Application Note

Testing of small grounding systems with CPC 100

Author
Lukas Klingenschmid | [email protected]
Moritz Pikisch | [email protected]

Date
March 1, 2017

Related OMICRON Product

CPC 100

Application Area
Grounding Systems

Keywords
CPC 100, HGT1, Ground Impedance, Ground Potential Rise, Substation, Step and Touch Voltage

Version
V1.0

Document ID
ANP_17001_ENU
 General Information

OMICRON electronics GmbH, including all international branch offices, is henceforth referred to as
OMICRON.
The product information, specifications, and technical data embodied in this application note represent the
technical status at the time of writing and are subject to change without prior notice.
We have done our best to ensure that the information given in this application note is useful, accurate and
entirely reliable. However, OMICRON does not assume responsibility for any inaccuracies which may be
present.
OMICRON translates this application note from the source language English into a number of other
languages. Any translation of this document is undertaken for local requirements, and in the event of a
dispute between the English and a non-English version, the English version of this note shall govern.

All rights, including translation, reserved. Reproduction of any kind, for example, photocopying, microfilming,
optical character recognition and/or storage in electronic data processing systems, requires the explicit
consent of OMICRON. Reprinting, wholly or partly, is not permitted.
© OMICRON 2017. All rights reserved. This application note is a publication of OMICRON.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 2 of 51

 Table of Contents

1 Safety Instructions ................................................................................................................................4

2 Using this Document .............................................................................................................................4
2.1 Operator qualifications and safety standards .................................................................................5
2.2 Safety measures .............................................................................................................................5
2.3 Related documents .........................................................................................................................6
2.4 Safety rules .....................................................................................................................................6
3 Used Symbols ........................................................................................................................................7
4 Safety Instructions for Connecting the CPC 100 to the Test Setup .................................................8
4.1 Before starting ................................................................................................................................8
5 Theory .....................................................................................................................................................9
6 Current Probe Injection ..................................................................................................................... 12
6.1 2kV AC output – Pre-check for the expected grounding impedance value ................................. 14
6.2 Recommended CPC 100 output .................................................................................................. 15
6.3 Output selection for ground impedance measurement on the CPC 100 ..................................... 16
7 Fall-of-Potential test ........................................................................................................................... 18
7.1 Theory .......................................................................................................................................... 18
7.2 Procedure for Fall-of-Potential test using CPC 100 .................................................................... 20
8 Step and Touch Voltage Measurements .......................................................................................... 31
8.1 Theory .......................................................................................................................................... 31
8.2 Step and touch voltage measurements using HGT1 ................................................................... 33
9 Case Study .......................................................................................................................................... 42
9.1 Pole location and OHTL route ..................................................................................................... 42
9.2 Current injection path ................................................................................................................... 43
9.3 Measurement setup ..................................................................................................................... 44
9.4 Reduction factor measurement ................................................................................................... 45
9.5 Fall-of-Potential results ................................................................................................................ 45
9.6 Step voltage results ..................................................................................................................... 46
9.7 Touch voltage results ................................................................................................................... 46
9.8 Calculation of the single pole impedance .................................................................................... 47
9.9 Ground potential rise ................................................................................................................... 48
10 Figures ................................................................................................................................................. 49

© OMICRON 2017 Page 3 of 51

1 Safety Instructions
This application note may only be used in conjunction with the relevant product manuals which contain all
safety instructions. The user is fully responsible for any application that makes use of OMICRON products.
Instructions are always characterized by a  symbol even if they are included in a safety instruction.

DANGER
Death or severe injury caused by high-voltage or current if the respective
protective measures are not complied with.

 Carefully read the contents of these instructions as well as the manuals of

the devices involved before taking them into operation.
 Contact OMICRON Support if you have any questions or doubts regarding
the safety or operating instructions.
 Follow the instructions listed in the manuals, particularly the safety
instructions, since this is the only way to avoid danger that can occur when
working on high-voltage or high current systems.
 Only use the equipment according to its intended purpose to guarantee safe
operation.
 Existing national safety standards for accident prevention and
environmental protection may supplement the equipment’s manual.

Only experienced and competent professionals who are trained for working in high-voltage or high current
environments may perform the applications in this document. In addition, the following qualifications are
required:
• Authorized to work in environments of energy generation, transmission or distribution and familiar
with the approved operating practices in such environments.
• Familiar with the five safety rules.
• Good knowledge of the CPC 100.

2 Using this Document

This Application Note describes how to execute a ground impedance measurement on small grounding
systems by using the CPC 100 alone.
The theoretical aspects of grounding system testing and assessment, as well the handling with the CPC
100, are covered.
Reading the AN xxxxx Application Note alone does not release you from the duty of complying with all
national and international safety regulations relevant to working with the CPC 100.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 4 of 51

2.1 Operator qualifications and safety standards

Working on HV devices is extremely dangerous. Measurements must only be carried out by qualified, skilled
and authorized personnel. Before starting any work, clearly establish the responsibilities. Personnel
receiving training, instructions, directions or education on the measurement setup must be under the
constant supervision of an experienced operator while working with the equipment.

The operator is responsible for the safety requirements during the whole test. Before performing tests using
high-voltage, read the following:
• Do not perform any test without having carefully read the CPC 100 User and Reference Manuals.

• In particular, read all safety instructions and follow them.

• Do not use the test equipment without a good connection to ground.

The measurement must comply with the relevant national and international safety standards listed below:

• EN 50191 (VDE 0104) "Erection and Operation of Electrical Equipment".

• EN 50110-1 (VDE 0105 Part 100) "Operation of Electrical Installations".

• IEEE 510 "Recommended Practices for Safety in High-Voltage and High-Power Testing".

• LAPG 1710.6 NASA "Electrical Safety".

Furthermore, additional relevant laws and internal safety standards must be followed.

2.2 Safety measures

Before starting a measurement, read the safety rules in the CPC 100 User, as well as the Reference,
Manuals. In addition, observe the application specific safety instructions in this application note when
performing measurements to protect yourself from high-voltage hazards.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 5 of 51

2.3 Related documents

Title Description
Provides basic information on the CPC 100 test system and relevant safety
CPC 100 User Manual
instructions.

Contains information on how to use the CPC 100 test system and relevant
CPC 100 Reference Manual
safety instructions.

Contains information on how to use the HGT1 test system and relevant
HGT1 User Manual
safety instructions.

EN 50522 Standard – Earthing of power installations exceeding 1kV AC.

IEEE 80 IEEE Guide for Safety in AC Substation Grounding

IEEE Guide for Measuring Earth Resistivity, Ground Impedance, and Earth
IEEE 81 Surface Potentials of a Grounding System

AN CP0711: Test Templates General information about working with templates for the CPC 100

2.4 Safety rules

Before starting a measurement, read the safety rules in the CPC 100 User and Reference Manuals carefully
and observe the application-specific safety instructions in this Application Note when performing
measurements to protect yourself from high-voltage hazards.

General

Always observe the five safety rules:

 Disconnect completely.
 Secure against re-connection.
 Verify that the installation is dead.
 Carry out grounding and short-circuiting.
 Provide protection against adjacent live parts.

CAUTION
Minor or moderate injury may occur if the appropriate safety instructions are
not observed.

 Caution: Never touch any terminal without a visible ground connection!

© OMICRON 2017 Page 6 of 51

3 Used Symbols
DANGER
Death or severe injury will occur if the appropriate safety instructions are not
observed.

WARNING
Death or severe injury can occur if the appropriate safety instructions are not
observed.

CAUTION
Minor or moderate injury may occur if the appropriate safety instructions are
not observed.

NOTICE

Equipment damage or loss of data possible.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 7 of 51

4 Safety Instructions for Connecting the CPC 100 to the Test
Setup

4.1 Before starting

DANGER
Death or severe injury will occur if the appropriate safety instructions are not
observed.

 Do not enter the high-voltage area while working with the CPC 100.
 Do not enter the high-voltage area if the red warning light of the CPC 100 is
on since all outputs carry dangerous voltage current.
 Never touch any terminal without a visible ground connection.
 Always obey the five safety rules and follow the detailed safety instructions
in the respective user manuals.
 Always establish a proper ground connection for the CPC 100. Connect the
CPC 100 with a solid connection of at least 6 mm² cross-section to ground.
 Use only original accessories available from OMICRON
 Beware of nearby parallel systems which are not disconnected. They can
induce hazardous loads in floating segments of a substation. Always touch
the leads and terminals with a grounding hook first.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 8 of 51

5 Theory
This Application Notes complies with the following three standards related to AC grounding system safety
and measurements:
• EN 50522:2011 - Earthing of power installations exceeding 1 kV AC
• IEEE 80-2013 - Guide for Safety in AC Substation Grounding
• IEEE 81-2012 - Guide for Measuring Earth Resistivity, Ground Impedance, and Earth Surface
Potentials of a Grounding System
In the following notes, they are referred to as EN50522, IEEE 80 and IEEE 81.
During a ground fault the current returns to the neutral of the network. In order to establish a low-ohmic return
path for the fault current, grounding systems allow a conductive, low-ohmic connection between the soil and
the neutral of the network. In principle, a grounding system consists of conductive elements such as wires,
rods, etc. These elements have direct contact to the soil, which allows a current between the soil and the
neutral. The more conductive elements are brought into the ground, the better (respectively low-ohmic) the
grounding system is.

Figure 1 - Potentials during a ground fault

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 Figure 1 above shows the potential in the event of a ground fault on a line. The return current through the
soil causes a potential rise of the grounding system with regard to the reference ground. The reference
ground potential is represented by the green flat plain. In the vicinity of the grounding system, the return
current causes a cone-shaped potential rise VG according to electromagnetic field theory.
The ground potential rise is considered as the voltage between the grounding system and an infinitely
remote location. Practically, the potential of this location is represented by the flat part around the grounding
system’s potential rise. This zone is considered as no longer being directly influenced by the grounding
system. Furthermore, the ground impedance ZG is introduced, which represents the impedance between the
grounding system and the reference ground.
The ground potential rise is equal to the maximum grid current multiplied by the grid impedance.
Following the ground impedance, ZG is introduced:
|𝑈𝐺 |
|𝑍𝐺 | =
|𝐼𝐺 |
A high potential rise reveals a “bad contact” to reference ground and a high ground impedance respectively.
In order to reduce the ground impedance, the grounding system must be extended by additional conductive
elements or rotten conductive elements must be replaced.

Figure 2 - Potential contours of a ground grid

Figure 3 – Step and touch voltages

© OMICRON 2017 Page 10 of 51

 Figure 2 and Figure 3 illustrate the potential rise of a ground grid in detail. In contrast to the simplified
illustration in Figure 1, the potential contour inside the grounding system is not flat. Therefore, step and
touch voltages have to be considered inside and outside the substation for personnel safety.
A touch voltage is defined as the difference in potential between a grounded object and a location 1 m apart
in the event of a ground fault. This scenario represents the worst case for a person touching this object as a
maximum arm span of 1 m is assumed.
A step voltage is defined as the difference in potential between two locations 1 m apart from each other in
the event of a ground fault. This scenario represents the worst case for a person being exposed to a step
voltage by standing with his feet 1 m apart.

Figure 4 – Permissible body currents and step and touch voltages from EN 50522 and IEEE 80

EN 50522 and IEEE 80 define permissible body currents as shown in Figure 4 above.
IEEE 80 even proposes three different limits (Dalziel and Biegelmeier) but doesn’t recommend any explicitly.
These body currents depend on the maximum fault duration. The higher the fault duration, the lower the
permissible body current. The body impedance is considered as 1 kΩ in both standards, which means that
the permissible touch voltage is the same value in Figure 4 as the body current, just in V. However, for the
measurement and the assessment of step and touch voltages, the two standards define different
approaches.
EN 50522 recommends a method simulating the human body, by measuring the touch voltage across a
1 kΩ resistor and using a metal plate, which is simulating bare feet. EN 50522 also recommends the soil
underneath the metal plate is wet, in order to simulate the worst case. IEEE 81 recommends measuring step
and touch voltages with a high-ohmic volt meter and a rod, which is driven at least 150 cm (about 60 inches)
into the soil. Hereby, the prospective touch voltage measured is higher than the touch voltage a person

© OMICRON 2017 Page 11 of 51

 would be exposed to. Therefore, IEEE 80 also considers additional resistances for the assessment of step
and touch voltages. The Excel template for step and touch voltage determines the permissible touch voltage
for each of the two standards by respecting the fault duration and, if necessary, additional resistances.
Overhead transmission lines are usually equipped with a ground wire, whereas power cables are equipped
with a shield. Both the ground wire and the cable shield reduce the grid current in the event of a ground
fault, which causes lower step and touch voltages than if none of them were present. In order to prove that a
certain amount of the entire fault current returns via the ground wire (or shield) the reduction factor (also
called current split factor) can be measured.

6 Current Probe Injection

Φ ground grid

Current probe ~s VG
Φ reference ground

Ground Grid
under Test

Grid current
IG causes potential
rise of ground grid

Figure 5 - Fall-of-Potential measurement by using current probe injection

For the determination of a ground grid’s ground impedance respectively the ground potential rise, a test
current is injected into the soil via a remote ground electrode.
Usually the remote ground electrode is another substation where the current is injected via an existing power
line between the substation under test and the remote substation. The line used for injection must be taken
out of service for this purpose.

If no line is available for testing purposes, as is often the case for small grounding systems, the test
current can also be injected via an adequately remote current probe.

The test current is driven by an AC source which causes a potential rise of the grounding system as would
be the case for a real fault. The only difference is that the current which is injected during the measurement
is smaller than the maximum fault current.
In order to measure true values, it is important to ensure that the two grounding systems’ cone shaped
potential rises are not overlapping.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 12 of 51

 Between these two potentials is a zone which is not influenced by the grounding system under test or by the
current probe.
This potential is called reference ground and represents the potential of the entire planet Earth.
The injected grid current causes a potential rise of the grounding system under test, which is determined by
performing a Fall-of-Potential measurement.
IEEE 81 recommends at least 5 times the biggest dimension of the grounding system under test.

If the current probe is placed too close to the grounding system under test, the potential of the current probe
and the grounding system overlap.
This results in a comparative increase of the reference ground relative to the ground grid’s potential
respectively the ground potential rise is decreasing.
Therefore, the determined ground impedance would be too small, which means that a “better” (or smaller)
value than the actual one would be measured.

Step and touch voltages in and around the substation are associated with ground potential rise.
The higher the ground potential rise, the higher the step and touch voltages are.

Therefore, for insufficient current probe spacing, the measured step and touch voltages will be smaller than
an accurate measurement would determine them to be.

If they are then used to calculate what the actual step and touch voltages will be in the worst case condition
of a remote ground fault, the result will be an underestimation of the true hazard to people inside and outside
the substation.
In general, the setup must represent worst case conditions which could occur during a single line fault. This
must be clarified for each individual grounding system.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 13 of 51

 6.1 2kV AC output – Pre-check for the expected grounding impedance value

The 2kV AC output is a voltage output and the used test current is dependent on the impedance of the
injection circuit.

If the impedance of the injection circuit is unknown prior to conducting the ground impedance measurement,
it is recommended a pre-check is performed with a low test voltage to get a good estimation of the expected
ground impedance value of the injection circuit.
It is recommended to start with a test voltage of 1 V and increase it with the CPC 100 jog dial until a stable
impedance value is reached.

If a high test voltage is used directly, then there is the probability that the required test current is over the
specified output current of the 2kV AC output. This will trigger an “Overload” message on the CPC 100
screen.
Note: The measurement shall not be done, due to the possibility of interferences, at power frequency of the
grounding system.
For 50 Hz and railway (16.66 Hz) systems, a test frequency of 70 Hz shall be used, respectively 80 Hz for 60
Hz systems.

The CPC 100 “Quick Card” is used for obtaining the impedance of the injection loop.

Output mode
Selected test voltage
 AC 500V

Test frequency
 70 Hz (for railway and 50
Hz systems)
 80 Hz (for 60 Hz systems)

Measured voltage
(2kV output)

Measured output current Calculated impedance

(2kV output)

Figure 6 – Description of the Quick Card

© OMICRON 2017 Page 14 of 51

6.2 Recommended CPC 100 output

Table 1 states the recommended test voltage for the 6 A AC output and 2kV AC output depending on the
obtained impedance of the injection loop.
By default is it recommended to use the 6A AC output for ground impedance measurement.
If the injected current is below 60% of the target current value, then the 2kV AC output shall be used.

The 2kV AC output can provide a maximum output current of 5 A in the 500 V voltage range mode.
The 6A AC output can provide a maximum test current of 6 A with a compliance voltage of 60 V.

Ground Impedance [Ω] CPC 100 Output Test Voltage [V] Test Current [A]

0.1 Ω - 10 Ω 6 A AC - 6A

10 Ω - 12 Ω 6 A AC - 5A

12 Ω - 15 Ω 6 A AC - 4A

15 Ω - 20 Ω 2kV AC - 500 V range 40 V -

20 Ω - 40 Ω 2kV AC - 500 V range 80 V -

40 Ω - 80 Ω 2kV AC - 500 V range 160 V -

80 Ω - 160 Ω 2kV AC - 500 V range 320 V -

160 Ω - 500 Ω 2kV AC - 500 V range 500 V -

> 500 Ω 2kV AC - 500 V range 500 V -

Table 1 – Recommended test voltage for the 2kV AC output in the 500 V voltage range and test current for the 6 A AC output

Note: Table 1 is only valid for the 2kV AC output in the 500 V voltage range.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 15 of 51

6.3 Output selection for ground impedance measurement on the CPC 100

Target current value

Injected current

Figure 7 – Comparison of the target current and the real injected current within the Sequencer test card

The output can be changed from AC 6A to AC 500V when opening the output selection in the top left corner
of the Sequencer Card.

Figure 8 – AC 6A output selection in the Sequencer test card Figure 9 – Changing the AC 6A output to the AC 500V output in
the Sequencer test card

© OMICRON 2017 Page 16 of 51

 Note: When changing the output mode from AC 6A to AC 500V, the measured quantities need to be
changed from V Out to I Out sel and I Out to V1 AC sel.
The calculated value needs to be changed from Z to R,X.

Figure 10 – Changing the measured and calculated quantities in the Sequencer

test card

© OMICRON 2017 Page 17 of 51

7 Fall-of-Potential test

7.1 Theory

The voltage is initially measured between a grounded reference point in the substation and a location at the
edge of the ground grid. The connection at the location is realized by driving a metallic rod at 150 mm into
the soil. Since the ground grid’s edge is hard to estimate, the substation’s fence is also a good reference
point to start from. The voltage referring to the initial measurement is supposed to be quite small since the
rod is close to the grounding system which, theoretically, has the same potential at each location. For the
next measurements, the rod’s distance to the grounding system increases as shown in Figure 5. Increasing
the rod’s distance results in an increase of the impedance respectively the voltage.

The measurement can be stopped as soon as the results for impedance and voltage no longer change, as is
the case for the last 3 points of both curves in Figure 11. The value of the impedance curve’s flat part is the
ground impedance while the value of the voltage curve’s flat part is the ground potential rise.

Fall-of-Potential Impedance

140 250

120
200
Fall-of-Potential / V

Impedance / mΩ
100

80 150

60 100
40
50
20

0 0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Distance / m

Figure 11 – Fall-of-Potential and Impedance Diagram

Furthermore, it must be considered that the angle between the measurement trace and the current’s
injection path is 90° as recommended in EN 50522 and IEEE 81.
This is not always possible due to obstacles and inaccessible private property. These standards, therefore,
require a minimum angle of 60°. The main reason for this recommendation is the inductive coupling between
the line which is used for injection and the voltage measurement. If the trace for the voltage measurement
would be in parallel to the injection path, the injected current would couple into the voltage measurement
and would, therefore, interfere with the voltage caused by the potential rise.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 18 of 51

 The measurement trace is realized by the use of ground rods that are placed at certain distances from the
grounding system. The following distances can be taken as a guideline: 1 m, 2 m, 5 m, 10 m, 20 m, 50 m,
100 m, 150 m, 200 m, and then increased in increments of 100 m.
Note: If the measurement cable crosses obstacles such as roads or walkways, make sure any approaching
people are warned about the cable to prevent accidents caused by stumbling.

Figure 12 – Direction of measurement trace

For the calculation of the ground potential rise, the maximum grid current must be taken into account by
multiplying the ground impedance and the maximum grid current.
For the assessment of the Fall-of-Potential measurement, EN 50522 states that if the ground potential rise is
less than double of the permissible touch voltage, the step and touch voltage measurements can be
skipped. IEEE 80 doesn’t recommend any limit either for ground impedance or ground potential rise. If
reference values for the Fall-of-Potential obtained by ground grid simulation are available, they could also be
compared to the measured Fall-of-Potential in order to cross check simulation and measurement.

WARNING
Death or severe injury caused by high voltage or current possible

In case of a fault, high voltage can occur at the far end of the measurement cable.

► It is recommended the test lead to the ground rod is unplugged right at the V1 AC input of
the CPC 100 if no measurement is performed and the field crew moves to the next location.
This is to avoid transferring potential to the remote end of the test lead in the event of a fault
in the substation.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 19 of 51

7.2 Procedure for Fall-of-Potential test using CPC 100

Step 1 – Observe safety rules

Carefully read and observe all the relevant safety rules stated in the CPC 100 Reference Manual,
CPC 100 User Manual and this application note.

DANGER
Death or severe injury will occur if the appropriate safety instructions are not
observed.

 Do not enter the high-voltage area while working with the CPC 100.
 Do not enter the high-voltage area if the red warning light of the CPC 100 is
on since all outputs carry dangerous voltage current.
 Never touch any terminal without a visible ground connection.
 Always obey the five safety rules and follow the detailed safety instructions
in the respective user manuals.
 Always establish a proper ground connection for the CPC 100. Connect the
CPC 100 with a solid connection of at least 6 mm² cross-section to ground.
 Use only original accessories available from OMICRON
 Beware of nearby parallel systems which are not disconnected. They can
induce hazardous loads in floating segments of a substation. Always touch
the leads and terminals with a grounding hook first.

Additional information can be found in the sections:

 2.1 Operator qualifications and safety
 2.2 Safety measures
 2.3 - Related documents
 2.4 - Safety rules

Step 2: Establish the measurement setup

Follow the measurement setup in Figure 13 – Measuring the ground resistance of small ground systems with
the 6 A AC output respectively Figure 14 - Measuring the ground resistance of small ground systems with
the 2kV AC output, by connecting the black pin of the V1 AC input with any grounded part in the substation
and the red pin with the rod, which is used as a test electrode.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 20 of 51

 Step 2.1: Fall-of-Potential measurement - setup with 6 A AC Output

Current Probe I

IEEE 81: At least 5 times the biggest dimension

of the grounding system under test

ΔU = Voltage measurement at different

points with the ground rod

Figure 13 – Measuring the ground resistance of small ground systems with the 6 A AC output

© OMICRON 2017 Page 21 of 51

 Step 2.2: Fall-of-Potential measurement - setup with 2kV AC Output

Current Probe I

IEEE 81: At least 5 times the biggest dimension

of the grounding system under test

ΔU = Voltage measurement at different

points with the ground rod

Figure 14 - Measuring the ground resistance of small ground systems with the 2kV AC output

© OMICRON 2017 Page 22 of 51

 Step 3: Place the ground rod at the distance from the grounding system
you want to start the measurement from

In the present example this would be 1 m.

Note: If the measurement cable crosses obstacles such as roads or walkways, make sure any approaching
people are warned about the cable to prevent accidents caused by stumbling.

Step 4: Prepare the CPC 100 template

First, you have to prepare the template "Ground Imp CPC 50Hz.xmt" for 50 Hz respectively "Ground Imp
CPC 60Hz.xmt"
Load the template by clicking the File Operations button (1), choose the file " Ground Imp CPC 50Hz.xmt "
(2) for testing with 50 Hz, or " Ground Imp CPC 60Hz.xmt " for testing with 60 Hz as rated frequency, and
click Open (3).

(2)
(1)

(3)

Figure 15 – Opening the test template

The required blank test cards for the measurement will appear.
The template contains the following test cards:
• Instruction
• Enter Distance (Sequencer test card). It has to be renamed according to the distance the measurement is
started at. As the measurement is progressing, further test cards have to be added and named accordingly.
• Version (version check for Excel template)

Depending on whether the 6 A AC or the 2kV AC output is used for the current injection, the corresponding
output needs to be selected in the test card “Enter Distance”.

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 Step 4.1: Adding sSequencer test cards (for each test point)
The CPC 100 Ground Impedance template has, by default, 1 x Sequencer test card included, which is
named “Enter Distance Here”.

Figure 16 – Sequencer test card named “Enter Distance Here”

A new Sequencer card shall be added for every measurement point (for example, 1m, 5m, 10m, etc.)
To perform this, select the sequencer test card named “Enter Distance”, by choosing the respective tab at
the top of the Test Card View and click on Save As Default.

Figure 17 – Save a CPC 100 test card configuration

Note: This way, your settings (CPC 100 output, test current and test frequency, trigger condtions, etc.) will
be automatically applied to every new Sequencer test card added as the fall-of-potential measurement is
progressing.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 24 of 51

 1. Rename the first sSequencer card accordingly.

Press Rename Card from the right-hand toolbar to rename the Enter Distance test card to, for
example, "1m" if you start the measurement trace at 1 m from the grounding system.
Confirm the new name with “OK”.

Note: There must be no space between the numeral and the character since the Excel template
cannot handle it. So be sure to use "1m". Alternatively, you can use "ft" instead of "m".

Figure 18 – Rename a CPC 100 test card

2. Press Save As Default to overwrite the default settings for new Sequencer test cards.

3. Press the I/O button on the front panel of the CPC 100 to start the first measurement cycle.

4. After the measurement cycle is finished, move the ground rod to the next desired position. For
example, this could be 2 m.

5. Press Insert Card to add a new Sequencer test card.

6. Press Rename Card to rename the new test card according to the ground rod distance.

7. Press the I/O button on the front panel of the CPC 100 to start the next measurement cycle.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 25 of 51

 Step 5: Add new measurement points and execute the measurement

Add new measurement points (Sequencer test card) and execute the ground impedance test until the flat
part of the profile is no longer changing.

Step 6: Loading the test results into Excel

After all tests have been performed, open the CPC 100 file (xml-file) with the corresponding Excel template
(Ground Imp.xlt) from the CPC 100 Start Page in the section Test Templates. Check the test results
carefully. The cell comments in the test report sheet help you to assess the test results.

Transfer your test file "…xml" from the CPC 100 onto your computer and open it with the Microsoft Excel
template from the CPC Start Page.

Figure 19 – Locating the Microsoft Excel template on the CPC Start Page

© OMICRON 2017 Page 26 of 51

 Step 6.1 Test results
Once you have loaded the test file into the Excel template, the results are shown on the first Excel sheet
“Ground Impedance Measurement”.

Figure 20 – Test results within the Fall-of-Potential Microsoft Excel template

© OMICRON 2017 Page 27 of 51

 The blue coloured cells are editable fields, which will change results for the assessment.

Applied Standard
The corresponding standard for the assessment can be chosen
 IEEE 80-2000
 EN 50522:2011

Max. Fault Duration

The maximum fault duration is the maximum clearing time of the substation.
The longer the settled fault duration, the lower the permissible step and touch voltages need to be.

Reduction Factor of test current

Reduction Factor of test current shall be set to 1 for magnitude and 0.00° for the phase angle, as 100% of
the current is returning via the soil.

Note: This is only valid for the current probe injection method.
 Magnitude: Enter the reduction factor of the test current in order to obtain true values for the ground
impedance.
 Angle: In order to calculate the correct phase angle of the ground impedance, the phase angle of the
reduction factor is needed.

Current to Earth
This is the current which is contributing to the ground potential rise. It must not be mistaken for the entire
ground fault current as it is split between the shield and earth.

This current is called Grid current according to IEEE 80.

Rated Frequency
The impedance is determined by interpolation (respectively extrapolation) of the first 4 values of each test
card. Enter the rated frequency in order to provide the target frequency of the interpolation.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 28 of 51

 Step 6.2 Permissible ground potential rise

The Excel template also calculates the permissible ground potential rise depending on the stated current to
earth current and the measured impedance on each test point.

𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 = 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝐸𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ ∗ 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒

Note: The “Current to Earth” value is the maximum grid current.

EN 50522: This standard says that step and touch voltage measurements can be skipped if the ground
potential rise does not exceed double the permissible touch voltage. The corresponding cell shows double
the permissible touch voltage.
Therefore, it only needs to be checked if the value of the flat part of the Fall-of-Potential profile is lower than
the value in this cell.

IEEE 80: No recommendation for ground potential rise limits.

Maximum fault duration determines the permissible

ground potential rise (EN 50522:2011 only)

Applied Standard EN 50522:2011 Max. Fault Duration: 600 ms

Reduction Factor of test Magnitude Phase
Current to Earth 400 A
current: 1,00 0,00°
Permissible Ground Potential Rise: 350 V
Rated Frequency: 50,0 Hz

Ground potential rise = Current to Earth current * Ground Impedance

Distance /
Comment R/Ω X/Ω Z/Ω φ/° VStep / V/m V/V
m
1 0,014 0,004 0,014 14,55 5,65
2 0,021 0,005 0,021 14,20 2,83 8,48
10 0,076 0,019 0,078 14,22 2,83 31,15
20 0,100 0,026 0,104 14,28 1,03 41,44
50 0,141 0,036 0,145 14,33 0,56 58,17
100 0,162 0,043 0,168 14,86 0,18 67,07
200 0,174 0,048 0,180 15,42 0,05 72,14
339 0,181 0,052 0,189 15,89 0,02 75,46
400 0,184 0,052 0,191 15,82 0,01 76,36
453,2 0,188 0,055 0,196 16,35 0,04 78,25
600 0,187 0,053 0,194 15,84 0,00 77,63
700 0,188 0,053 0,195 15,79 0,01 78,15

Figure 21 – Explanation of how the permissible ground potential rise is calculated within the template

© OMICRON 2017 Page 29 of 51

 Step 6.3 Diagrams
The Excel template also displays the Fall-of-Potential as well the step voltage over distance diagrams.
Fall-of-Potential
Impedance / Ω Voltage / V
0,250 100,00
0,200 80,00

Voltage / V
Impedance / Ω

0,150 60,00
0,100 40,00
0,050 20,00
0,000 0,00
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Distance / m

Figure 22 – Fall-of-Potential diagram from the template

From the Fall-of-Potential results, the step voltage values are calculated
∆ 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = | |
∆ 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒

Example
Distance / m Comment R/Ω X/Ω Z/Ω φ/° VStep / V/m V/V
1 0,014 0,004 0,014 14,55 5,65
2 0,021 0,005 0,021 14,20 2,83 8,48
10 0,076 0,019 0,078 14,22 2,83 31,15

Step voltage for 2 m

∆ 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 8.48 𝑉 − 5.65 𝑉
𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = | |=| | = 2.83 𝑉/𝑚
∆ 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 2𝑚 − 1𝑚

Step voltage for 10 m

∆ 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 31.15 𝑉 − 8.48 𝑉
𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = | |=| | = 2.83 𝑉/𝑚
∆ 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 10 𝑚 − 2 𝑚

Step Voltage versus Distance

3,50
3,00
Step Voltage / V / m

2,50
2,00
1,50
1,00
0,50
0,00
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Distance / m

Figure 23 – Step voltage versus distance diagram from the template

© OMICRON 2017 Page 30 of 51

8 Step and Touch Voltage Measurements

8.1 Theory

For step and touch voltage measurements, the injection of the test current remains the same as for the
ground impedance measurement. The only difference is the voltage measurement which is now performed
at selected locations inside and outside the substation.

Figure 24 – Touch voltage measurement setup according to EN 50522

EN 50522 suggests the personnel simulation method by measuring the touch voltage across a 1 kΩ resistor
and using a metal plate which is simulating bare feet 1 m apart from the object. The plate must have
dimensions of 20 cm x 20 cm and be loaded with at least 50 kg, ideally a person who steps on it (Figure 24).
EN 50522 also recommends the soil under the metal plate is wet in order to simulate the worst case
scenario. For the assessment of measured touch voltages, the limits in Figure 4 apply after the measured
voltage has been calculated by taking into account the maximum current to earth I G as shown in equation
(3). EN 50522, Table 1 outlines the calculation of IG for every neutral configuration. Measuring and
assessing step voltage is not mentioned explicitly in EN 50522.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 31 of 51

 𝐼𝐺
𝑈𝑇𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠,𝑚𝑎𝑥 ∗ < 𝑉𝑇𝑝,𝐸𝑁50522
𝐼𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠 ∗ 𝑟

IEEE 81 recommends touch voltage is measured with a rod which is driven at least 150 cm (6ß inches) into
soil and using a high-ohmic volt meter. Hereby, the prospective touch voltage is measured which is higher
than the touch voltage a person would be exposed to. For the step voltage, two rods are driven into soil 1 m
apart from each other. For the assessment of step and touch voltages, IEEE 80 therefore considers
additional resistances which lead to higher permissible step and touch voltages than shown in Figure 4.
Please refer to IEEE 80 chapter 8.3 in order to get the exact equations for the calculation of permissible step
and touch voltages.

Input
Standard Measurement Ground electrode
impeance.
20 cm x 20 cm metal plate loaded with a minimum 50
kg,
EN 50522:2011 Touch Voltage 1 kΩ (1)
1 m apart from grounded structure.
Wet the soil underneath the plate.
This standard assumes that the limits for step voltage
are much higher than for touch voltage.
Step voltage
Therefore, step voltage measurements are
considered obsolete.
Rod (6 mm diameter) driven 150 mm into moist
IEEE 81-2012 Touch Voltage High Z
subsoil, 1 m apart from grounded structure.
Two rods (6 mm diameter) each driven 150 mm into
Step voltage High Z
moist subsoil, 1 m apart from each other.

1 This standard also proposes to consider additional resistances for the assessment of the measurement, which requires a high ohmic
input impedance.
© OMICRON 2017 Page 32 of 51
8.2 Step and touch voltage measurements using HGT1

Step 1 – Open the template

The CPC 100 provides a dedicated template in the file operations view:
Templates > Grounding Systems > Step&Touch using HGT1

Figure 25 – Step and Touch using HGT1 template location

The template contains the following test cards:

• Connection (comment test card, showing the necessary connections)
• Output (Sequencer test card, used for the injection of the test current)
• Version (version check for Excel template)

© OMICRON 2017 Page 33 of 51

 Step 2 – Configure the template

Figure 26 - Output test card of the Step & Touch using HGT1 template on the CPC 100

Figure 26 above shows settings in the Output test card of the Step & Touch using HGT1 template.
The sequence consists of 3 states, which are applied in an endless loop, since Repeat is activated in the
test card:
• Injection of the test current at 30 Hz for 2 s (measuring touch voltage at a distinct location at 30 Hz)
• Injection of the test current at 70 Hz for 2 s (measuring touch voltage at a distinct location at 70 Hz)
• No injection for 56 s (to be able to move to the next measurement location in the substation)

The template is defined by default to use a CP CU1 output.

The output shall be changed either to the CPC 100 6A AC or 2kV AC output mode.

Figure 27 - AC 6A output or AC 500 V selection in the Sequencer test card

In order to save time, the injection of the test current can also be remote-controlled by adapting the
Sequencer test card accordingly as shown in Figure 29 below. In the second column, additional
measurement of voltage at the DC input is activated.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 34 of 51

 ► Optional: Connect a walkie-talkie, which is used as a receiver, to the CPC 100’s VDC input, by using an
adapter as shown in Figure 28 below.
Note: This is not an accessory available from OMICRON!

Figure 28 - Adapter for the connection of a walkie-talkie to the CPC 100

► Plug the headphone jack into the walkie-talkie’s headphone socket and connect the banana plugs to the
CPC 100’s V DC input.
In the example shown in Figure 29 below, the voltage at the headphone socket was approximately 1 V when
the talk button on the walkie-talkie, used as a sender, was pressed. Hence, a threshold level of 0.5 V is
reasonable. By pressing the talk button on the sender walkie-talkie, the measurement sequence starts from
the first state again and the voltage at a distinct location can be measured instantly, without waiting for state
3 of the Output test card to complete.

Note 1: To choose the input V DC as the trigger source, the measurement input first needs to be changed to
the option V DC (blue marked field in Figure 29).
Note 2: The idle time of the state can be set to a high value (for example, 6000 s)

Note 3: The current measurement input shall be changed from I AC to I AC sel.

Trigger threshold of 0.5 V at the

V DC input for 6000 s

Measurement input selection of

I AC sel and V DC

Figure 29 – Test card configuration for using a walkie-talkie

© OMICRON 2017 Page 35 of 51

 Step 3 – Configure the HGT1
If you are using the HGT1, follow the steps mentioned below:

Figure 30 - HGT1 settings according to EN 50522

Figure 30 shows the settings to be considered when measuring step and touch voltages with the HGT1:
• The 100 Hz range (10 – 114 Hz) is recommended, since frequencies higher than 100 Hz are not important
for the measurement.
• In the above example, 1 kΩ is selected as the input impedance according to the EN 50522
recommendation for touch voltage measurements.
► Select High Z for the measurement according to IEEE 81.
► Check whether the two settings for the detection frequency equal the frequency of the injected current in
the CPC 100’s Output test card.
Refer to the HGT1 User Manual on how to adapt the frequency.
Now the step and touch voltages at distinct locations can be measured according to Figure 24.The automatic
detection of step and touch voltages requires the following workflow in order to avoid a faulty measurement:
Depending on the standard you follow, connect the metal plate (EN 50522) or the ground rod (IEEE 81) to the
HGT1, using the black banana cable.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 36 of 51

 Step 4.1 – Step and touch voltage measurements - setup with 6 A AC
output

Current Probe I

IEEE 81: At least 5 times the biggest dimension

of the grounding system under test

Figure 31 - Measuring the step and touch voltages of small ground systems with the 6 A AC output

© OMICRON 2017 Page 37 of 51

 Step 4.2 – Step and touch voltage measurements - setup with 2kV AC
output

Current Probe I

IEEE 81: At least 5 times the biggest dimension

of the grounding system under test

Figure 32- Measuring the step and touch voltages of small ground systems with the 2kV AC output

© OMICRON 2017 Page 38 of 51

 Step 5 - Perform the measurement
1. Connect the probe to the HGT1, using the red banana cable.

HGT1

Metal plate (ground electrode)

Figure 33 - HGT1 hardware setup according to EN 50522

Start the current injection loop by pressing the I/O button on the front panel of the CPC 100.

2. Choose the standard for the measurement

a) If you measure according to EN 50522, place the metal plate on the ground and step on it.
b) If you measure according to IEEE 81, drive the ground rod approximately 150 mm into the
ground, one meter away from the object under test.

3. Connect the probe to the object under test.

Note: It is important to establish a good contact to the object. This could sometimes be cumbersome if the
object is painted with an insulating layer. One option is to remove the layer with a file. The HGT1’s filter
adapts to the connected impedance. The adaption results in a temporary increase of the voltage over the
entire frequency spectrum. Hence, by starting the measurement BEFORE the probe is connected to the
object, faulty values could be measured, since the values during adaption of the filter could be higher than
the values actually caused by the injected current.
4. Start the measurement on the HGT1.
Note: Make sure that the filter is only adapted once in the duration of the measurement. A deteriorated
probe could cause connection problems, resulting in several adaptions of the filter during the measurement.
By using a proper, pointed probe, this problem can be avoided.
5. Either trigger the CPC 100’s next current injection with the walkie-talkie as described previously or wait
for the next current injection loop to begin.
Current is injected for 2 seconds at 30 Hz and 70 Hz respectively. The highest measured value is kept by
the HGT1 for every frequency.
Note: If the mains frequency is 60 Hz, the current is injected at 40 Hz and 80 Hz respectively.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 39 of 51

 6. Stop the measurement on the HGT1 as soon as the highest value has been detected at 70 Hz.
7. Remove the probe from the object under test.
8. Save the measurement point on the HGT1.
9. Move to the next location and repeat steps 3 to 9.

Step 6: Loading the test results into Excel

After all tests have been performed, open the CPC 100 file (xml-file) and the txt-file from the HGT1 with the
corresponding Excel template (Step-&-Touch using HGT1.xlt) from the CPC 100 Start Page in the section
Test Templates.

Figure 34 - Locating the Microsoft Excel template on the CPC Start Page

Step 6.1: Test results

Check the test results carefully. The cell comments in the test report sheet help you to assess the test
results.

Figure 35 - Step and touch (using HGT1) Excel template (with the EN 50522 tab active)

© OMICRON 2017 Page 40 of 51

 The blue coloured cells are editable fields, which will change results for the assessment.

Maximum Fault Duration

The fault duration, and therefore the duration a person could be exposed to a step or touch voltage, has a
tremendous impact on the permissible body current.
The longer the fault duration, the lower the permissible body current.
Please refer to Figure 4 in EN 50522:2011.
Enter 10000 for unlimited fault duration.

Additionally considered resistance

According to EN 50522 it is also possible to consider additional resistances.
Please refer to Figure B.2 in EN 50522:2011.

Permissible Touch Voltage

This voltage is derived from Figure 4 in EN 50522 for the assessment of the touch voltage (with 1 kΩ). If
additional resistances are considered, the prospective touch voltage must be measured and compared to
the corresponding curves in figure B.2.

Required Input Impedance during measurement

1 kΩ if no additional resistances are considered.
High Z if additional resistances are considered.

Reduction Factor of Test Current

Reduction Factor of test current shall be set to 1 for magnitude and 0.00° for the phase angle, as 100% of
the current is returning via the soil.

Note: This is only valid for the current probe injection method.
 Magnitude: Enter the reduction factor of the test current in order to obtain true values for the ground
impedance.
 Angle: In order to calculate the correct phase angle of the ground impedance, the phase angle of the
reduction factor is needed.
Maximum Current to Earth
Please enter the maximum current to earth of the substation as referred to in Table 1 in EN50522:2011.
By entering a current to earth which is higher than the actual maximum current to earth, it could happen that
the measured touch voltages exceed the theoretical maximum value which is derived from the voltage level
of the corresponding network.

© OMICRON 2017 Page 41 of 51

9 Case Study

9.1 Pole location and OHTL route

Ground impedance and a touch voltage measurement had been performed on five poles (110 kV) in a rural
environment, located beside the OHTL line. Each pole is 350 m – 500 m distant from the neighbouring pole.

Pole 1
350 m

Pole 2

Pole 3

Pole 4

Pole 5

Figure 36 – Course of the OHTL

© OMICRON 2017 Page 42 of 51

9.2 Current injection path

On each of the five poles the CPC 100 had been used with the 6 A AC output. A test current of 2 A had been
injected within the pole ground. Figure 37 shows the measurement setup for pole 3.
The current probe was placed around 200 m away from pole 3, near a road.

A maximum distance of around 200 m away from pole 3 was necessary to measure a stable impedance
value.

Figure 37 – Current injection within Pole 3 from the case study

© OMICRON 2017 Page 43 of 51

 9.3 Measurement setup

The poles carried two independent 110 kV lines, which had both been in operation.
In each case the injected current IG was not returning to 100% to the pole under test.
Roughly 25% of the injected current had been flowing back over the earth to the other poles.
This current will now be referred as Ireturn.
Ireturn is the sum of the return currents without consideration of IG-1.
The current Ireturn returned over the earth wire from the OHTL back to the pole under test.

Earth wire
Ireturn#[x]
Line II
(in operation)
Ireturn

Line I
(in operation)

Ireturn#1

IG-1

Current probe

IG-total Auxiliary
electrode
Figure 38 – Measurement setup of the case study

© OMICRON 2017 Page 44 of 51

9.4 Reduction factor measurement

The current split for each pole was measured on the four mast steps from the pole under test.
A reduction factor of 0.76 was determined from the total sum of the four mast steps (for pole 3).
Return Currents
Re / A Im / A Abs / A φ/°
RedFactor1 1,04 0,47 1,14 24,22
RedFactor2 0,92 0,38 0,99 22,28
RedFactor3 1,01 0,53 1,14 27,80
RedFactor4 0,86 0,32 0,92 20,25

Current Split
Re / A Im / A Abs / A φ/°
Total Current [IG-total] 20,00 0,00 20,00 0,00
Ireturn 4,87 2,16 5,33 23,94
IG-1 15,13 -2,16 15,28 -8,13

9.5 Fall-of-Potential results

Fall-of-Potential results for pole 3 are displayed in the following diagram without consideration of the
reduction factor.

Fall-of-Potential
Impedance / Ω Voltage / V
0,400 350,00
0,350 300,00
0,300 250,00
Impedance / Ω

Voltage / V

0,250
200,00
0,200
150,00
0,150
0,100 100,00

0,050 50,00
0,000 0,00
0 50 100 150 200 250

Distance / m

Figure 39 – Fall-of-Potential results from the case study

© OMICRON 2017 Page 45 of 51

9.6 Step voltage results

The following diagram displays the step voltage, which had been obtained from the voltage profile of the
potential gradient.

Step Voltage versus Distance

40,00
35,00
Step Voltage / V / m

30,00
25,00
20,00
15,00
10,00
5,00
0,00
0 50 100 150 200 250

Distance / m

Figure 40 – Step voltage results from the case study

9.7 Touch voltage results

For the touch voltage measurement, the same test current of 2 A had been used as for the Fall-of Potential
measurement.
An extrapolation from the injected test current of 2 A to the maximum current to earth current (17600 A) was
done. The reduction factor of 1 had been considered.
According to EN 50522 an input impedance of the measurement device (HGT1), consisting of 1 kΩ, was
used.
Maximum Fault Duration: 600 ms
Additionally considered resistance: 0Ω
Permissible Touch Voltage: 175 V
Required Input Impedance during measurement: 1k
Reduction Factor of Test Current: 1
Frequency of Test Current: 30,0 Hz 70,0 Hz
Amplitude of Test Current at corresponding Frequency: 2,0 A 2,0 A
Maximum Current to Earth: 17600 A

HGT1 Results / V Calculated

Impedance
ID Location Touch Voltage Assessment
Selection
30,0 Hz 70,0 Hz /V

1 Mast foot #1 1k 0,00789 0,01180 112,84 OK

2 Mast foot #2 1k 0,00587 0,00764 77,46 OK
3 Mast foot #3 1k 0,01152 0,01484 151,10 OK
4 Mast foot #4 1k 0,00614 0,00785 80,15 OK
5 Roadsign 1k 0,00350 0,00465 46,72 OK

© OMICRON 2017 Page 46 of 51

9.8 Calculation of the single pole impedance

The ground impedance results from the test current injection on pole 3 states a ground impedance value of
340 mΩ with a phase angle of 31.7°

Fall-of-Potential
Impedance / Ω Voltage / V
0,400 350,00
0,350 300,00
0,300 250,00
Impedance / Ω

Voltage / V
0,250
200,00
0,200
150,00
0,150
0,100 100,00

0,050 50,00
0,000 0,00
0 50 100 150 200 250

Distance / m

Figure 41 – Used ground impedance results for the calculation of the single pole impedance

The grid current was not only returning to pole 3, but was split, so that parts of the injected current had been
flowing back to other poles.

The above impedance value states the overall ground impedance value for all poles combined.

It is possible to calculate the ground impedance for each pole separately, when additionally on each pole the
current over its feet is measured.
A Rogowski coil can be wrapped around each foot to measure the return current.
The poles consisted of 4 feet, where the return current was measured with a total sum current of
360 mA and a phase angle of 28.5°.

𝐼𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡
𝑍𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑒−𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 = 𝑍𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑒−𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 ∗
𝐼𝐺−𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
2.04 𝐴
𝑍𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑒−#3 = 340 𝑚Ω ∗ 𝑒 𝑗31.7° ∗ = 1.92 Ω ∗ 𝑒 𝑗3.2°
0.36 𝐴∗ 𝑒 𝑗28.5°

© OMICRON 2017 Page 47 of 51

9.9 Ground potential rise

For the determination of the ground potential rise, the ground impedance of all poles needs to be multiplied
with the maximum current to earth current.
This is based on the assumption that, during the measurement, the current distribution of the entire grid
current is the same across all masts.
𝑈𝐺 = 𝑍𝐺 ∗ 𝐼𝐺 = 340 𝑚Ω ∗ 17600 𝐴 = 5984 𝑉

UG Ground potential rise

ZG Grid Impedance

IG Maximum Grid current

© OMICRON 2017 Page 48 of 51

10 Figures
Figure 1 - Potentials during a ground fault ......................................................................................................... 9
Figure 2 - Potential contours of a ground grid..................................................................................................10
Figure 3 – Step and touch voltages .................................................................................................................10
Figure 4 – Permissible body currents and step and touch voltages from EN 50522 and IEEE 80 .................11
Figure 5 - Fall-of-Potential measurement by using current probe injection .....................................................12
Figure 6 – Description of the Quick Card .........................................................................................................14
Figure 7 – Comparison of the target current and the real injected current within the Sequencer test card ....16
Figure 8 – AC 6A output selection in the Sequencer test card ........................................................................16
Figure 9 – Changing the AC 6A output to the AC 500V output in the Sequencer test card ............................16
Figure 10 – Changing the measured and calculated quantities in the Sequencer test card ...........................17
Figure 11 – Fall-of-Potential and Impedance Diagram ....................................................................................18
Figure 12 – Direction of measurement trace....................................................................................................19
Figure 13 – Measuring the ground resistance of small ground systems with the 6 A AC output ....................21
Figure 14 - Measuring the ground resistance of small ground systems with the 2kV AC output ....................22
Figure 15 – Opening the test template .............................................................................................................23
Figure 16 – Sequencer test card named “Enter Distance Here” ......................................................................24
Figure 17 – Save a CPC 100 test card configuration ......................................................................................24
Figure 18 – Rename a CPC 100 test card .......................................................................................................25
Figure 19 – Locating the Microsoft Excel template on the CPC Start Page ....................................................26
Figure 20 – Test results within the Fall-of-Potential Microsoft Excel template ................................................27
Figure 21 – Explanation of how the permissible ground potential rise is calculated within the template .......29
Figure 22 – Fall-of-Potential diagram from the template .................................................................................30
Figure 23 – Step voltage versus distance diagram from the template ............................................................30
Figure 24 – Touch voltage measurement setup according to EN 50522 .......................................................31
Figure 25 – Step and Touch using HGT1 template location ............................................................................33
Figure 26 - Output test card of the Step & Touch using HGT1 template on the CPC 100 ..............................34
Figure 27 - AC 6A output or AC 500 V selection in the Sequencer test card ..................................................34
Figure 28 - Adapter for the connection of a walkie-talkie to the CPC 100 .......................................................35
Figure 29 – Test card configuration for using a walkie-talkie...........................................................................35
Figure 30 - HGT1 settings according to EN 50522 ..........................................................................................36
Figure 31 - Measuring the step and touch voltages of small ground systems with the 6 A AC output............37
Figure 32- Measuring the step and touch voltages of small ground systems with the 2kV AC output ............38
Figure 33 - HGT1 hardware setup according to EN 50522 .............................................................................39
Figure 34 - Locating the Microsoft Excel template on the CPC Start Page .....................................................40
Figure 35 - Step and touch (using HGT1) Excel template (with the EN 50522 tab active) .............................40

© OMICRON 2017 Page 49 of 51

 Figure 36 – Course of the OHTL ......................................................................................................................42
Figure 37 – Current injection within Pole 3 from the case study ......................................................................43
Figure 38 – Measurement setup of the case study ..........................................................................................44
Figure 39 – Fall-of-Potential results from the case study ................................................................................45
Figure 40 – Step voltage results from the case study ......................................................................................46
Figure 41 – Used ground impedance results for the calculation of the single pole impedance ......................47

© OMICRON 2017 Page 50 of 51

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