OHL-25-002

Overhead Line PTE Earths and LV Neutral Earths

Issue 3

1. SCOPE

This document sets out guidance for the earthing construction of the overhead line distribution
network. It includes detailed requirements for the application of PTE earths and LV neutral earths.

2. ISSUE RECORD

This is a Reference document. The current version is held on the EN Document Library.

It is your responsibility to ensure you work to the current version.

Issue Date Issue No. Author Amendment Details

May 2005 1 David Kilday Initial issue.
Update of maximum resistance values,
separation between HV and LV neutral
November 2016 2 Maria Anzola
earths, colouring of LV neutral earths
and materials for earth rods.
Update HV and LV earthing
Jan 2020 3 Iain Boyle requirements to align with new national
documentation.

3. ISSUE AUTHORITY

Author Owner Issue Authority

Iain Boyle Frank Berry Fraser Ainslie

Senior Standards Engineer Circuits Manager
Engineering Design and
Standards
Head of Engineering Design &
Standards
Digitally signed by Fraser
Ainslie
DN: cn=Fraser Ainslie,
o=Process and
Technology,
ou=Engineering Design
and Standards,
email=fraser.ainslie@spen
ergynetworks.co.uk, c=GB
Date: 2020.02.28 17:50:19
Z

4. REVIEW

This is a Reference document which has a 10 year retention period after which a reminder will be
issued to review and extend retention or archive.

5. DISTRIBUTION

This document is part of the Wood Pole Overhead Line Virtual Manual maintained by Document
Control but does not have a maintained distribution list.

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 OHL-25-002
Overhead Line PTE Earths and LV Neutral Earths
Issue 3

6. CONTENTS

1. SCOPE ....................................................................................................................................... 1
2. ISSUE RECORD ........................................................................................................................ 1
3. ISSUE AUTHORITY .................................................................................................................. 1
4. REVIEW ..................................................................................................................................... 1
5. DISTRIBUTION.......................................................................................................................... 1
6. CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................... 2
7. REFERENCE AND RELATED DOCUMENTS .......................................................................... 3
8. LV NEUTRAL EARTHS............................................................................................................. 3
8.1 LV Neutral Earth ............................................................................................................. 3
8.2 Supplementary Earthing Kit .......................................................................................... 3
9. EARTH RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT ................................................................................. 5
10. POLE-MOUNTED TRANSFORMER EARTHING ..................................................................... 5
10.1 Background .................................................................................................................... 5
10.2 Site Survey ...................................................................................................................... 5
10.3 Requirements for Positioning of Earth Installations .................................................. 5
10.4 Transformer HV Earth .................................................................................................... 6

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 OHL-25-002
Overhead Line PTE Earths and LV Neutral Earths
Issue 3

7. REFERENCE AND RELATED DOCUMENTS

This document makes reference to the documents listed below, it is important that users are in
possession of the latest editions together with any amendments.

EART-01-002 Low Voltage Earthing Policy and Application Guide

EART-06-001 Approved Equipment Register – Earthing
OHL-25-001 Pole Top Bonding
OPSAF-12-020 Testing PTE Earthing
TSE-06-001 Approved Equipment Register – Tools and Special Equipment
ENA ER G12 Requirements for the Application of Protective Multiple Earthing
to Low Voltage Networks
ENA TS 41-24 Guidelines for the Design, Installation, Testing and Maintenance
of Main Earthing Systems in Substations
EART-03-003 Technical Specification for earthing and bonding at Secondary
Substations

8. LV NEUTRAL EARTHS

8.1 LV Neutral Earth

Notes: At any position on the main where a PME electrode is to be installed, the neutral shall be
connected to any aerial earth wire using a size of connection of at least the same cross-
sectional area as the main line.
In accordance with EART-01-002, and in compliance with ENA ER G12, at any point where a
5 wire line’s neutral connects to a 4 wire line’s neutral, the neutrals and earth wire shall be
connected together and an earth electrode installed.

1. Form a neutral earth splitting point from a position approximately 3m above ground level. (see
Fig. 1)
2. Run 35mm2 PVC covered copper conductor from the splitting point to the first earth rod, the
PVC may be coloured either black or blue*.
3. Fit a jumper lug to the covered copper conductor.
4. Form an offset test position between the palms of the jumper lugs.
5. Cleat / staple the covered copper conductor to the pole.
6. Install insulated earth wire in ground to a minimum depth of 1m.
7. Install first earth rod a minimum of 20m from the first HV earth rod. (see EART-03-003)
8. Connect the copper conductor to the earth rod, using mechanical clamps.
9. Fit protective 3m guard to a depth of 150mm over the earth conductor and secure to the wood
pole.
10. Install an anti-climbing device below the disconnection point and approximately 25mm below
the top of the cable guard.
11. Test earth to establish its resistance.
12. Install additional earth rods if earth resistance is greater than 20.

8.2 Supplementary Earthing Kit

1. Where additional earths are required, install an additional earth rod at a distance of 4m from
the previous earth rod as shown in Fig 1.
2. Extend the earth conductor, using 32mm 2 bare copper conductor, and connect to the
additional earth rods, minimum depth 1m*.

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Overhead Line PTE Earths and LV Neutral Earths
Issue 3

Alternative: Where practicable, it is permissible to deep drive the spikes into the ground until the earth
resistance is less than 20.

Note: Detailed alternatives on how to get the required resistance value to be less than 20 can be
found in EART-03-003.

Fig 1: Earthing Arrangement of LV Neutral Earth

*NOTE: The LV Earthing Conductor shall have a minimum cross section of 35mm 2 for LV cable sizes
up to 95mm2. For pole-mounted substations with LV cable sizes of 185 mm 2 or above, an LV
Earthing Conductor with a minimum cross section of 70 mm 2 shall be installed.

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Overhead Line PTE Earths and LV Neutral Earths
Issue 3

9. EARTH RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT

Testing of HV steelwork and LV neutral earths shall be in accordance with OPSAF-12-020. The
maximum permitted resistance value shall also be in accordance with EART-03-003.

For the purpose of Earth Resistance Measurements, the equipment listed in the Approved Equipment
Register – Tools and Special Equipment (TSE-06-001) shall be used.

The procedure to be adopted for testing Earth Installations can be found in the Manufacturer’s
Instructions.

10. POLE-MOUNTED TRANSFORMER EARTHING

10.1 Background

Earthing systems associated with pole-mounted transformers are, at times, required to carry fault
current. In doing so, a rise in earth potential may be experienced. This rise in earth potential can
become hazardous due to step potential or voltage gradient caused by the passage of fault current.

In order to minimise the risk associated with step potentials, the installation method detailed in this
document should be adopted for all earthing installations associated with pole-mounted transformers.

10.2 Site Survey

Prior to installing any earthing system, a thorough site survey shall be carried out to identify the
position of any existing obstruction, which may influence the final positioning of the proposed earthing
installation.

The presence of adjacent earthing systems, metallic objects such as water pipes, water troughs,
agricultural buildings, and fences etc in the vicinity of the proposed installation shall be considered.

In addition, areas to which members of the public have unrestricted access, for example rights of way,
footpaths etc shall also be considered.

10.3 Requirements for Positioning of Earth Installations

When selecting the excavation route for the installation of the earthing system, the obstructions above
shall, where reasonably practicable, be avoided.

It is essential that electrical separation is established and maintained between the HV steelwork earth
and the neutral earth. In order to achieve this, they must be kept separate and electrically insulated
both on the pole and underground.

The earths should be installed such that they are on opposite sides of the pole and shall be laid away
from the pole in, as far as is reasonably practicable, opposite directions from each other. The neutral
earth should be insulated up to the point where the neutral and HV steelwork earths are physically a
minimum of 20m apart.

In most environments, either mild steel or copper bonded earth rods may be used, however, due to
problems with corrosion of the mild steel, only copper bonded earth rods shall be used in acid soil.
Solid copper rods shall be used in specific areas with soils that have a high salt content.

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Overhead Line PTE Earths and LV Neutral Earths
Issue 3

10.4 Transformer HV Earth

The bonding of the HV apparatus will be in accordance with OHL-25-001 with all the steelwork above
the anti-climbing guard being bonded together, i.e. the crossarm, the transformer tank, the
transformer platform and the earth end of surge arresters where installed. Where a pole is situated
within, or just outside, the earthed perimeter fence of a substation, then the steelwork earth shall be
bonded to the main earthing system.

1. The earth conductor shall be a minimum 35mm 2 copper, insulated with green and yellow
PVC*.
2. The steelwork earth shall be bonded to the transformer at the ‘earth stud’ facility provided on
the transformer tank.
3. The earth wire shall be brought down the pole at the opposite side of the pole from the
proposed position of the transformer neutral earth. The HV steelwork earth shall be fixed to
the pole with wire staples, each no further apart than 500mm.
4. The earth wire shall be protected at the bottom of the pole by an insulating guard 3m long
sunk 150mm into the ground.
5. The HV steelwork earth conductor shall be connected to an earth rod at the base of the pole
at the opposite side of the pole from the neutral earth. The top of the earth shall be 600mm
deep.
6. A length of bare 32mm 2 copper conductor shall be connected to the earth rod and run, at a
depth of 1m, to the additional earth rods as required. These rods shall be positioned no closer
than 2m apart.
7. The additional HV earthing shall be laid in the opposite direction to that of the neutral earth.
8. The earth resistance shall now be tested in accordance with Section 9. Sufficient earthing
shall be installed to bring the earth resistance below the required value.

*NOTE: HV Earthing Conductor and buried Earth Electrode at sites where HV fault level exceeds 4kA
shall be 70mm2

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