6th Semester

Module – 2 & 3
Earthing agreements;

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 1 4/9/2020

 6. Earthing System

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 2 4/9/2020

6. What is Earthing ?
The terms earth and earthing,irrespective of reliance being placed on the earth itself, is used to
denote a low impedance return path of the fault current.
The earth rarely serves as a part of the return circuit but is being used mainly for fixing the voltage
of system neutrals.
The earth connection improves service continuity
and avoids damage to equipment and danger to
human lives.

Simplifying it To connect the metallic (conductive)

Parts of an Electric appliance or installations to
the earth (ground) is called Earthing or
Grounding.

In other words, to connect the metallic parts of

electric machinery and devices to the earth
plate or earth electrode (which is buried in the
moisture earth) through a thick conductor wire
(which has very low resistance) for safety
purpose is known as Earthing or grounding.

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 3 4/9/2020

6.1 Why Earthing is Important?
The primary purpose of earthing is to avoid or minimize the danger of electrocution, fire due to
earth leakage of current through undesired path and to ensure that the potential of a current
carrying conductor does not rise with respect to the earth than its designed insulation.
When the metallic part of electrical appliances (parts that can conduct or allow passage of electric
current) comes in contact with a live wire, maybe due to failure of installations or failure in cable
insulation, the metal become charged and static charge accumulates on it. If a person touches such
a charged metal, the result is a severe shock.
To avoid such instances, the power supply systems and parts of appliances have to be earthed so
as to transfer the charge directly to the earth. This is why we need Electrical Earthing or
Grounding in electrical installation systems.
The objectives of Earthing.
1. To protect human lives as well as provide safety to electrical devices and appliances from
leakage current.
2. To Protect Electric system and buildings from lighting.
3. To serve as a return conductor in electric traction system and communication.
4. To avoid the risk of fire in electrical installation systems.
5. The object of an earthing system is to provide as nearly as possible a surface under and
around a station which shall be at a uniform potential and as nearly zero or absolute earth
potential as possible.

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 4 4/9/2020

6.2 : General requirements for Earthing
All medium voltage equipment shall be earthed by two separate and distinct connections with earth through
an earth electrode.

In the case of high and extra high voltages the neutral points shall be earthed by not less than two separate
and distinct connections with earth each having its own electrode at the generating station or sub-station

Earth electrodes shall be provided at generating stations, substations and consumer premises in accordance with
the requirements.

All far as possible all earth terminals shall be visible.

All connections shall be carefully made; if they are poorly made or inadequate for the purpose for which they
are intended, loss of life or serious personal injury may result.

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 5 4/9/2020

8. EARTH TERMINATIONS
Each down conductor shall have an independent earth termination. It should be capable of isolation
for testing purposes. Suitable location for the earth termination
shall be selected after testing and assessing the specific resistivity of the soil and with due regard
to reliability of the sub-soil water to ensure minimum soil moistness.
Water pipe system should not be bonded to the earth termination system. However, if adequate
clearance between the two cannot be obtained, they may be effective bonded and the bonds should be
capable of isolation and testing. The gas pipes, however, should in no case be bonded to the earth
termination system.
It is recommended that all earth terminations should be interconnected. Common earthing, besides
equalizing the voltage at various earth terminations also minimizes any risk to it of mechanical damage.
A structure standing on bare rock should be equipped with a conductor encircling and fixed to the structure
at ground level and following reasonably closely the contour of the ground. This conductor should be
installed so as to minimize any risk to it of mechanical damage.

Types of Earthing (General)

Earthing associated with current-carrying conductor is normally essential to the security of the
system and is generally known as system earthing,

On the other hand earthing of non-current carrying metal work and conductor is essential to the
safety of human life, of animals and of property and is generally known as equipment earthing.

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 6 4/9/2020

System Earthing
The regulations that every medium, high and extra high voltage equipment shall be earthed by
not less than two separate and distinct connections with earth is designed primarily to preserve the
security of the system by ensuring that the voltage on each live conductor is restricted to such a
value with respect to the potential of the general mass of the earth as is

Classification of Systems Based on Types of System Earthing

Internationally classification of the earthing
systems are as follows T = Earth ( From French word Terre )
1. TN System, N = Neutral
a. TN – C S = Separate
b. TN-S C = Combine
c. TN-C-S I = Isolate

1. TT System

2. IT System.

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 7 4/9/2020

1. TN system — has one or more points of the source of energy directly earthed, and the exposed
and extraneous conductive parts of the installation are connected by means of protective
conductors to the earthed point(s) of the source, that is, there is a metallic path for earth fault
currents to
flow from the installation to the earthed point(s) of the source.
TN systems are further sub-divided into
TN-C,
TN-S and
TN-C-S systems.

2. TT system — has one or more points of the source of energy directly earthed and the exposed
and extraneous conductive parts of the installation are connected to a local earth electrode or
electrodes are electrically independent of the source earth(s).

3. IT system — has the source either unearthed or earthed through a high impedance and the
exposed conductive parts of the installation are connected to electrically independent earth
electrodes

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 8 4/9/2020

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 9 4/9/2020
8a. EARTH ELECTRODES
Types of Earth Electrodes
The following types of earth electrodes are considered standard:
a) Rod and pipe electrodes,
b) Strip or conductor electrodes,
c) Plates electrodes
d) Cable sheaths.

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 10 4/9/2020

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 11 4/9/2020
 Pipe Earthing:
A galvanized steel and a perforated
pipe of approved length and
diameter is placed vertically in a wet
soil in this kind of system of earthing.
It is the most common system of
earthing.
The size of pipe to use depends on
the magnitude of current and the
type of soil. The dimension of the
pipe is usually 40mm (1.5in) in
diameter and 2.75m (9ft) in length
for ordinary soil or greater for dry
and rocky soil. The moisture of the
soil will determine the length of the
pipe to be buried but usually it
should be 4.75m (15.5ft).

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 12 4/9/2020

 Plate Earthing:
In plate earthing system,
a plate made up of
either copper with
dimensions 60cm x 60cm
x 3.18mm (i.e. 2ft x 2ft
x 1/8 in) or galvanized
iron (GI) of dimensions
60cm x 60cm x 6.35 mm
(2ft x 2ft x ¼ in) is
buried vertical in the
earth (earth pit) which
should not be less than
3m (10ft) from the
ground level.
For proper earthing
system, follow the above
mentioned steps in the
(Earth Plate introduction)
to maintain the moisture
condition around the
earth electrode or earth
plate.

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 13 4/9/2020

Madhuchhanda M Biswas, Asst. Prof, ODCA 14 4/9/2020