How to Find an Earth Fault On board

Ships?
Earth fault is considered very critical on board a ship. Some ships
which operate at 440 V do not have any trip devices attached for a
single earth fault. However when the operating voltage exceeds
3000V, it is mandatory to have a protection system which isolates
when a machinery suffers an earth fault.

How to find out an Earth Fault?

The seriousness of the action to be taken on an Earth Fault depends

on the part of the electrical system it affects. Conventional ships
which operate on 3 Phase, 440V, have earth fault indicators installed
on all three phases. Any earth fault on a 440V system is considered
to be a serious trouble and immediate action is required to identify
the faulty circuit. Any earth fault on 220V or any low voltage lighting
circuit can be considered as important but need not require
immediate attention. However, attention should be paid at the next
earliest opportunity.
Finding Earth Fault on 440V circuit

Whenever there is an earth fault alarm, immediately inform

to electrical officer (if he is on board). First action is to check the
trueness of the alarm. Usually there will be a test button which when
pressed, resets the alarm and rechecks the condition of the earth
fault.

If the ship is having IAS (Integrated Automation System), check on

the computer in the list of events after which the alarm has
activated. If IAS facility is not available, there is only one option of
isolating each and every machinery in the 440 V circuit and check
whether the earth fault indication returns back to normal.

Isolation of all machinery, which operates on 440V, is not always

possible. Certain critical equipment like steering gear and
lubricating oil pumps cannot be isolated for when the ship is
underway. However changeover can be done from running
machinery to the standby one and thus the earth fault can be found.

Finding Earth Fault on 220V Circuit

Finding an Earth Fault on a 220V circuit is comparatively difficult

than a 440V circuit. The main reason being the lighting circuits
found all round the vessel. However, any earth fault alarm with
respect to a 220V circuit is usually treated as important but not an
emergency.

When a 220V earth fault alarm sounds, as said earlier, the trueness
of the alarm is checked by pressing the test button and then
investigation can be started on each and every 220V circuit.

Example: Earth Fault alarm sounds on a 220V panel

1. Check the trueness of the alarm.

2. Isolate the complete Group start panel for a lighting division
one by one.
3. Check the Earth Fault indicator for status (still faulty or
normal).
4. If faulty, then put on the breaker which is put off earlier and
isolate other group start panel for lighting circuit.
5. Once the group start panel is identified, then individual lighting
switches are turned off one by one and checked for the alarm
condition.
6. When any switch when turned off and thus the condition
becomes normal, then this lighting circuit is marked and then
inspection is done on the particular light for abnormalities.
Ingress of moisture is most common reason for an earth fault. (Find
out how megger helps in finding insulation faults)

Alternate Idea: Instead of turning off breakers one by one for the
lighting circuit, I followed a method where I turned off all lighting
circuit of a particular doubted area. This method helps usually when
there are two or more earth faults in 220V lighting circuit. By turning
off all the breakers of a particular area, then switching on the
breaker one by one will eliminate multiple earth faults.

When I turned off lighting switches one by one, it was difficult for me
to identify multiple earth faults.

Once the particular faulty circuit is spotted, then we have to further

break them into individual dividable pieces and check them for earth
faults. For this as usual, we use megger against earth.
By removing fuse of the two phase lines, each line can be tested
and the fault pinned down.

What you need to know about the earth fault in electrical

systems

An insulated system is one that is completely electrically isolated from the earth
or in our case the hull of the vessel.
The supply neutral point is connected to earth in an earthed system and main
low voltage (LV) (440 V AC) systems are generally shielded from the ship’s hull.
Ashore, similar systems are earthed to the ground. To limit earth fault current,
high voltage systems (>1000 V) are normally earthed to the ship’s hull through
a neutral earthing resistor or a high impedance transformer.
 Exam
ple of earth fault indication diagram
The key requirement on board ship is to keep the electrical supply to critical
equipment running in the case of a single earth fault, while ashore immediate
isolation of the faulty circuit is a priority and where this can be achieved by an
automatically earthed system.

An earth fault in the system is caused by a conductor insulation failure

(breakage) , allowing the live conductor to get in contact with the hull or an
earthed metallic enclosure.

In order to safeguard against the danger of electric shock or fire that may result
form an earth fault, the electrical systems must be earthed, through a conductor
which connects the metal enclosure to the ship’s hull. This will prevent to attain
a dangerous voltage with respect to earth, as such earth connection of
equipment ensures that it always remain 0 V.
 Exam
ple of a grounded metallic enclosure
Onboard vessels, if a single earth fault occurs on the live line of an earthed
distribution system, this would be an equivalent to a short circuit fault across
the generator through vessel’s hull. The large earth fault current that would
result from this, would immediately cause the protective device to trip the faulty
circuit and that particular electrical circuit would be immediately isolated from
the supply . However, this would lead to loss of power that could create a
hazardous situation, especially on the essential equipment (steering gear,
emergency fire pump, emergency compressor etc.) and more than that, the
large fault current could cause arcing damage at the fault location.

Therefore, if a single earth fault occurs on the line of an insulated system will
not cause any protective equipment to operate and the system will continue to
normally operate with a single earth fault as it doesn’t provide a complete
circuit so no earth fault current will flow.

If the second earth fault occurs on another line in the insulated system, the two
earth fault together would be similar to a short circuit fault, via the ship’s hull,
and the resulting large current will operate the protection devices and cause
disconnection of the system involved, creating a risk for the ship’s safety if this
is an essential system.

Therefore, an insulated system requires two earth faults on two different lines to
cause an earth fault current. As opposite, an earthed system requires only one
earth fault on the line conductor to create an earth fault current which will trip
the faulty circuit.

For that reason, onboard vessels, an insulated system is more effective than an
earthed system in maintaining the essential services supply continuity.

The High Voltage (HV) systems onboard vessels are normally earthed via a
resistor connecting the generator neutrals to earth.

Each earthing resistor’s ohmic value is typically chosen to limit the maximum
earth fault current to no more than the generator’s full load current. Such a
Neutral Earthing Resistor (NER) is usually assembled from metallic plates.
When using an earthed HV system, a single earth fault causes current to flow in
the neutral connection wire, which is monitored by an earth fault relay, which
can activate an alarm and/or trip functions.
Certain critical loads (steering gear) can be supplied by a transformer with the
secondary unearthed to ensure supply security in the case of a single earth
failure.

SOLAS and Class regulations requires that tankers have only insulated
distribution systems as is intended to reduce the danger from earth fault
currents circulating in the hull within hazardous areas which may cause an
explosion of the flammable cargo. Exception by regulation is where tanker has a
3.3 kV earthed system which doesn’t extend forward of the engine room
bulkhead and into the hazardous area.

Regulations require that an earth fault monitor is fitted to the main switchboard
to indicate the presence of an earth fault on each isolated section of a
distribution system and can be either a set of indicator lamps or an instrument
to show the system insulation resistance value to earth.

Earth indication lamps have been the most common method used for many
years, being an inexpensive installation and easy to understand, but unable to
indicate the presence of high impedance earth fault.

Example of a switchboard with earth fault monitor

The earth indication instrument are increasily used nowadays and they connects
a small DC voltage to the distribution system. Any resulting DC current is a
measure of the insulation resistance of the system.
Example of earth fault indicator (bottom instrument)
The earth fault monitor on the switchboard shows the presence of an earth fault
on the distribution system, but the engineers must trace the exact location of
the fault and remediate it as soon as possible.

The most simple and practical method is to open the circuit breakers feeding the
loads, one at a time, and by monitoring the the earth fault instrument while
observing which circuit breaker, when tripped, clears the earth fault. The earth
fault must be on that particular circuit.

The method of tracing the earth fault is essentially that of continuously breaking
down the circuit into smaller and smaller sections until is finally located.

In real life, circuits cannot be randomly disconnected, as some vital service may
be interrupted causing the important equipment or even main engine to stop. It
is advisable to do this when the vessel is in port or anchorage in safe waters.

Tracing and repairing the earth fault must be carefully coordinated with the
operational requirements of the vessel’s electrical services.
When located, the damaged insulation must be repaired and the method
depends upon the cause of the earth fault and this is determined by visual
examination.

If the insulation has been mechanically damaged or weakened by overheating

must be made good again. if surface dirt is the cause, a through cleaning will
cure the fault. A lamp fitting that is damaged must be replaced. Dampness in
insulation must be dried out by gentle heat and measure must be taken to
prevent future ingress of moisture.
Earth fault on a solenoid due dirt
If you have any questions regarding above, please feel free to use our existing
forum Seafarer’s World and will try to answer to all your queries.

If you like my posts, please don’t forget to press Like and Share. You can also
Subscribe to this blog and you will be informed every time when a new article is
published. Also you can buy me a coffee by donating to this website, so I will
have the fuel I need to keep producing great content! Thank you!
Ship Earth Fault Indicators
Working With simple
Diagram
Earth Fault Indicators
Ships 440V and 220V isolated system should have insulation indicators in order to
indicate the presence of earth fault in the system. Generally two types of earth fault
indicators are fitted onboard, Earth fault indication Lamps and An instrument showing
Insulation with respect to the earth (Ohm meter).

Earth Fault Indication Lamps

This is the cheapest and older method using from many years. In this system 3
lamps are connected to three phases as shown in the figure below
 If there is no earth fault in the system the three light will glow equally with equal
brightness. If there is an earth fault occur in one of the line, suppose L3 the lamp
connected in that line L3 off or dim and the other two lamps glow brighter. This is
because if there is an earth fault the potential difference between the earth and line
become zero so there wont be any current flow ie, lap on that line off.

Earth Fault Indicator Using Ohm Meter

This instrument is very sensitive as compared to earth fault indication lamps. It
shows the value of insulation resistance directly in Kohm or Mohm. It is incorporated
with visual and audible alarm. Insulation resistance is measured by a small DC voltage
injected in to the system. Below you can see a simple circuit diagram,
Actual Diagram of Ship Earth Fault System Incorporating both Earth Fault
Indication Laps and Ohm Meter

You Can Answer Following Questions

> Explain working principle of earth fault indication lamps with diagram

> How to test earth fault indicating system

> Explain Earth fault indicator using ohm meter

> Draw actual diagram of ship earth fault indication system

What is earth lamp ? How will you know

when earth fault occur and how to trace it ?
 It is a set of lamps, which show the presence of earth fault in
distribution system.
  Each lamp is connected between one phase and common
neutral point.
 If earth fault occurs the lamp will show dim light or goes out
because potential is zero.
 The location of fault can be traced by switching off the
individual branch circuit breaker and check the condition of
earth lamp.
 When the branch circuit with the fault is switched off, the
earth lamp will return to normal brightness.

Explain earth lamps of a 3 phase, 3 wire ac

system ?
 Each lamp is connected to secondary connections of each
single phase step-down transformer, and primary connections
are common to star point, which is earthed to ship structure.
 Normally 3 earth lamps burn with equal brightness if there is
not fault
 If phase ‘R’ is earth fault, lamp ‘R’ becomes dark while the
other two lamps burn with extra brightness
 Location of fault can be traced, by switching off the branch
circuit, one at a time
 When branch circuit with fault is switched off, dark lamp will
become normal glow and all 3 lamps burn with equal
brightness.

Why earth lamp is fitted ?

 Earth lamp is fitted to give visual signal when there is an earth
fault occurs in the system.

What is megger insulation test ?

 The instrument used for measuring high resistance in million of
ohms. It is used for measuring the insulation resistance of
cables, electrical equipment wiring insulation.
Why megger reading is taken ?
 To verify insulation resistance
 To detect insulation fault

Write a note on meggar testing ?

 Megger tester [generally a 500V set] is used for measuring
high resistance, like insulation resistance of cable, electrical
equipment and wire installation in mega ohms.
 The test voltage is produce either by an internal hand driven
generator or by a battery and electronic voltage changer.
 A measurement of the insulation resistance gives one of the
best guides to the state of health of electrical equipment.
 The resistance should be measured between insulated
conductors and earth, and between conductors.
 To get more accurate results, using the large instrument, it is
important that the terminal marked earth, which is the + ve
pole, shall be connected to the earth.
 For AC machines measurements are done as phase to phase,
phase to earth and rotor winding to earth.
 For DC machines measurements are done as pole to pole, each
pole to earth, field to earth and armature to earth.

How insulation resistance of a motor is

tested ?
1. Switch off power from main switchboard
2. Take out the fuse
3. Tag the label on the switch board, Don’t start
4. Disconnect the connection from starter
5. Test with megger
6. Insulation Resistance is tested while at hot condition because it
is minimum at that time

Difference between earthed and short

circuit ?
Earthed
  A fault in an electric circuit where a conductor come into
contact with the ship hull or a metal enclosure. ( leakage of
conductor due to insulation failure to ground.)

Short circuit

 A fault condition where a low resistance connection occurs

between two points in a circuit, a large current flow will usually
occurs. (contact to each other or leakage of line conductor
or leakage of line to neutral.)

What are switchboard safety devices ?

 Overload trip
 Preferential trip
 Under voltage trip
 Over voltage trip
 Reverse power relay (No voltage trip)
 Reverse current trip
 Fuse
 A .C .B( Air circuit breaker )
 Earth lamps.
 Low frequency trip
 Meters
 Synchroscope
 Emergency synchronizing lamp
 Ebonite handrail and Rubber footstep

What are the safeties on switch board ?

 See “Switch Board Safeties on Ships”

What is switch board survey ?

1. Performed during dry-docking. (G.E black out)
2. Check volt meter, ammeter, watt meter all calibrators and
accuracy.
3. Check all trips over current trip, reverse power trip,
preferential trip.
4. Synchronizing test. (load sharing test)
 5. Switch inside each terminal to be checked for insulation
resistance min: 1Mega ohms, all contact must be clean.
6. Tightness of loose joint and connection, bus bar support, fuse
holder.
7. Check automatic circuit breaker A.C.B and automatic voltage
regulator A.V.R.
8. Earth detecting lamp and alarm system.

What are the meters fitted on main

switchboard ?
 Ammeter
 Voltmeter
 Wattmeter
 Frequency meter
 Ohm meter
 Synchroscope.