New Neutral Grounding Resistors

Introduction

Neutral Grounding Resistors are used to reduce problems such as insulation breakdown caused
by transient over-voltages produced by arcing ground faults in ungrounded systems and
damage to motors and switchgear caused by arcing in solidly grounded systems.
The two main methods of system neutral grounding are Low Resistance and High Resistance.
Low Resistance

The system will trip in the case of a line-to-ground fault.

The Neutral Grounding Resistor will limit the ground fault to a maximum of 100 to 1000 A (See
note below). Zero-sequence Current Transformers and Ground Fault Relays will detect the fault
and trip at 5 to 20% of the maximum ground fault current.
The Resistor is generally rated for 10 seconds with a maximum temperature rise of 760 C.
The maximum ground fault current allowed by the resistor has to be large enough to positively
actuate the applied ground fault relay.
200 to 400 A rated Neutral Grounding Resistors are generally used in 6.9 kV to 34.5 kV systems
(See note below).
100 to 400 A rated Neutral Grounding Resistors are generally used in 2.4 to 4.16 kV systems
(See note below).

Once the current rating is determined, the Resistance or Ohmic Value of the resistor is
calculated by dividing the Line to Neutral Voltage by the Current Rating.
i.e. for a 4.16 kV System Neutral Grounding Resistor rated at 400 A. The line to Neutral Voltage
will be 4.16 K V /(3) = 2400 V. The required resistance will be 2400 / 400 = 6 Ohms.
High Resistance

The system will alarm but not trip in the case of a Line-to-Ground fault. It is recommended for
systems where power interruption resulting from single line-to-ground fault tripping is
detrimental to the process.
The Neutral Grounding Resistor will limit the ground fault to a maximum of 5 to 10 A. Zerosequence Current Transformers and Ground Fault Relays will detect the fault and alarm at 10 to
20% of the maximum ground fault current.
The resistor is rated for continuous duty with a maximum temperature rise of 375 C.
The maximum ground fault current allowed by the resistor must exceed the total capacitance to
ground charging current of the system and the vector sum of the system charging current plus
the resistor current shall not exceed 8 A. (see System Capacitance to Ground Charging Current
Calculation)
Once the current rating is determined, the Resistance or Ohmic Value of the resistor is
calculated by dividing the Line to Neutral Voltage by the Current Rating.
i.e. for a 480 V System Neutral Grounding Resistor rated at 5 A. The line to Neutral Voltage will
be 480 V /(3) = 277 V. The required resistance will be 277 / 5 = 55.4 Ohms.
Note
In Medium Voltage Mine Power Systems Low Resistance is generally used with a Neutral
Grounding Resistor that will limit the ground fault to a maximum of 25 to 50 A. This is necessary

to limit the touch voltage to 100 V or less. Zero-sequence Current Transformers and Ground
Fault Relays detect the fault and will trip at less than one third of the resistor rating. The resistor
is rated for continuous duty with a maximum temperature rise of 375 C.
Modern mine power systems can have a significant amount of distributed system capacitance
and as will all Neutral Grounding Resistors the maximum ground fault current allowed by the
resistor must exceed the total capacitance to ground charging current of the system and the
vector sum of the system charging current plus the resistor current shall not exceed 8 A. (see
System Capacitance to Ground Charging Current Calculation)

References
Industrial Power Systems Shoaib Khan, Sheeba Khan, Ghariani Ahmed
System Neutral Resistance Grounding Larry A. Pryor, P.E., GE Senior Specification Engineer