FEBRUARY REPORT.

GENERAL ELECTRICAL SAFETY

Checked by………………… ……………… ………………………

Electrical foreman……………… ……………… ……………………

HR Advisor Signature Date

Table of contents

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1. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................3

2. UNDERSTANDlND EARTHING SYSTEM .......................................................................3

2.0 What is earthing system.......................................................................................................3

2.1.Reasons why we should have earthing system............................................................5

2.1.2 Voltage stabilisation...............................................................................................10

2.2.3 Safety for human life , Electrical and safety buildings............................................14

3. PROTECTION SYSTEM....................................................................................................16

3.1 definition of protection system.......................................................................................16

3.2 Bus bar protection...........................................................................................................17

3.3 Causes of bus bar faults..................................................................................................18

3.4 Reliability of protection .................................................................................................19

4.0 CALCULATION OF MCBs SIZES..................................................................................19

5.0. INSTALLING ELCB AND UNDERSTANDING

OPERATION....................................20.

6.0 HlGH VOLTAGE SAFETY PROCEDURE................................................................ 21.

7.0 RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................22

8.0 CONCLUSION..................................................................................... ................. .23

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INTRODUCTION.

During my second month at RZM Murowa Diamonds I was thaught general electrical
safety which includes the importance of earthing system, protection system, Protective
device such as Fuses and miniature circuit breakers (Mcb) , calculation of MCBs
sizes ,how to install Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers ( ELCB) and understanding operation
and maintenance and High and low voltage safety procedure.

Definition of Earthing system.

The connection between electrical appliances and device with the earth plate or
electrode through a thick wire of low resistance to provide an earthing or grounding
system . Electrical system or grounding is an electrical network that work as a safety
measure to protect human life as well as equipment, the main objective of the earthing
system is to provide an alternative path for dangerous current to flow . Metallic parts of
the equipment are grounded to the earth and if the insulation fails for any reason , then
the high voltages that can be present in the equipment covering or outer box need some
path to be discharged . If the equipment is not earthed these dangerous voltages can be
transferred to anyone who touches and it result in an electrical shock. The circuits get
shorted and the fuse will blow immediately , Incase if the live wire touches the earthed
casa.

.
Reasons why we should have earthing system at Murowa Diamonds.

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1) Earthing system makes the equipment electrically shock free and give us a safe place
to stay. Safety for human life , electrical device and buildings . It saves the human life
from the danger of electrical shock which can cause death. By blowing a fuse it protects
your electrical equipment and device. It provide a safe path for lighting and short circuits
current and save building from structural damage.

2) Voltage stabilisation.
Electricity comes from many sources , every transformer can be considered as a separate
source. If there is no point which will act as a common point , then it is impossible to
make a calculation between these sources. In an electrical distribution , earth is present
conductive surface which makes it a universal standard for all electric system.

3) Over voltage protection .

Earthing system provides an alternative path in the electrical system to minimize the
dangerous effect in the electrical system which happens at the time of lighting and
unitensional contact with high voltage lines.

3.0 PROTECTION SYSTEM.

Protection system is adopted for securing protection and the protection schemes i.e the
coordinated arrangement of relays and accessories for following elements of power
system .
: Generators.
: Hv bus bars .
: Line protection and islanding.
: Transformers.
Primary function of Protective system is to detect and isolate all failed and faulted
components as quickly as possible , there by the disruption to the remainder of electrical
system. Accordingly the protection system should be dependable ( operate when required)
, secure (not to operate unnecessarily) , selective ( only the minimum number of devices
should operate as fast as required. Without this primary requirement protection system
would be largely ineffective and may become liability. Combination of Protective system
to be employed is dependent on the size, voltage class and the importance of the

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 transformer with respect to the grid. Protective system combination to be provided is
discussed with specific references to generator transformers, interlinking transformers,
unit and station service transformers . For large and more important transformers
restricted earth fault. Differential protection is recommended for transformer of 10 MVA
three phase transformers.

Bus bar protection.

Bus bar and switch gears are the parts of the system which are used to direct the flow of
power to various feeders . To isolate bus faults all circuits connected to the bus are
opened electrically . These disconnections shuts down all feeders supplied by the bus and
may affect other parts of the systems. Bus bars are sectionalised into bus zones to avoid
complete shut down.

Causes of bus bar faults.

(1) Insulation failure due to material deterioration.
(2) Flashovers caused by prolonged and excessive over voltage.
(3) Failure of circuit breaker to clear under through fault conditions.

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(4) Errors in the operation and maintenance of the switch gear.
(5) Foreign objects accidentally falling across the bus bar.

Factors affecting clearance of bus bar faults.

: Concentration of fault MVA increase the risk of considerable damage .
: Loss of installation will result in wide supply interruption.

Performance required of bus bar protection .

: High speed for prompt and fault clearance , to minimize the damage and maintain system
stability.
: Must be absolutely stable for all faults external to the switch gear installation.
: Must be capable of complete descrimination between zones to ensure that the minimum
number of the circuit breakers are tripped to isolate the fault .
: Freedom from incorrect operation preferably withouth using complicated interlocks.
: Individual control of all circuit breakers seperate trip relay.

Clearance of bus bar faults by backup protection.

:Over current protection and distance protection are used for providing backup protection
to bus zones.
:High speed fault clearance or correct descrimination with such schemes is generally not
possible . Accordingly unit form of protection of important installation is recommended.

Reliability of protection.
: Quality of a relay.
: Component and circuits involved in fault clearance eg breaker trip , control circuits and
instrument transformers.
: Maintenance of protection equipment.
: Quality of maintenance operating staff.

Fault current vs load current.

In most cases , fault exceeds normal load by a factor 2 or more . However , special
consideration should be given situations where load current is greater than fault current.

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For example on systems that are grounded through a neutral impedance the ground fault
current is lower than the normal load current magnitude . For this situation the use of
seperate ground and fault relaying is required . High voltage over current devices should not
respond to maximum load current because these devices are applied to provide protection
for short circuits but not for maximum loads. Conductors , transformers and other current
carrying devices should be rated to carry the maximum expected load, taking into account
load profiles , diversity and short time equipment rating . Occasionally , special overload
protection is provided for high voltage equipment , but this should generally be avoided
because of the difficulty of coordinating these schemes while maintaining reliable operation
of the power system . However overload is also required for low voltage protection.

Protection System for transformers.

Protection system applied to power transformers are as follows-
:Gas and oil surge ( Buchholz)
:Oil and winding temperature.
: Over current and earth fault
: Current differentials.

4.0 PROTECTIVE DEVICES.

An electrical unit is built with a great care to ensure that each seperate electrical is fully from
all the other This is done so that current in a circuit will flow in its intended path . Once the
unit is placed into service , however many things can happen to alter the original circuit.

Circuit conditions requiring protection device.

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Some of the changes in a circuit can cause conditions that are dangerous to the circuit itself or
to people living or working near the circuits. These potentially dangerous conditions that
require circuit protection device. The conditions that require circuit protection are as follow.
1) Direct shot.
One of the most serious troubles that occur in a circuit is called a direct short. Another term
which is used to describe this term is called a shot circuit. This occurs when the full system
voltage is present , comes in the direct contact with the ground or return side of the circuit.
According to the Ohm's law if the resistance in a circuit is extremely small the current will
be extremely large. Therefore when there is a direct short occurs there will be large current
through the wires.
2) Excessive current.
It is possible for the circuit current to increase withouth a direct short. If a resistor, capacitor
or inductor changes value the total circuit impedance will also change in value. Since the
circuit wiring and components are designed to withstand normal Circuit current , an increase
will cause overheating just an Incase of a direct short . Therefore excessive current withouth a
direct short will cause the same problems as direct short.
3) Excessive heat.
As I have read most of the problems associated with a direct short or excessive current
concern the heat generated by the higher current . The damage to circuit components , the
possibility of fire and possiblity of harzodous fumes being given off from the electrical
components . It is possible for excessive heat to occur withouth a direct short or excessive
current such as that if the bearings on a motor or a generator would over heat.

Circuit protection devices.

All of the conditions are potentially dangerous and require the use of protection device.
Circuit protection devices are used to stop current flow or open the circuit . To do this , a
current protection device must always be connected in series with the circuit it is protecting .
If the protection devices is connected in parallel, current will simply flow around the
protection device and continue in the circuit. A circuit protection device operates by opening
and interrupting current to the circuit. The opening of a protection devices shows that
something is wrong in the circuit and should be corrected before the current is stored . When
the problem exists and the protection device opens , the device should isolate the faulty
circuit from the other unaffected faults.

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Circuit breakers.
While a fuse protects a circuit , it is destroyed in the process of opening the circuit breakers.
Once the problem that caused the increased the current or heat is corrected, a fuse must be
placed in a circuit. A circuit protection that can be used more than once solves the problem of
replacement fuse. Circuit breaker breaks or open the circuit . Circuit breakers are classified
according to amount of voltage which needed by the equipment and amount of current which
drawn by the equipment.

High voltage circuit breakers.

These are charecterised by an electromagnetic tripping coil which will open the circuit
breaker automatically whenever the current exceeds the present value or manually by push
button. The arcing associated with heavy currents in High Breaking capacity circuit breakers
is suffiently large to the contacts of the circuit breakers together hence all high voltage
circuit breakers should have an arc extinguishing method. High voltage circuit breakers are
named according to the arc extinguishing method for example.
: Air blast circuit breaker.
: Sulphur hexafluoride .
:Oil circuit breaker.
: Vaccum circuit breaker.
Low voltage circuit breaker.
There are only two types of low voltage circuit breakers which are
: Moulded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB).
It is made up of moulded insulating material . It is constructed so that there is no provision
of maintenance. They are available in single pole , double pole and tripple pole. Their
current ratings range from 10 A to 1200A and medium voltage of up to 600v.Their breaking
Capacity is 50KA . They are capable of making , carrying and breaking current under
specified abnormal conditions such as of those circuit.

: Miniature Circuit Breaker.

It is similar to the MCCB but differs only in current carrying capacity. An MiniatureCircuit
Breaker offers better fire protection to final circuits. MCBs have a lower current ratings

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from 0. 5 to 200amps and typical breaking Capacity of 2.5 KA.They are most commonly used
for domestic and commercial installations.

Fuse .
Fuse is a simplest form of Protective device which consists of an element of wire with a
cross sectional area that is less than that of conductors. The element will heat up and
eventually melt when a current is higher than the rating of the fuse flows through it. Fuses
are enclosed such that it is not possible to remove a fuse if there are any live parts. The fuse
element enclosed so that the molten wire does not spill to other parts of the circuit.

Terms associated with fuses.

(a) Current rating.
This is the maximum current of a fuse can contiously carry withouth blowing or
deteriorating . When choosing the current rating the ambient temperature is taken into
consideration . For fuses that are to be used in high temperature situations de rating might
be necessary.
(b) De rating.
Reducing the fuse rating.
(c) Minimum fusing current.
This is the minimum current which will cause the fuse to blow within a specified time .
(d) Breaking capacity of a fuse.
It is the greatest amount of prospective current which can be associated with a fuse.
(e) Applied Voltage.
This is the voltage declared by the manufacturer to indicate the maximum circuit voltage in
which a fuse can be used .
(f) pre arcing time.
This is the time taken from the instant on arc is intimated.
(g) Arcing time.
This is the time taken from the instant an arc is intiated to the instant an arc is extinguished.
(h) Operating time .
It is the sum of pre arcing and arcing time.

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5.0 INSTALLING ELCB AND UNDERSTANDING PROTECTION AND
MAINTENANCE.

Definition of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker.

Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker ( ELCB) is a type of a circuit breaker that is used for
protection against leakage current . It disconnects the power supply to the load when it senses
the leakage current . The earth leakage can cause electrical shocks that can be fatal. ELCB is
mainly used for protection against electrical shock. They do not offer protection against
overloading or short circuit. Therefore there must be used in series with an Main Circuit
Breaker.

Functions of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker.

ELCB is a safety device whose main function is to prevent electrical shock . It monitors the
leakage current that flows out of the circuit through any unitended path. It can not protect
against overloading and short circuit current.

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Operations of an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker.
Under normal conditions , the current from the source flows into the load through live wires
and flows out of the circuit through neutral wire . In fact both current are equal in amount . If
the current leaks through any unitended path, an imbalance between the live and neutral wire
occurs. The ELCB can sense the imbalance using a current transformer and break the
contacts using an electo magnetic relay.There are two types of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker
which are Voltage ELCB and Current ELCB. Both types of ELCBs detect the leakage current
but their sensitivity and the level of protection are different. Voltage ELCB was invented
before the ELCB . Voltage ELCB is inferior to Current ELCB.

Voltage Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker.

Voltage ELCB operates on the voltage level between the earth and the body of the
equipment. The voltage difference is used to detect the leakage current and instantly break
the circuit .it has the terminals for both phases and neutral on both supply and load sides. It
has two extra terminals that connect with the equipment s body and the earth. These terminals
are actually connected with the electro magnetic relay and they play a vital role in breaking
the circuit during current leakage.

Working princple of a Voltage Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker.

One of the terminals of the relay coil is directly connected to the earth while the other
terminal is connected to the body of the equipment. The coil can sense the voltage
difference between the earth and the body of equipment . If the live wire breaks or it's
insulation fails and comes in contact with the body of the equipment and a voltage
difference appears across the terminals of the coil . As a result , the current starts to flow
through the coil and it is energized . The relay starts to generate elecro magnetic force .
When the current exceeds a certain limit , the relay produces sufficient force to pull the
latch. By doing so , the latch break opens the contacts and disconnects the power supply to
the equipment and prevent electrical shock. Therefore the earth connection is necessary as
the relay only operates when the leakage current flows through it. If the current leaks
through any other parts of the circuits and flows through any other unitended path , it will
not break the circuit as the current must flow through the relay in order to break the circuit.

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Advantages of using Voltage Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker.
: It helps in protecting against electrical shock.
: They are less sensitivity and do not trip unnecessarily .
:They are less expensive.
Disadvantages.
: It can not sense the current Leakage to any other earthed body parts .
: It can not prevent electrical shock Incase of touching the phase conductor directly.
: It only trips when the leakage current flows through earth conductor.
: It requires an extra connection with the body of the equipment and earth.
: It is less sensitive and can not detect leakage current.

Current Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker. ( RCCB)or RCD

Current ELCB are commonly known as Residual Current Device (RCD) or Residual Current
Circuit Breaker (RCCB) is another type of ELCB that breaks the circuit upon sensing any
leakage current . It operates on the current differences between the phase and neutral line.
The difference appears when the current leaks from the phase line . Therefore Residual
Current Circuit Breaker , can provide protection against any kind of current leakage . It has
Four terminals having two inputs and two outputs terminals for phase and neutral . The
phase in and neutral in are connected to the supply while phase out and neutral out are
connected to the load . It does not have that extra terminal for the earth connection.

Working princple of a Current Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker.

The Residual Current Circuit Breaker is based on the current imbalance between the phase
and neutral lines. It continuously monitors the phase and neutral current . Under normal
conditions , both phase and neutral are equal because it is the same current flowing back
from the load. Residual current device works on the Kirchoff s current law according to
which the amount of current leaving the load through the neutral wire. The difference
between the two currents known as Residual Current and should be zero. If there is a
difference then the current is leaking somewhere that causes the imbalance . Residual
Current Circuit Breaker includes a zero to sequence current transformer that has three
coils , phase coil and search coil. It is used for detecting the imbalance between the two
current.

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Advantages of using Residual Current Circuit Breaker.
: Residual Current Device breaks the circuit when the current leaks from any part of the
circuit.
: Reliable for providing electrical shock .
: It is more sensitive than the voltage Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker.
: It does not require an Earth when connecting.

Disadvantages.
: Does not provide protection against short circuit current.
: It does not have overload protection.
:It is expensive than Voltage Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker.
: It can not provide protection against electrical shock due to touching both phase and
neutral wire because the current still remains equal.

6.0 HIGH VOLTAGE CIRCUIT PROCEDURES.

We are aware that electricity is primarily used to power the majority of the equipment. We
largely rely on electricity for many of our necessities, but we also know that , an electrical
mishap could result in fatalities or serious injuries . High voltage electricity is a type of power
that carries a significant voltages. It is a lot more powerful than low voltage electricity that
can be lethal if handled improperly. High voltage electricity can be dangerous in number of
ways such as ,
: It can be corrosive and destroy any material that comes into contact with it.
: It can also be a fatal if it is used incorrectly or near things that can cause shock.

Why high voltage electricity should be regulated.

High voltage electricity must be regulated. High voltage electricity can be used for number
of purposes , from powe generation to feeding industrial plants. High voltage must be kept
away from people and the environment in order to avoid accidentally damage and shock. It
can be transported safely by using insulated hoses. When the power reaches its final
destination it can be used for electrical device . To be safe and effective , high voltage

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electricity must be kept regulated and under supervision . This will ensures power levels are
kept safe and within industry approved parameters. The use of high voltage electricity can
be regulated by the installation of a circuit breaker.

Safety precaution to ensure that you and your team are safe.

(1) Always use safety equipment including appropriate gloves, safety gloves and a face
shield.
(2) Always use a grounded safety chain or cable when working with high voltage.
(3) Always be cautious when working near high voltage power lines.
(4) Always keep a distance from high voltage equipment .
(5) Always follow the safety guidelines provided by Murowa Diamonds.
(6) Never touch a live wire or electrical with wet or bare hands as it can make the skin
sensitive to electricity.
(7) Always use gloves or something else to keep the skin from touching the wire or
equipment.
(8) The electrician must work in a safe location.
(9) All connections must be properly grounded.
(10) Inspection of all equivalent shall be done prior to purchase installation or repair.
(11) Insulate app power leads and power cable properly .
(12) Inspect all connections in a building before allowing entry to anyone in the building.
(13) protect yourself while working on site

CONCLUSION

The critical reason for general electrical safety is to prevent injuries and fatalities due to
electric shock and electrical hazards. Electrical accidents can result in electric shock, burns,
fire, or explosion, which can cause severe injuries and even death.
Electrical safety is also essential for preventing property damage and financial loss due to
equipment damage, fires, and explosions caused by electrical hazards. Damaged electrical

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equipment can be costly to replace or repair and can disrupt business operations if critical
equipment is out of action.
In summary, good electrical safety practices are critical because they maintain a safe work
environment, prevent injuries and fatalities, prevent property damage and financial loss, and
contribute to increased productivity. Therefore, it is essential for anyone working with or
around electrical equipment to be adequately trained in electrical safety and follow all
relevant safety standards and guidelines.

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