MODULE EL 104: INSTALLING SWITCH GEARS, PROTECTIVE DEVICES AND

SYSTEM
UNIT: 104.3 INSTALL EARTH LEAKAGE AND EARTH FAULT PROTECTIVE
SYSTEM /PROTECTION AGAINST EARTH LEAKAGE CURRENTS
ELEMENT: 104.3.1 Installing earthing system/Perfom earthing system
Learning and instructional objectives:-
 Define earth/earthing
 State the purpose or aims of earthing
 Outline forms of earthing system
 State the basic terms relating to earthing
 Describe various types of earth electrodes
 Describe methods of earthing
EARTHING SYSTEMS/ PERFOM EARTHING SYSTEM
An Overview: Earthing
All the people living or working in residential, commercial and industrial installations,
particularly the operators and personnel who are in close operation and contact with electrical
systems and machineries, should essentially be protected against possible electrification.
In electrical engineering, ground (Used in North American and USA) or earth (used in
European) is the reference point in an electrical circuit from which voltages are measured, a
common return path for electric current, or a direct physical connection to the Earth.
From an electrical point of view or in electric term, the world or earth is effectively a huge
conductor at zero potential or earth is the conductive mass of the earth, whose electric potential
at any point is conventionally taken as zero, and is used as reference point which is called earth
or ground.
The electrical potential of the earth is considered to be zero; therefore on connecting any
electrical system to earth also the voltage of the system will become zero. Or any electric system
or conductor having voltage of any magnitude which comes in contact with earth point will reach
at zero voltage, because the voltage of earth point is zero.
Earthing or earthing system is the total of all means and measures by which part of an electrical
circuit, accessible conductive parts of electrical equipment (exposed conductive parts) or
conductive parts in the vicinity of an electrical installation (extraneous conductive parts) are
connected to earth.
Definition: What is earthing or grounding?
Earthing/grounding may be defined in any of the following:-
1. Grounding is the act of connecting the exposed conductive parts of an installation to the
general mass of earth.
2. Earthing is a connection system between the metallic parts of an electrical
wiring system and the general mass of the earth.
1. In electricity supply systems, an earthing or grounding is circuitry which connects parts
of the electric circuit with the ground
2. A general term used to describe the connection of metallic parts of an Electrical
Installation or an appliance to earth or ground is called Earthing or Earthed.
3. Earthing is a connection of the exposed conductive parts of an installation and circuit to
the main earthing terminal of that installation or circuit.
4. Is the process of connecting metallic bodies of all the electrical apparatus and equipment
to huge mass of earth by a wire having negligible resistance.

PURPOSE OF EARTHING/OBJECTIVES OF THE EARTHING

The main reason for doing earthing in electrical network is for the safety. When all metallic parts
in electrical equipments are grounded then if the insulation inside the equipments fails there are
no dangerous voltages present in the equipment case. Therefore an efficient earthing
arrangement is an essential part of every electrical installation and system to guide against the
effect of leakage current, earth fault, static charges and lighting discharges.
The following are basic reason of earthing in electric circuit .
1. To save human life (prevent or minimize the risk of shock) due to leakage current or
earth faults by providing an alternative path for the fault current to flow so that it will not
endanger the user . In doing so , this will prevent a potential difference happening
between earth and earthed parts, as well as letting the flow of fault current to operate the
protective systems (earth leakage protective devices)
2. To keep voltage as constant in the healthy phase (If fault occurs on any one phase).
3. To Protect Electric system and buildings form lighting.
 4. To serve as a return conductor in electric traction system and communication
5. To avoid the risk of fire in electrical installation systems.
6. Components of Earthing System

A complete electrical earthing system consists on the following basic components.

 Earth Continuity Conductor

 Earthing Lead
 Earth Electrode
COMPONENTS OF ELECTRICAL EARTHING SYSTEM

Earth Continuity Conductor or Earth Wire

That part of the earthing system which interconnects the overall metallic parts of electrical
installation e.g. conduit, ducts, boxes, metallic shells of the switches, distribution boards,
Switches, fuses, Regulating and controlling devices, metallic parts of electrical machines such as,
motors, generators, transformers and the metallic framework where electrical devices and
components are installed is known as earth wire or earth continuity conductor as shown in the
above fig.

The resistance of the earth continuity conductor is very low. According to IEEE rules, resistance
between consumer earth terminal and earth Continuity conductor (at the end) should not be
increased than 1Ω. In simple words, resistance of earth wire should be less than 1Ω.

Size of the Earth Continuity Conductor or Earth Wire depends on the cable size used in the
wiring circuit.

Size of Earth Continuity ConductorThe cross sectional area of the Earth Continuity
Conductor should not be less than the half of the cross sectional area of the thickest wire used in
the electrical wiring installation.Generally, the size of the bare copper wire used as earth
continuity conductor is 3SWG. But keep in mind that, don’t use less than 14SWG as earth wire.
Copper strip is also can be used as earth continuity conductor instead of bare copper wire but
don’t go for it until manufacture recommend it.

Earthing Lead or Earthing Joint

The conductor wire connected between earth continuity conductor and earth electrode or earth
plate is called earthing joint or “Earthing lead”. The point where earth continuity conductor and
earth electrode meet is known as “connecting point” as shown in the above fig.
 Earthing lead is the final part of the earthing system which is connected to the earth electrode
(which is underground) through earth connecting point.

There should be minimum joints in earthing lead as well as lower in size and straight in the
direction.Generally, copper wire can be used as earthing lead but, copper strip is also used for
high installation and it can handle the high fault current because of wider area than the copper
wire.
CLASSIFICATION OF EARTHING
The earthing is broadly divided as
1. System earthing
earthing (Connection between part of plant in an operating system like LV neutral of a
power transformer winding) and earth or Earthing of the neutral of alternators and
transformer
2. Equipment earthing

Equipment earthing provides electrical safety during an electrical fault. It prevents equipment
damage and electric shock. This type of earthing is not an earth connection, technically speaking.
When current flows from a line conductor to an earth wire, as is the case when a line conductor
makes contact with an earthed surface in a Class I appliance, an automatic disconnection of
supply (ADS) device such as a circuit breaker or a residual-current device (RCD) will
automatically open the circuit to clear the fault.
PARTS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE EARTHED
 i. All metallic structures in the wiring system such as metallic covers, conduits, and ducts.
 Non-insulated floors or walls, metal framework of buildings.
 Metal conduits and pipework (not part of the electrical installation) for water, gas, heating,
compressed-air, etc. and metal materials
PARTS THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE EARTHED
i. Short, isolated metallic parts for mechanical protection of cables which have non metallic
sheaths other than conduits which are connected at entry points between the building and
conduits which protect discharge lamp cables;
ii. Cable clips for installing cables;
iii. Metallic covers for lamps;
iv. Small metallic parts such as screws and name plates which are isolated by means of
insulation;
v. Metallic lamp parts for filament lamps in water proof floors.

TYPES OF EARTHING METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT/ TYPES OF EARTHING

ARRANGEMENT
When designing an electrical installation, one of the first things to determine is type of earthing
method. Earthing system is designed followed by electrical system required and the application.
There are different earthing system for each electrical application such as consumer power
supply, substation, offshore, ships, underground system, generator and over head system.
In the regulations for electrical installations, the types of earthing systems are identified as
follows, depending on the relationship of the source (supply authority network) and of the
exposed conductive parts of the installation, to earth.
We must know the suitable earthing types to ensure our system is fully protected and safety. The
five basic type earthing method and system are:-
(1) Unearthed System:
 IT System.
(2) Earthed System:
 TT
 TN (TN-S, TN-C, TN-C-S).
(3). TT
1. TT - Supply authority earth and the installation earth is independent
2. TN (TN-S, TN-C, TN-C-S).- Earthing of the installation is done to that supplied by the
supply authority
3. IT - Supply authority has effectively an isolated neutral and the installation has an
independent earth
The first letter defines the neutral point in relation to earth:
1. T = directly earthed neutral (from the French word Terre)
2. I = unearthed or high impedance-earthed neutral .
The second letter defines the neutral point in relation to earth:
1. T = directly earthed exposed conductive parts
 2. N = exposed conductive parts directly connected to the neutral conductor.

UNEARTHED SYSTEM
1. IT system unearthed (high impedance earthed neutral)
First Letter I = the neutral is unearthed at Transformer or Generator side.
Second Letter T = Frame parts of the loads are interconnected and earthed at Load Side. This
system is similar with TT system but totally different in earthing supply. The distributor systems
not have any connection to earth or it has only a high impedance connection. It means the usual
protection is not effective for this system.
This type is not for consumer power supply. It special for power distributor such as substation or
generator area.

System characteristics
1. It is compulsory to install an over voltage limiter between the LV transformer neutral
point and earth.
2. If the neutral is not accessible, the overvoltage limiter is installed between a phase and
earth.
3. It runs off external over voltages, transmitted by the transformer, to the earth and protects
the low voltage network from a voltage increase due to flashover between the
transformer’s medium voltage and low voltage windings.
Advantages
1. System providing the best service continuity during use.
2. When an insulation fault occurs, the short-circuit current is very low.
3. Higher operational safety only a capacitive current flows, which is caused by the system
leakage capacitance if an earth fault occurs.
4. Better accident prevention the fault current is limited by the body impedance, earthing
resistance and the high impedance of the earth fault loop.
Disadvantages
1. Requires presence of maintenance personnel to monitor and locate the first fault during
use.
2. Requires a good level of network insulation (High leakage current must be supplied by
insulating transformers).
3. Overvoltage limiters must be installed.
4. Requires all the installation’s exposed conductive parts to be Same Voltage level. If this
is not possible RCDs must be installed.
5. Locating faults is difficult in widespread networks.
6. When an insulation fault with reference to the earth occurs, the voltage of the two healthy
phases in relation to the earth take on the value of the phase-to-phase voltage So when
Select Size of equipments it is need to higher insulation level of the Equipments.
7. The risk of high internal over voltages making it advisable to reinforce the equipment
insulation.
8. The compulsory insulation monitoring, with visual and audible indication of the first fault
if tripping is not triggered until the second fault occurs.
9. Protection against direct and indirect contact is not guaranteed.
10. 10. Short-circuit and earth fault currents may cause fires and destroy parts of the plant.

EARTHED SYSTEM
(1) TT SYSTEM DIRECTLY EARTHED NEUTRAL
 First letter T = the neutral is directly earthed.
 Second letter T = the exposed conductive parts of the loads are interconnected and
earthed.
 The transformer neutral is earthed.
 The frames of the electrical loads are also connected to an earth connection.
System characteristics
1. High earth fault loop impedance
2. Low earth fault current
3. Utility company need not to provide earth for consumer
Advantages
1. Save earth wires
2. The big advantage of the TT earthing system is the fact that it is clear of high and low
frequency noises that come through the neutral wire from various electrical equipment
connected to it.
3. TT has always been preferable for special applications like telecommunication sites that
benefit from the interference-free earthing
4. Does not have the risk of a broken neutral.
5. The simplest system to design, implement, monitor and use.
6. Easily find location of faults.
7. Upon occurrence of an insulation fault, the short-circuit current is small.
 8. Reduces the risk of over voltages occurring.
9. Authorizes the use of equipment with a normal phase to earth insulating level.
Disadvantages
1. High demand of E/F relays.
2. Individual earth system needs higher investment.
3. Higher touch voltage.
4. Induce Potential gradient.
5. Switching upon occurrence of the first insulation fault.
6. Use of an RCD on each outgoing feeder to obtain total selectivity.
7. Special measures must be taken for the loads or parts of the installation causing high
leakage currents during normal operation in order to avoid spurious tripping (feed the
loads by insulating transformers or use high threshold RCDs, compatible with the
exposed conductive part earth resistance).
8. Very high fault currents leading to maximum damage and disturbance in
telecommunication networks.
9. The risk for personnel is high while the fault lasts; the touch voltages which develop
being high.
10. Requires the use of differential protection devices so that the fault clearance time is not
long. These systems are costly.
(2) TN SYSTEM: NEUTRAL – CONNECTED EXPOSED CONDUCTIVE PART
 First letter T = the neutral is directly earthed at Transformer.
 Second letter N = the exposed conductive part or the frame of electrical loads are
connected to the neutral conductor.
There are two types of TN system, depending on whether the neutral conductor and earth
conductor are combined or not
(2a) TN – C EARTHING METHOD/SYSTEM
 In TNC system ( The third letter C = combined neutral and earth conductor), the neutral
and earth conductors are combined in single conductor and earthed at source end
 A TN – C system is one where the neutral (N) and protective earth functions are
combined in a single (i.e. a PEN or protective earth and Neutral conductor) throughout
the system and this combined neutral and earth wiring is then used both by the supply and
 from within the installation itself. This system is not familiar or unusual for earthing
system. It a combined PEN conductor fulfills the functions of both a PE and an N
conductor. The PEN conductor is the sheath of a cable and therefore is concentric with
(totally surrounds) the phase conductor(s).

System characteristics
1. Low earth fault loop impedance
2. High earth fault current
3. More than one earth fault loops
Advantages
1. No earth wire required; allow of multi – point earth
2. Better earthing continuity.
3. Neutral never have float voltage
4. TNC system may be less costly upon installation ( elimination of one switch gear pole and
one conductor)
Disadvantages
1. If not multi point earthed, and the neutral earth broken, the exposed metallic part may
have float voltage
2. High earth fault level.
3. Intervene the operation of earth fault protective device.
 4. Current operated type device is not appropriated, voltage operated detected type could
be employed
5. The fire risk is higher
(2b) TN – S -EARTHING METHOD/SYSTEM
 In TN - S system (The third letter S = separate Neutral and Earth Conductor), the neutral
of the source of energy is connected with earth at one point only, general near to the
source. The neutral and Earth conductors are separately distributed to load.
System characteristics
1. Low earth fault loop impedance
2. High earth fault current
Advantages
1. Use of over current protective device to ensure protection against indirect contact
2. Earth fault protection device operates faster
3. Allow mult point earth, better earthing continuity ; minimize the use of earth fault relay
because of low earth fault loop impedance
Disadvantages
1. If not multi point earthed, and the neutral earth broken, the exposed metallic part may
have float voltage
2. High earth fault level.
3. Intervene the operation of earth fault protective device.
4. Current operated type device is not appropriated, voltage operated detected type could
be employed
5. The fire risk is higher
(2c) TN – C – S(PROTECTIVE MULTIPLE EARTHING -PME) EARTHING
METHOD/SYSTEM
1. The Neutral and Earth wires are combined within the supply authority cable.
2. This combined earth and neutral system called the ‘protective and neutral conductor’
(PEN) or the ‘combined neutral and earth’ conductor (CNE).
3. Typical this will be a concentric cable, with the live as the central core, and a ring of wire
around this for the combined neutral and earth
4. The neutral and earth wires are separated, with earth terminal usually being on the side of
cutout. Inside the cutout, the Neutral and earth are linked
5. Throughout the supply network or supply distribution, the combined earth/neutral
conductor is connected to ground in multiple places, either buried underground or at the
pole for overhead supplies
6. This multiple earthing is why a TN – C- S method is often called PME ( protective
multiple earthing)
7. The power supply distributor will provide a consumer’s earthing terminal which is linked
to the incoming neutral conductor.
Advantages
1. Cost for core cable is cheaper than a 3 core
2. As the outer sheath is usually plastic, there are no problems with corrosion
Disadvantages
1. When the combined earth/neutral conductor is broken, this will results in a voltage
appearing on the exposed metalwork in the consumer`s property which can be a shock
risk
 2. In case of fault, the current flowing in the consumer`s earthing conductors can be much
greater than that for a TNS system
3. It is also possible to get unsual circulating earth currents between properties particularly
where some properties have metal water pipes and others have plastic.
BASIC TERMS RELATED TO EARTHING SYSTEMS
i. Circuit protective conductor(CPC)/Earth continuity conductor(ECC)
A conductor connecting exposed conductive parts of equipments to the main earthing
terminal or is conductor including any clamp, wire, cables, conduit pipes, cable`s
metallic covering, earth lead or earth terminal of an installation which is connected to
the earth electrode. In other words, the wire between earthing lead and electrical
device or appliance is called earth continuity conductor. Cpc includes:- Metal conduit
Metal ducting and trunking

a) MIMS cable sheathed( Mineral-Insulated, Metal-Sheathed Cable ).

b) Lead covered and wire armoring of cable
c) Neutral conductor ofProtective Multiple Earthings ( PME )
ii. Earth lead/ Earth wire or earth conductor
The earthing lead is the final conductor by which the connection to the earth electrode
or other means of earthing is made. Conductor which connects the main earth
terminal to the earth electrode or a protective conductor connecting a main earthing
terminal of an installation to an earth electrode or other means of earthing. Also is the
conductor that makes the final connection to an earth electrode from main earthing
terminal.
iii. Earthed object
Anybody connected to the earth point or earth electrode
iv. Main earthing terminal
The terminal, usually placed at the consumer`s intake position for connection of
consumers cpc`s , bonding conductor and earth lead
v. Direct contact
A contact of a person with the live part
vi. Indirect contact
 Refer to a contact of person in with exposed conductive parts made live by faults
vii. Exposed conductive parts
Conductive parts of equipments which can be touched and which is not live part but
which may become live under fault condition
viii. Extraneous metal work/ conductive part
Exposed metal work which needs to be earthed and which in not parts of the electric
equipments for examples metal sink, baths and cisterns. They are connected to cpc by
conductor known as bonding
ix. Earth leakage current
Electric current in on unwanted conductive parts under normal operating conditions.
In any electrical installation, some current will flow through the protective ground
conductor to ground.
x. Earth fault current
Abnormal passage of current to general mass of earth
Earth Resistance
This is the total resistance between earth electrode and earth in Ω (Ohms). Earth resistance is the
algebraic sum of the resistances of earth continuity conductor, earthing lead, earth electrode and
earth.

Earth fault loop impedance

Earth fault loop is the path which the leakage current will take back to the supply
transformer when there is an earth leakage in an installation. Or is the actual path the
ground fault current will take and includes all conducting items in its path. The earth
fault loop or earth fault path is made up with the following:-
1. Phase conductors from the sources of the supply transformer
2. The cpc or ecc
3. Ground electrode and connection to the system
4. Main earthing terminal
5. Earth lead/earth wire/conductor
6. The earth return of the supply( TN-S, TN-C-S etc)
7. The path through the earthed neutral of the supply transformer
EARTH ELECTRODE
An earth electrode is part of the system that directly in contact with the earth. Or is a conductor
which in contact with general mass of earth.
Type of earth electrode
The following are the common type of earth electrodes used to make contact with the general
mass of the earth:-
i. Rode electrode
ii. Plate electrode
iii. Strip electrode
iv. Earth mats
v. Pipe electrode
Method of installing earth electrode
There are two types of grounding systems;
1. Simple grounding
Simple consist of a single electrode driven into the ground. The use of single ground
electrode is the most common form of grounding and can found in almost all residential,
hotel and min industry and factory.
2. Complex Grounding
Complex grounding system consist of multiple ground earth electrodes connected, mesh
or grid networks. These systems are typically installed at
EARTHING CIRCUIT/COMPONENTS
The earthing circuit and system is made up of three basic parts
a. Circuit protective conductor
b. Earth conductor
c. Earth electrode
QUALITIES OF GOOD EARTHING
 Must be of low electrical resistance
 Must be of good corrosion resistance
 Must be able to dissipate high fault current repeatedly
power generating substations, central offices, industry and others.
POINTS TO CONSIDER IN I.E.E REGULATIONS
1. Earth lead or wire must be protected when necessary against mechanical damage and
against corrosion
2. Size of Earth Continuity Conductor. The cross sectional area of the Earth Continuity
Conductor should not be less than the half of the cross sectional area of the thickest wire
used in the electrical wiring installation.
3. Earth lead csa must not be less than 6mm 2
4. The main earththing terminal, to be of assize and types suitable for the connection of a
number of conductors to it
5. Earth lead and earth point must be marked (Safety Electrical connection, Do Not
Remove)
6. These are locations where extra precautions need to be taken. For example PMEs cannot
be used for caravans or boats as the combined neutral and protective conductor is not
allowed to be connected electrically to any metalwork in them, whilst a TT system is
recommended for hazardous areas such as petrol stations, and should be accompanied by
the supply of a separate electrode and circuit breaker such as an RCD, in order to ensure
that the earthing in the petrol filling area and the PMP earth of the distribution network
are separated.
7. An earthing electrode should not be situated (installed) close to the building whose
installation system is being earthed at least more than 1.5m away.
8. The earth resistance should be low enough to cause the flow of current sufficient to
operate the protective relays or blow fuses. It’s value is not constant as it varies with
weather because it depends on moisture (but should not be less than 1 Ohm).
9. The earth wire and earth electrode will be the same material.
10. The earthing electrode should always be placed in a vertical position inside the earth or
pit so that it may be in contact with all the different earth layers
INSTALLATION OF EARTH ELECTRODE
General method of Earthing / Proper Grounding Installation (Step by Step)
The usual method of earthing of electric equipments, devices and appliances are as follow:
1. First of all, dig a 5x5ft (1.5×1.5m) pit about 20-30ft (6-9 meters) in the ground. (Note
that, depth and width depends on the nature and structure of the ground)
2. Tight earth lead through nut bolts from two different places on earth plate.
3. To protect the joints from corrosion, put grease around it.
4. To maintain the moisture condition around the earth plate, put a 1ft (30cm) layer of
powdered charcoal (powdered wood coal) and lime mixture around the earth plate of
around the earth plate.
5. Earth continuity conductor which is connected to the body and metallic parts of all
installation should be tightly connected to earth lead.
6. At last (but not least), test the overall earthing system through earth tester. If everything
is going about the planning, then fill the pit with soil. The maximum allowable resistance
for earthing is 1Ω. If it is more than 1 ohm, then increase the size (not length) of earth
lead and earth continuity conductors. Keep the external ends of the pipes open and put the
water time to time to maintain the moisture condition around the earth electrode which is
important for the better earthing system.