ABE 47 Electrical System Design for Biosystems 1/16/2014

Structures

Electrical Grounding Electrical Grounding

A A
B Grounding B
E – connecting directly or indirectly to earth E
– main function: safety
Good system grounding is dependent on
4 4 establishing low-resistance paths to earth at each
Ground
system grounding point.
7 – can be a grounding electrode or any 7
conductive material connected directly or
indirectly to earth Equipment grounding supplies a low-resistance
(e.g. metal pipes) path from all of the metal objects to the system
ground at the service.

Electrical Grounding Electrical Grounding

A A
B Two Types of Grounding B Grounding electrode can be any of the following:
E 1. System Grounding E
- grounding of current-carrying portions of the (1) Metal underground water pipe with at least 10 ft (3 m)
system in the earth;
4 Main Function: 4 (2) Metal frame of the building where effectively grounded;
limit the voltage between any conductor (3) Concrete-encased electrode (an electrode encased in at
7 7 least 2 in. (50 mm) of concrete, located within or near the
2. Equipment Grounding bottom of a concrete foundation);
- grounding of equipment not intended to be (4) Ground ring encircling the building in direct contact
at a voltage potential difference from the earth with the earth, consisting of at least 20 ft (6 m) of bare
Main Function: copper conductor;
to prevent electric shock to persons or animals coming in (5) Rod and pipe electrodes not less than 8 ft (2.5 m); and
contact with metallic objects, which themselves have come (6) Plate electrodes not less than 2 ft2 (0.186 m2) of
in contact with a hot conductor due to some electrical fault surface to exterior soil.

Electrical Grounding Electrical Grounding

A A
B B System and Equipment Grounding Considerations
E E

the neutral conductor should not be grounded at
System grounding provides a measure of safety for any other point beyond the service
4 equipment or persons if an unintentional contact 4
7 between the hot conductor and earth is made (by 7
the grounding system shall not carry currents,
limiting the voltage to a minimum value) or if a except during faults
fault outside the building should arise (lightning
striking the power system).
grounding electrode is only required to have a
resistance of 25 ohms or less.

Asst. Prof. Mark Keylord S. Onal 1

ABE 47 Electrical System Design for Biosystems 1/16/2014
Structures

Ground Fault Ground Fault

A A
B In a complete electrical circuit there must be at B Three Ways to Protect Persons from Ground Fault
E least two wires: E
one to carry the current to the load and 1. use double-insulated tools which insulate the
one to return the current to the source operator from the tool.
4 4
7 If the insulation of the wiring or load is faulty or 7 2. use of three-wire (grounded) cords which
breaks down, all or part of the current may follow extend the equipment grounding to the tool
an alternative path through the grounding system
or earth back to the source (ground fault) 3. Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).

That alternative path should never be the person’s

body.

Ground Fault Ground Fault

A A
B Threshold Levels for 60Hz currents B Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
E E - for personnel protection
A ground fault interrupter measures the current in
the two load conductors.
4 4
Whenever the difference exceeds a specified value
7 7
(typically 5 mA) the device opens the circuit.

These currents are much lower than those required

to activate overcurrent protection provided by a fuse
or circuit breaker.

Ground Fault Ground Fault

A A
B Fibrillation – loss of control of heartbeat B Ground faults can occur almost anywhere, but are
E E most serious in wet or damp areas because
Note: moisture helps conduct the current.
The resistance of human body varies from about
4 500,000 Ω when dry to about 300 Ω when wet 4 With this in mind, the code (PEC) requires GFCIs in
7 (including the effects of perspiration). Therefore, 7 all circuits in new wiring supplying receptacles in
voltage as low as 30 V can cause sufficient current the bathroom and garages of dwellings.
to be fatal.
They also require them on all outdoor receptacles
I = V = Voltage = 30 V = 100 mA accessible from the ground level or associated
R Wet Resistance 300 Ω with swimming pools.

Asst. Prof. Mark Keylord S. Onal 2

ABE 47 Electrical System Design for Biosystems 1/16/2014
Structures

Ground Fault Arc Fault

A A
B Three Forms of GFCI B Five types of AFCIs:
1. circuit breaker with built-in ground fault
E interrupter protect all outlets on the branch
E
1. Branch/Feeder, installed in the panel
circuit 2. Outlet circuit, integrated into the receptacle
2. GFCI used to replace a standard duplex 3. Combination, complying with branch feeder
4 receptacle
4
and outlet circuit AFCIs
7 3. GFCI that plugs into a standard receptacle or is 7
4. Portable, plug-in (often a long strip)
built into an extension cord.
5. Cord, dedicated to one unit.

Arc Fault
A
B Arc fault - low and erratic flow of electricity
E Undetected arc faults may create temperatures of
several thousand degrees Celsius and lead to the
ignition of nearby combustible materials.
4
7 Arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI)
- for fire protection
- use to detect low-level arcing faults in electrical
circuits and de-energizes the circuit

AFCIs use electronic circuitry to recognize specific

current and voltage characteristics of arcing faults and
can interrupt the circuit when a fault occurs.

Arc Fault
A
B Typical causes
E • worn electrical insulation or damaged wire.
• misapplied or damaged plug-in appliance
cords and equipment.
4 • loose electrical connections.
• accidentally piercing electrical cable behind
7
drywall with a drill bit, nail, or screw.
• electrical cable hammered too tightly against
a stud during installation.
• furniture pushed against a cord plugged into
an outlet.

Asst. Prof. Mark Keylord S. Onal 3