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Bonding Grousing N Earthing PDF
Bonding Grousing N Earthing PDF
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~ CNC machine
Source transformer
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- Earth resistance, typical value = 10 ohms .- -
Ground rod No.1 Ground rod No.2
Fig. 1. Alightning-induced current flowing inthe earth has atypical value of 20,OOOA. The resulting voltage between the ground rods is200kV,
Fig. 2. Wiring and grounding errors (including the isolated ground rod) that contributed to the CNC machine problems at the example manufacturer.
Typically, an isolated ground rod isinstalled to reduce the effects of the errors listed above, but creates new problems during afault orstorm.
Earthing is the attachment of a Called upon to rectify the problem, havediscovered that isolated ground rods
bonded metallic system to earth, typi- personnel from the engineering ser- can decrease the number of nuisance
cally through ground rods or other vices organization of a major electrical problems, such as rebooting, data er-
suitable grounding electrodes.The NEC distribution equipment manufacturer rors, and intermittent shutdowns. This
prohibits earthing via isolated ground observed that although the plant had decrease is due to the reduced amount
rods as the only means of equipment grounded the CNC machine in accor- of voltage transients or "noise" on the
grounding . Nevertheless, some manu- dance with the manufacturer's instal- ground rod, as compared to a common
facturersof sensitivemachinery actually lation manual, the ground was in clear building grounding system. Because of
encourage this practice in their instal- violation of the NEC. This apparent the reduction in data errors attributed to
latiou mauuals, in order to reduce "no contradiction demonstrates a disturb- the ground rod, some manufacturers in-
problem found" service calls associated ing fact: Some grounding practices that clude isolated ground rod~ in their instal-
with machine errors and rebooting. are designed to decrease data errors in lation instructions. Some even imply the
sensitive machines can actually violate machine warranty will not be honored if
An illustration. Understanding the grounding codes and standards, caus- the ground rod is not installed.
differences between bonding/ground- ing equipment damage and introducing During thunderstorms or ground
ing and earthing is best illustrated with safetyhazards. It's also important to note faults, however, an isolated ground rod
an example. A manufacturer of molded that the conflicting requirements can be becomes a liability, creating shock haz-
components wasreplacingfailed printed overcome, but never by compromising ard potential for employees and high
circuit boards in a computerized nu- employee safety. potential riseson sensitive machinecom-
merically controlled (CNC) machine . ponents . Figure 1 on page 28 illustrates
After a thunderstorm. the machine's Key concepts and terms. Under- the extremely large transient voltages
self-diagnostic system occasionally standing the difference between bond- that can develop between driven ground
registered a component problem . The ing/grounding and earthing requires rods due to lightning currents and earth
machine would not start, delaying the implicit understanding of several impor- resistance. Although ground faultsin the
day's production cycle. Plant electronics tant concepts and terms, including those machine itself may not draw enough
techniciansidentifiedand replacedfailed outlined below. current to trip overcurrent protective
circuit boards, then returned the CNC Safety grounding and machine op- devices, they can create touch hazard
machine to operation. However, each eration. The problem experienced by the potential for employees.
occurrence cost thousands of dollars in plant in the example is not uncommon. Article 250.54 of the 2008 NEC
repairs and lost production. Manufacturers of sensitive machines specifically prohibits the use of
Safety switch
Fig. 3. Corrective actions needed to eliminate the wiring and grounding errors depicted in Fig. 2. Once the spurious ground rod had been con -
nected to the rest of the example manufacturer'sbonded system, including correcting the wiring error shown inFig. 2, operating issues were
addressed by correcting the remaining wiring errors as listed.
isolated ground rods, or earthing, as the electronic equipment is then grounded solidly grounded wye, which is estab-
sole means of equipment grounding, to an earth ground isolated from the lished by connecting a properly rated
although some have used other sections common powersystemground. Isolating conductor (also known as the main or
of the NEC to justify this practice. The equipment in this manner creates a po- system bonding jumper) from the Xo
"NEC Handbook" providesthe following tential difference that is a shock hazard. terminal of the source (usually a trans-
commentary associated with Art. 250.6 The error is compounded because such former) to the grounding system.
(Objectionabl e Currents): isolation does not establish a low-im- • Equipment grounding (bonding).
"An increase in the use of electronic pedance ground-fault return path to the The best means of equipment ground-
controls and computer equipment, powersource,which is necessary to actu- ing is to route a grounding conductor,
which are sensitive to stray currents, has ate the overcurrent protection device." suitably sized, along the same route
caused installation designers to look for Bonding/grounding vs. earthing. Iso- as the power and neutral conductors,
ways to isolate electronic equipment lated connections to earth are not re- from source to machine. The NEC does
from the effects of such stray circulat- quired for sensitive machine operation. allow use of metallic conduit and other
ing currents. Circulating currents on Issues crop up when equipment bonding! substitutes, but some industry experts
equipment grounding conductors, metal grounding and earthing are confused. In believe these systems are less effective
raceways, and building steel develop po- the United States, the term "grounding" and should be avoided.
tential differences between ground and is used to refer to at least five or more • Grounding electrode (earthing).
the neutral of electronic equipment. grounding-related systems,including: This term refersto the method by which
"A solution often recommended by • System type. This refers to the the facility grounding system is con-
inexperienced individuals is to isolate means by which power source voltage nected and referencedto earth. The most
the electronic equipment from all other relationships are established. Power common grounding electrode for small
power equipment by disconnecting it sources fall into four general categories: facilities is a metallic ground rod, but
from the power equipment ground. In Transformers, generators, electric utili- earthing systems for larger buildings can
this corrective action , the equipment ties, and static power converters. These - and should - be more elaborate and
grounding means is removedor nonme- systems may be configured as wye or include the means by which to inspect
tallic spacers are installed in the metallic delta, and the means by which they are and test these systems periodically. A
racewaysystemcontrary to fundamental interfaced with the grounding system grounding electrodesystem that isburied
safety grounding principles covered determines the system type. The most in earth or encased in concrete and then
in the requirements of Art. 250. The common 3-phase system type is the forgotten isoften the sourceofincreasing