120 V

Rn = 2
Rn

Earthing : Fundamentals

Vinay Rai

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Rules & Regulations

System Earthing Basic Rules

Earth at each voltage level
Earth at source & not at load

Earth only once (at source) & avoid

further connections to earth
Earth by two separate & distinct
connections with earth i.e. minimum two
earth pits
Earthing : Fundamentals

Vinay Rai

Slide 28

Equipment Earthing Basic Rules

Earth all exposed & extraneous
conductive parts
Earth as directly as possible with
minimum impedance
Earth by two separate & distinct
connections with earth i.e. minimum two
earth pits

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Rules & Regulations

IE RULES: 32, 33, 51, 61, 62, 67, 69, 88(2), 90,
92, 115, & 116
IS 3043 - 1987; IS 2309 - 1989; IS 7689 1989
NEC 2011 (SP 30)
IEC 60364-5-54; IEC 60364-5-548; IEC 60364-7707; IEC 62305-3; IEC TR 61000-5-2
IEEE GUIDELINES: Green & Emareld Book

Earthing : Fundamentals

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Earth Electrode Resistance

System Earthing
depends on method; for solid earthing within 2 Ohms
is ideal (general practice)

Equipment Earthing
not exceeding 5 Ohms (as per NEC)

Lightning Protection Earthing

not exceeding 10 Ohms (as per IS 2309)

Static Earthing
even 20 Ohms can achieve objective (as per IS 7689)
Earthing : Fundamentals

Vinay Rai

Slide 31

Earthing Of Electronic
Equipments

Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Systems to be Earthed...
1) Equipment earthing - metallic enclosures, or
frame of electronic equipment.
2) Signal Common Earthing - the zero reference
system for data lines & the signal portion in
general.
3) DC Power Supply Reference Earthing - the
electronic equipment may have different DC
voltage systems, such as +12/0/12V, +5/0/5V.
Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

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Basic Issues
1) Susceptible to random voltages far below the
levels that are perceptible to humans & that
have no effect on electrical power equipment
(even the static voltage charges generated by
lightning strokes within several thousand feet
can cause damage).

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Basic Issues
2) Problem of noise coupling (capacitive &
inductive) between signal circuits & power
circuits.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

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Basic Issues
3) Impedance considerations related to the
power frequency safety aspects of an earthing
system may not necessarily provide the desirable
low impedance at the high frequency signals.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

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Basic Issues
4) Several elements at different locations, but
linked by a data cable that carries its own zero
reference - a conductor linking the earthing
connections at different locations. Under certain
conditions substantial differences can exist
between distant elements of the system leading to component failures.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 37

Earthing Methods
1) Multiple Earthing Connections
# In a commercial/non-industrial building it is
not unusual to find neutral connected to
earth/panel enclosures at more than one
location.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 38

Multiple Earthing Connections

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

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Earthing Methods

1) Multiple Earthing Connections

Results in noise causing errors or worse.

Whether accidental or intentional, this
practice is not recommended.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

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Earthing Methods
2) Separate/Isolated Earthing Connection
# To earth computers to isolated earthing
electrodes separate from the power system
earthing electrode system.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

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Isolated Earthing
Building Steel/Power
System Earthing

Signal & Ground Wire

(Insulated)

Isolated Computer Earthing

10 KA Stroke to
building

Building to Computer
Capacitance
1 Ohm

10 KV
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Vinay Rai

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Isolated Earthing
Computer Modules

32A CB

Earth Fault
415V/240V
5 Ohm

5 Ohm

Isolated Earthing

IF
IF = 240/10 = 24A
Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 43

Isolated Earthing
Large voltages impressed on computer
components under thunderstorm conditions
(direct strike or charge induced because of
clouds overhead).
With isolated earthing, a fault in a computer
requires fault current to pass thru the
resistance of both the isolated & power system
ground in series. In this case the current would
be insufficient to operate the protective device.
Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 44

As per IS 3043
Vide Cl. 39.4.1 :
Whatever measures are taken to provide a lownoise earthing connection, it is required that
exposed conductive parts of data processing shall
be connected to the main earthing terminal.

NOTE The use of separate earth electrodes for

simultaneously accessible exposed conductive
parts is not permitted.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 45

As per IEC TR 61000-5-2:1997

The use of independent, "isolated" earth electrodes for computer or

electronic systems is not recommended/permitted.
Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

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Earthing Methods
2) Separate/Isolated Earthing Connection
While continuous low-level noise are eliminated,
other catastrophic incidents are encountered.
Since unsafe, therefore Isolated Earthing for
Sensitive
Electronic
Equipment is
not
recommended (and in fact not permitted).

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 47

Earthing Methods
3) Single Point Earthing Connection
# To prevent stray/circulating currents from
affecting the computer signals & operations, it is
necessary to keep the computer ground system
separate
from
the
equipment
ground
components & connect together at only one
point.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 48

Single Point Earthing Connection

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

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Earthing Methods
3) Single Point Earthing Connection
Recommended method, as it eliminates problems
of earlier two methods.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

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Single Point Earthing Connection

Only Limitation...
Due to length of the grounding conductor from
the computer units to the grounding point, there
is possibility of computer conductors being
subjected to high-frequency resonance with RF
signals.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 51

As per IEC TR 61000-5-2:1997

This approach has been found satisfactory & is suitable for safety (at power
frequencies); it is generally not suitable for high-frequency EMC concerns.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 52

Single Point Earthing Connection

In addition requires......
Equipotential earth plane to ensure minimal
voltage variances exist among the connected
signal circuit & interconnected equipment (Since
equipment earthing employing long earthing
conductors exhibit higher impedances at higher
frequencies)

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 53

Single Point Earthing Connection

SRG Resonance Reduction...
The multiple and parallel paths have different
resonance frequencies. So, if there is for a given
frequency a path with a high impedance, this
path is certainly shunted by another which has
not the same resonance frequency.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 54

Single Point Earthing Connection

SRG Resonance Reduction...

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

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Earthing Methods
4) Single Point Earthing Connection
Connection with Grid in the Floor

plus

# For each group of computer equipment,

provide a grid network in the raised floor, with
tie wires from each computer unit to the grid &
one from the grid to the room grounding point.
# Recommended method, as it also eliminates
problems of interference from radio frequencies.
Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 56

Single Point Earthing Connection

With connection with grid in the floor...

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 57

As per IEC TR 61000-5-2:1997

It is the recommended approach in the general case, for safety as well as for EMC.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 58

Earthing In Industrial Installation

A schematic diagram of various apparatus or systems connected to

the earthing network in an industrial installation
Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 59

Case Histories

Case 1 :

Erratic computer operation within a large office

building experiencing several lightning storms

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Vinay Rai

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Case 1 :
The earthing conductors of all the computers in
the building were connected to isolated earthing
electrode system (consisted of 6 rods driven into
the earth away from building).
The computer manufacturer was persuaded to
permit earthing of the computer system to the
building earthing system, which had concrete
encased earthing electrodes. Immediately the
erratic operations ceased.
Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

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Case 2 :

Intermittent data memory errors & data

transmission errors between remote terminals &
a central computer system.

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 63

Case 2 :
In the installation of a multistory office building,
several floors of modular workstations were
powered from a common, 3 phase step down
transformer with a shared neutral. Mainframe
terminals in these workstations experienced
intermittent data memory errors & data
transmission errors, & occasionally hardware
failures.
It was found that considerable (& variable) neutral
current existed. RMS values of N to earth didnt
exceed 3.7V, but the peak voltage ranged up to
10V.
Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 64

Case 2 :
Each floor of the building was isolated into 2
sections via shielded isolation transformers.
Individual N conductors were installed for all
workstation branch circuits.
Re-establishment of the N-E bond at the new
isolation transformers, combined with the
reduced neutral current in the dedicated
neutrals, reduced N-E voltage to less than 2V.
The problem was solved.
Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 65

Case 2 :

Earthing of Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Vinay Rai

Slide 66

Thank You

Contact
Vinay Rai
Sr. Deputy General Manager
Electrical Standard Products
Larsen & Toubro Limited
32 Shivaji Marg
Near Moti Nagar
New Delhi 110015
Tel: +91-11-41419590
Mob: +91-8860476555
Email: vinay.rai@LNTEBG.com

References
IS 3043 1987: CODE OF PRACTICE FOR EARTHING

IS 2309 1989: PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS AND ALLIED STRUCTURES AGAINST LIGHTNING

SP 30: NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE 2011
INDIAN ELECTRICITY RULES 1956 (AS AMENDED UPTO 25TH NOV., 2000)

IEC 60364 (VARIOUS PARTS)

TECHNICAL REPORT IEC 61000-5-2 - 1997: INSTALLATION & MITIGATION GUIDELINES
EARTHING & CABLING
IEEE GREEN BOOK
IEEE STD 80-2000: IEEE GUIDE FOR SAFETY IN AC SUBSTATION GROUNDING
EARTHING SYSTEM BY FREDERIC ROUESN