Earth Fault and Earth Leakage Relay

I.

Introduction
1. Overview

Majority of us have experienced electrical shock while using electrical equipment at some
point of our lives. Though momentary, it is quite dangerous.
Earth Fault current is current flowing to earth due to insulation fault and Earth Leakage
Current is current flowing from the live part of the installation to earth in the absence of an
insulation fault.
Earth leakage occurs due to reasons like normal wear and tear of equipment or moisture
around terminals which can result in partial breakdown of insulation between supply and
earth. Earth leakage currents are dangerous as it can lead to cable heat generation and
insulation failure. This can result in a major catastrophe thus leading to significant loss of
property and human lives.
2. Objective
An earth- fault relay is a protection device used to measure the earth leakage current of
an electrical installation, or path of an installation, and interrupt the supply of power if
this current becomes dangerous to life or property.
An earth-leakage relay is a protective device used to detect any leakage current flowing
to earth, and to initiate the disconnection of the affected circuit. The relay is supplied by
means of a current transformer through which the earth conductor passes. Earth
Leakage Relays with Core Balance Current Transformer are used to detect the leakage
current in an electrical power system.
3. Scope
In this report, we describe about the working of earth fault and earth leakage relay.
Moreover, using the earth leakage and earth fault in each application and earthing
system.

II.

Main Content
1. Classification of Earth System

The extent of the earth fault and the consequences deriving from touching live exposedconductors are specifically related to the neutral condition of the power system and to the
types of system earthing. As a consequence, to select the proper device for protecting against
earth faults, it is necessary to know the installation distribution system. The International
Standard IEC 60364-3 classifies electrical systems with the combination of two letters.
The first letter indicates the relationship of the power system to earth:

T = direct connection to earth of one point, usually the neutral, in a.c. systems;
I = all live parts isolated from earth or one point, usually the neutral, connected to earth
through an impedance.

The second letter indicates the relationship of the exposed conductors of the installation to
earth:
= direct electrical connection of exposed conductors to earth;
N = direct electrical connection of the exposed conductors to the earthing point of the power
T

system.
Subsequent letters, if any, indicate the arrangement of neutral and protective conductors:
S = neutral and protective functions provided by separate conductors.
C = neutral and protective functions combined in a single conductor (PEN conductor). With
reference to the definitions above, the main types of power systems are described below.
TT system
In TT systems the neutral and the exposed conductors are connected to electrically
independent earth electrodes (Figure 1); therefore, the earth fault current returns to the
power supply node through the soil (Figure 2).

L1
L2
L3
N

RB

RA

Figure 1: TT system
IK
L1
L2
L3
N

RB

RA
IK

Figure 2: TT system
In this type of electrical installation, the neutral is usually distributed and its function
is making the phase voltage (e.g. 230 V) available for the supply of the single-phase
loads of residential installations.
TN system
In TN systems, the neutral is directly earthed, whereas the
connected to the same earthing arrangement of the neutral.

exposed

conductors

are

TN electrical systems can

be divided into three types depending on whether the neutral and protective conductors are
separate or not:
i.

TN-S: the neutral conductor N and the protective conductor PE are separated (Figure 3)

L1
L2
L3
N
PE

Figure 3: TN-S system

ii.

TN-C: the neutral and protective functions are combined into a single
conductor, called PEN
L1
L2
L3
PEN

Figure 4: TN-C system

iii.

TN-C-S: the neutral and protective functions are partially combined into a
single PEN conductor and partially separated PE + N (Figure 5).

L1
L2
L3
N
PE

TN-C

TN-S

Figure 5: TN-C-S system

In TN systems, the earth fault current returns to the power supply node through a
direct metal connection (PE or PEN conductor) without practically affecting the earth
electrode (Figure 6).
IK
L1
L2
L3
PEN

Figure 6: TN system ( PEN conductor)

IT system
IT systems have no directly earthed active parts, but may
to earth through high impedances (Figure 7). All the
separately or in a group, are connected to an independent

have live parts connected

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exposed-conductive-parts,
earth electrode.

L1
L2
L3

Rt

Fig 7: IT system
The earth fault current returns to the power supply node through the earthing
arrangement of the exposed conductors and the line conductors earth capacities.

L1
L2
L3

C3 C2 C1

Rt
IK

Fig 8: IT ystem
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2. How Does It Wok

II.1Earth fault Relay
Operation
Vigirex relays are designed for used on low voltage AC installations. When te residual
current deteced by the toroid excced a certain threshold, reffered to as the residual
operating current IN, the Vigirex relay trips the associated circuit breaker via a voltage
release on the breaker.
The control signal issued by the relay may be instantaneous or delayed.
Depending on the model,the operating thresholds and time delays may or may not be
adjustable.

Fig 9: Earth Fault Relay and operation

II.2Earth Leakage relay
Toroid

Fig 9: Operation of Earth Leakage

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Earth leakage relays work in combination with a circuit breaker that opens the circuit

in the case of a circuit breaker ground fault.

Phase and neutral conductors go through a toroid or CT, creating a magnetic field

proportional to its current.

In normal situations the vector sum of the current is zero. In case of fault, the toroid or
CT detects the imbalance and sends a signal to the relay and compare it with the

preset threshold value.

The output contact of the relay is turned on when the fault detected value is higher
than the preset threshold and lasts more than the preset tripping time value.

3. Effect on human body

3.1 Effect of Earth Fault on human body
Dangers to persons due to contact with a live electrical conductor are caused by the current
flow through the human body. These effect are

Tetanic contraction: the muscles affected by the current flow involuntary contract,
making letting go of conductive parts difficult. Note: very high currents do not usually
induce tetanic contraction because when the body touches such currents, the muscular
contraction is so strong that the involuntary muscle movements generally throw the

subject away from the conductor;

Respiratory arrest: if the current flows through the muscles controlling the respiratory
system, the involuntary contraction of these muscles alters the normal respiratory
process and the subject may die due to suffocation or suffer the consequences of

traumas caused by asphyxia;

Ventricular fibrillation: the most dangerous effect is due to the superposition of the
external currents with the physiological ones which, by generating uncontrolled
contractions, induce alterations of the cardiac cycle. This anomaly may become an

irreversible phenomenon since it persists even when the stimulus has ceased;
Burns: due to the heating deriving, by Joule effect, from the current passing through the
human body.
3.2 Effect of Earth Leakage on human body
Earth Leakage current beyond 30mA can be lethal leading to death.

30mA sensitivity is required for protection in domestic installations where the person
may come in direct contact with electric equipment in locations for eg labs, schools,
workshops, etc.
100mA and 300 mA protection is required where there is indirect contact or due to
insulation failure in the cables.

Fig 10: Effect on human body

4. Testing
4.1 Testing on Earth Fault
4.2 Testing on Earth Leaking
Measurement of Leakage Current to Ground
When the load is connected (switched on), the leakage current measured includes leakage in
load equipment. If the leakage is acceptably low with the load connected, then circuit wiring
leakage is even lower. If circuit wiring leakage alone is required, disconnect (switch off) the
load.
4.2.1

Test single-phase circuits

Test single-phase circuits by clamping the phase and neutral conductor. The
measured value will be any current flowing to ground.

Fig 11: Test single-phase circuit of ELR

4.2.2 Test three-phase circuit
Test three-phase circuits by clamping around all three-phase conductors. If a neutral is
present, it should be clamped along with the phase conductors. The measured value will be
any current flowing to ground.

Fig 12: Test three-phase circuit of ELR

4.2.3 Measuring leakage current through the ground conductor
To measure the total leakage flowing to the intended ground connection, place the clamp
around the ground conductor.

4.2.4 Measuring leakage current to ground via unintentional paths to ground.

Clamping phase/neutral/ground together identifies imbalance current that represents leakage
at an outlet or electrical panel via unintentional paths to ground (such as the panel sitting on a
concrete base). If other electrical bonding connections exist (such as a connection to a water
pipe), a similar imbalance may result.

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Fig 13: leakage current via unintentional path to ground

4.2.5 Tracing the source of leakage current
This series of measurements identifies the overall leakage and the source. The first
measurement can be made on the main conductor to the panel. Measurements 2, 3, 4 and 5
are made subsequently to identify circuits carrying the larger amounts of leakage current. j k l
mn

Fig 13: Tracing the source of leakage current

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5. Application
4.1 Application of Earth fault Relay
Protection against direct and indirect contact
Direct contact: an electric shock results from contact with a conductor which
forms part of a circuit and would be expected to be live. A typical example
would be if someone removed the plate from a switch and touched the live
conductors inside. It is possible that an RCD with an operating current of 30
mA or less may offer protection.

Fig 14: Direct contact

Indirect contact: an electric shock is received from contact with something
connected to the electrical installation which would not normally be expected
to be live, but has become so as the result of a fault.

Fig 15: Indirect contact

Direct contact protection
The methods of preventing direct contact are mainly
sure that people cannot touch live conductors. These methods

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concerned with making

2

include:

enclosures or guards to prevent touching

Placing parts out of reach or using obstacles to prevent people from reaching live
parts. This protection is reserved for locations to which only skilled or trained persons
have access.
The provision of residual current devices (RCDs) provides supplementary protection,
but only when contact is from a live part to an earthed part.

Indirect contact protection

The methods of protection against indirect contacts are classified as follows:
-

Protection by automatic disconnection of supply;

Protection without automatic disconnection of the circuit (double insulation, electrical
separation and local bonding);
Extra low voltage power supply
Protection against fire hazards
RCDs are very effective devices in providing protection against fire risk due to
insulation faults because they can detect leakage currents (ex : 300 mA) which
are too low for the other protective devices, but sufficient to cause a fire.
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RCDs are very effective devices in providing protection against fire risk due to
insulation faults. This type of fault current is too low to be detected by the
other protective devices (overcurrent, reverse time).
For TT, IT TN-S systems in which leakage current can appear, the use of 300
mA sensitivity RCDs provides good protection against fire risk due to this type
of fault.
Investigations have shown that the cost of the fires in industrial and tertiary
buildings can be very great.
Analysis of these phenomena shows that fire risk due to electricity is linked to
overheating due to a poor coordination between the maximum rated current of
the cable (or insulated conductor) and the overcurrent protection setting.
Overheating can also be due to modification of the initial method of
installation (addition of cables on the same support).
This overheating can be the origin of electrical arcing in humid environments.
These electrical arcs evolve when the fault current-loop impedance is greater
than 0.6 and exist only when an insulation fault occurs. Some tests have
shown that a 300 mA fault current can cause a real risk of fire.
Fig : Fire protection
Some tests have shown that a very low leakage current (a few mA) can evolve

and, from 300 mA, cause a fire in humid and dusty environments.
These type of protection are covered by standard and correspond to different
current thresholds and time on the product.
Application example:

* Depending on the opening of the circuit breaker or association contactor.

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4.2 Application of Earth Leakage Relay

The main purpose of earth leakage protectors is to prevent the risk of electric shock.
Everyone can benefit by using a system to monitor & detect earth leakage currents. Our earth
leakage condition monitoring system continuously monitors and with great accuracy indicates
the leakage in each electrical group. It is also effective help for preventive maintenance and
improving power quality.

Motor Control panels and switchboard

The relay combined with the CBCT capable of monitoring the supply conductors can
be separately mounted within the confines of the switchboard. ELRs features such as
test / reset, alarm output and continuous digital indication for the residual current value
are more suitable to industrial applications.
ELR is used along with shunt release of MCCB in motor applications. Leakage of
current from the motor body to earth causes the CBCT to sense the earth leakage
current and hence provides protection to human personnel working in the near vicinity.

Building Management

Industrial: The supervision of earth leakage problems is a condition for operating

preventive maintenance work of 5 wire systems in industrial applications. To
detect the beginning of weakening isolation and attending the problem during a
planned operating hold-up may save immense sums of money.
Offices
The working environment is affected by the quality of electrical networks. A wellfunctioning 5 wire system minimizes magnetic fields from the electrical network
as well as computer interruptions that are caused by un-clean electrical
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environment. Supervising earth leakage and solving problems are basic conditions
for maintaining well-functioning electrical networks.
Hospitals
Within the medical industry problems may occur if a conventional residual current
device (RCD) discharges. For local indications of earth leakage where one or
more groups can be monitored, i.e. in a treatment room or in the ICU.

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Advantage
5.1 Advantage of Earth Fault Relay
Protection human life from electrical shock and property.
Protection can be adapted to any installation
Vertical discrimination possible over a number of levels.
An alarm threshold provides a warming of a non-critical degradation of the
installation, leaving time to carry out preventive maintenance.
5.2 Advantage of Earth Leakage Relay

An earth-leakage relay is a protective device used to detect any leakage current flowing to
earth, and to initiate the disconnection of the affected circuit. The relay is supplied by means
of a current transformer through which the earth conductor passes. Earth Leakage Relays
with Core Balance Current Transformer are used to detect the leakage current in an electrical
power system.

III.

Fewer nuisance trip

Constant leakage current detection.

Conclusion

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Specification of Relay

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Main characteristic

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