For official Use Only

सत्यमेव जयते

भारत सरकार GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

रे ल मंत्रालय MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

SYSTEM EARTHING
Electrical Engineers and Technicians
End User Dealing with LV Installations

CAMTECH/E/2021-22/System Earthing/1.0
August, 2021

Maharajpura, GWALIOR - 474 005

[email protected]
 0751-2470740
 INTRODUCTION
This pamphlet describes about types of various System Earthing for electrical low
voltage installations such as TN (TN-S, TN-C, TN-C-S), TT & IT system based on
Indian Standards IS 3043-2018 “Code of Practice for Earthing”.
As per the requirements of services rendered by the electrical installation, design
of proper system earthing and accordingly selection of suitable protective devices
are very important so that when faults occurs, these protective devices can
disconnect the faulty circuit in stipulated time duration. This will save humans
from electrocution and wiring/equipment from overheating/burning during faults.
CAMTECH has also published a booklet on “Safety in Electrical low voltage
installations Vol-1 Basics of LV Earthing system” which starts by bursting the
common myths about earthing with facts followed by System earthing,
Importance of equipotential bonding & Fault loop impedance, etc.

Link for download the booklet vol.1

Basics of LV Earthing System from
internet- https://bit.ly/3jsqpXv

SYSTEM EARTHING
Earthing associated with current-carrying conductor which is normally essential to
the security of the system is known as System Earthing. System earthing of low
voltage installation is carried out to limit the potential of current carrying
conductor forming part of the electrical system with respect to general mass of
earth.

The basic objective of system earthing is to ensure efficient and fast operation of
protective device in the case of earth faults. The system earth fault loop
impedance should be such that, when any earth fault occurs, the protective
device (circuit-breakers or fuses, etc.) will operate to isolate the faulty main or
equipment.
TYPES OF SYSTEM EARTHING
Any electrical system comprises mainly two portions, first the source of energy
(transformer/DG) and second is installation. The source includes supply
cables/conductor connecting to the installation. Electrical supply systems are
further classified as TN system, TT system and IT system based on system
earthing. They are as given under.
TN System
Source
Installation

Distribution Line
T N

Installation Side:
Source Side:
Direct electrical connection of exposed conductive parts to the earthed point of
Direct connection of one point
the power system. (In ac systems, the earthed point of the power systems is
of supply system to earth.
normally the neutral point or, if a neutral point is not available, a line conductor)

TT System
Source
Installation

T Distribution Line
T

Source Side: Installation Side:

Direct connection of one point of Direct electrical connection of exposed conductive parts to the earth,
supply system to earth. independently of the earthing of any point of the power system.

IT System
Source
Installation

Distribution Line
I T

Source Side:
Installation Side:
All the live parts isolated from
Direct electrical connection of exposed conductive parts to earth,
earth, or one point connected to
independently of the earthing of any point of the power system.
earth though a high impedance.

The letters used in European Standards are derived from the French language:
T - Terre which represents Earth, N - Neutre which represents Neutral
S - Separe which represents Separate, C - Combine which represents Combined
I - Isole which represents Insulated
 The first letter refers to the relationship of the power system (source) to earth.

T Direct connection of one point to earth.

I All the live parts isolated from earth, or one point connected to earth
though a high impedance.

Second letter refers to the relationship of the exposed-conductive-parts of the

installation to earth’.

T Direct electrical connection of exposed conductive parts to earth,

independently of the earthing of any point of the power system

N Direct electrical connection of exposed conductive parts to the earthed

point of the power system’. (in ac systems, the earthed point of the power
system is normally the neutral point or, if a neutral point is not available, a
line conductor).

Subsequent letters if any,

S Separate neutral and protective earth functions provided by separate

conductors i.e.PE and N conductor

C Combined neutral and protective earth functions provided by same

conductor i.e. PEN/CNE conductor.

TN System

TN system has one or more points of the source of energy (preferably Neutral
point of Transformer or DG) directly earthed at source end. The exposed and
extraneous conductive parts of the consumer installation are connected by
means of protective conductors to the earthed point(s) of the source. In this
way, there is a metallic return 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-S, TN-C and TN-C-S systems.
 TN-S System
In system where separate conductors each for neutral and protective functions
are provided throughout the system is called as TN-S system. All exposed
conductive parts of an installation are connected to this protective conductor via
main earthing terminal (MET) of the installation. An independent earth electrode
within the consumer’s premises connected to MET, is necessary in case of 415 V
three phase domestic, commercial supply. TN-S system requires 5 conductors
(three lines, one neutral and one protective conductor), due to this, cost of
installation is high as compared to other systems.

Source TN-S SYSTEM (415 V THREE PHASE)

R

Y
B
N
PE
SINGLE PHASE LOAD
SOURCE EARTH CONSUMER
INSTALLATION

Installation Earth THREE PHASE LOAD EXPOSED

Electrode CONDUCTIVE PART

TN-C System

In TN-C system, neutral and protective functions are combined in a single

conductor (PEN conductor) throughout the system. All exposed conductive parts
of an installation are connected to this PEN conductor. For three phase consumer,
local earth electrode has to be provided in addition.
Source TN-C SYSTEM
R

B
COMBINED PE AND
N CONDUCTOR
(PEN)

SOURCE EARTH Additional Source

Earth

EXPOSED
THREE PHASE CONDUCTIVE PARTS
CONSUMER
SINGLE PHASE
INSTALLATION
EXPOSED
CONDUCTIVE PARTS Installation Earth
As the protective function and neutral function are combined in one conductor, in
case of PEN conductor breaks/ disconnects due to any reason (neutral breakage),
the exposed conductive parts in an installation becomes live, which may lead to
shock hazards. TN-C systems are not suitable for modern installations with
electronic equipment.

TN-C-S System
In TN-C-S system, neutral and protective functions are combined in a single
conductor (PEN conductor) up-to consumer’s premises and separate neutral (N)
and protective conductor (PE) at installation side. All exposed conductive parts of
an installation are connected through protective conductors. All protective
conductors/ connections run separately inside consumer’s premises and
connected to main earthing terminal (MET) and then to the PEN conductor.

Source TN-C-S SYSTEM

R

Y
B
COMBINED PE AND N
CONDUCTOR (PEN)

Earth Electrode
SOURCE
EARTH

Three Phase Consumer Installation

EXPOSED
CONDUCTIVE
PARTS Installation Earth Electrode

This system requires only four conductors in public distribution (i.e. up-to incoming
supply at consumer’s premises). This saves the cost of 5th conductor in public
distribution. The supply system PEN conductor is earthed at several points.
Therefore, this type of distribution is also known as Protective Multiple Earthing
(PME) and the PEN conductor is also referred to as the Combined Neutral and
Earth (CNE) conductor. An earth electrode may be necessary at or near a
consumer’s installation.
Multiple earthing of the PEN/CNE conductor ensures that if the conductor
becomes open circuit for any reason (probably cut or snapped), exposed-
conductor parts remain connected to earth, under such conditions the supply
voltage between the installation line and neutral conductor is substantially
reduced and consumer will experience unacceptable voltage variations.

If PME is not provided to PEN conductor any breakage of it may cause dangerous
rise in potential of exposed-conductor parts and which may lead to shock
hazards.

As per statutory provisions for earthing mentioned in Cl. No. 4 of IS 3043-2018,

the TN-C-S is the most common system adopted by Electrical supply
undertakings. TN-C-S system is also called as Protective Multiple Earthed (PME)
system.

TT System
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. Source and installation earth electrodes are electrically
independent.
TT System
Source
R

B
N
Exposed Conductive Parts

SOURCE EARTH
Installation
Earth
Exposed Conductive Electrode
Parts
Single Three Phase Load
Phase Consumer
Load Installation
IT System
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. IT system is used where continuity of supply is
desired as safety services, fire services, medical (operation theatre, ICUs etc.).
Source IT System
R

B
Consumer
Installation

HIGH
IMPEDANCE
SOURCE
EARTHING Installation Earth
Electrode
Single Phase
Three Phase Load Load
Exposed Conductive Exposed
Parts Installation Earth Electrode Conductive Parts

Table: Comparison of all Systems Earthing

Details TN-C TN-S TN-C-S TT IT
(with PME)
Earth Fault Loop Low Low Low High Highest
Impedance (EFLI)
Usage of Residual No Additional Additional Mandatory N.A.
Current Device (RCD)
Need for Earth No No Additional Yes Additional
Electrode at consumer
premise
PE Conductor Cost Least High Low Low Low
Risk of Broken Neutral Highest No Low No No

Safety Least safe Safest Safe Safe Safe

Electromagnetic High Low Low Least Least
Interference (EMI)

Disclaimer:
It is clarified that this pamphlet does not supersede any existing provisions laid down by Indian
Standards, Railway Board, RDSO or Zonal Railways. The pamphlet is for guidance only and it is
not a statutory document.
If you have any suggestion or comment, please write to:
Dy. Director (Electrical), CAMTECH, Maharajpur, Gwalior (M.P.) – 474 005