Misconception about “DEDICATED” , “INDEPENDENT” and “ISOLATED” Earthing.

“Isolated” or “Independent“ Earth electrode is nothing but an ‘Electrically independent” earth electrode,
which by definition is totally different from the “myth” or what we perceive generally.

By definition, an electrically independent earth electrode is an electrode located at ‘such a distance’ from
the nearest electrode which is not physically connected with this electrode in a manner that the
maximum current likely to flow through one of them does not significantly affect the potential of other
electrodes. The distance mentioned above is nothing but a distance more than the “sphere of influence”.

Isolated Electrode

This is clearly explained in IEC 61000 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 5: Installation and
mitigation guidelines - Section 2: Earthing and cabling, I.e IEC 61000-5-2.

Often, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineers feel that electrical earthing is “dirty earthing” and their
equipment will fail, if all earthing systems are interconnected. They wish to keep a separate earthing
system for their application. Though Electronic equipment can have independent earth electrodes, they
should be connected to other earthing systems below the ground.

As per the concept of “Global earthing”, electrical earthing, electronic earthing, instrumentation earthing,
communication earthing, structure earthing and lightning protection system earthing, should be
interconnected below the ground.
 Global Earthing

Concept of isolated earth electrode is not relevant for electronic and instrumentation systems since there
are always links with other earth electrodes through (a) soil and (b) through parasitic elements - example
capacitance and mutual inductance. Also during lightning or power system fault high transient over voltage
develop between this “isolated” earthing system and other parts of the installation which is dangerous for
equipment safety, personal safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

The same is applicable for very low level voltage level signals such as thermocouples whose voltage range
is in milli volts. The earthing of these equipment also need to be connected with other earthing system
below the ground. This is a recommended practice as per IEC 62305- Protection against lightning- part 4-
Protection of Electrical & Electronic equipment inside the structure. In case of earth loop problems, which
significantly affect the measurement signal, alternate arrangement is to connect the earthing of such signal
to other earthing system using an “earth coupler”, which isolates the earthing under normal conditions
and connects during lightning conditions.

"Connecting all earthing system together is also confirmed by Central Electricity Authority - CEA in its 2016
draft version "Periodic comprehensive review of the CEA (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply)
regulations, 2010 (as amended) as below under regulation 37 - Conditions applicable to installation of
voltage exceeding 250 Volts and more detailed under CEA regulation 41 - Connection with Earth for
systems exceeding 48 Volts and not exceeding 650 Volts.

All metal works, enclosing, supporting or associated with the installations, other than that designed to
serve as a conductor (i.e live & neutral wires of power supply) shall be connected with an earthing system
as per standards laid down in the Indian Standards ( IS 3043 , IS/IEC 62305 & IS/IEC 61643-11) in this
regard and the provisions of CEA regulation 41.

Here, metal works means enclosures / body of all electrical, electronics, instrumentation, and
communication equipment.