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SDCS-03 Part-II Rev.01

SEC DISTRIBUTION GROUNDING STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

SDCS-03

DISTRIBUTION NETWORK GROUNDING

CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

(PART-II)

OVERHEAD NETWORK

GROUNDING

Rev. 01

This specification is property of SEC and

subject to change or modification without any notice
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SDCS-03 Part II Rev.01
SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Clause Description Page Number

1.0 General 3

2.0 Bonding of LV Neutral and MV Ground 6

3.0 Ground Resistance Values and Number of Ground Rods 6

Overhead MV Line Installations including Equipment

4.0 6
Installations

5.0 Overhead MV and LV Composite Line. 8

6.0 Overhead LV Networks and Service (alone). 9

7.0 Ground Resistance Measurement. 9

Figures 10-18

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SDCS-03 Part II Rev.01
SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

1.0 GENERAL:

1.1 Scope:

This Grounding Standard describes the technical requirements for grounding the
SEC overhead Distribution Network installations.
SEC Distribution System extends from the MV (33 kV, 13.8 kV) feeder outlets of
HV/MV Substations down to SEC Customer interface including KWH-Meters and
meter boxes.

1.2 Objective:

Objectives of Grounding Standards are as follows:

a) To provide means to direct safely the un-desirable currents from the equipment
to earth.
b) To assure that the persons are not exposed to the danger of critical electrical
shocks in the vicinity of grounded facilities.
Objective (a) above is achieved by adequately selecting all ground fault current
carrying components of Distribution System so that they are capable of safely
carrying the ground fault currents for the expected duration of fault clearing times.
Objective (b) above is achieved by providing a ground system of adequately low
resistance and arranged in such a way as to limit to safe levels the touch, step and
transferred potentials in the events of ground faults.
1.3 Grounding System Elements:
A Grounding System consists of ground conductors, ground rods, overhead
line/equipment to be grounded and the ground accessories. Factors affecting the
design of grounding system are as follows:
a) Magnitude and duration of ground fault current.
b) Portion of ground fault current which will pass to the ground.
c) Soil resistivity at fault location.
d) Degree of exposure of grounding system elements to mechanical damage and
corrosion (this will influence the choice of materials).

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SDCS-03 Part II Rev.01
SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

1.4 Summary of Grounding Regulations

1.4.1 System Neutral Grounding

The SEC overhead distribution system is grounded as follows:

a) 33 kV and 13.8 kV Systems

These are 3-wire primary systems run on steel poles. MV neutral of power
transformers is grounded solidly or thru low resistance at HV /MV substations.

Distribution transformers have DYn11 connections. The secondary side is

solidly grounded and connected with MV grounding.
A ground wire is continuously run under the phase wires and is grounded at the
terminal pole and every fifth pole.

b) LV System

It is a 4-wire system and system neutral is multiply grounded at each pole and at
consumer location.

1.4.2 Metal Work Grounding

For MV lines, the metal work of all overhead line distribution equipment is always
grounded and bonded to continuous run ground wire. For LV lines, metal work
shall be bonded to the neutral and grounded at each pole.

1.5 Grounding Materials and Methods:

Below mentioned grounding methods and materials shall be used for all system
configurations.
1.5.1 Grounding and Bonding Materials:

ACSR conductor Quail (67.44 mm2) shall be used as continuous running ground
wire for MV lines. 16 mm (5/8 inch) diameter and 1x2400 mm long or 2x1200 mm
copper weld ground rods with 70 mm2 (for MV Grounding) and 35 mm2 (for LV
grounding) bare copper conductor shall be used for grounding applications.
Materials are described in respective figures of this Construction Standard.

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SDCS-03 Part II Rev.01
SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

1.5.2 Grounding Methods:

Details of typical grounding arrangement for different types of distribution system

installations are covered in respective clauses. Unless otherwise indicated on
relevant figure, the grounding arrangements shown are for normal soil conditions
where it is possible to drive ground rods into the soil without much difficulty.
Details of a typical installation of one ground rod are shown in Figure 1.

Where it is very difficult to drive the standard ground rod in soil, Copper wire
buried horizontally to a depth of at least 500 mm is considered equivalent to
placing ground rods (6m of wire length equivalent to one rod). This length is in
addition to the connecting length of wire between ground rods and from pole to
ground rods. The ground wire should be so installed that as far as possible, it forms
a ground mat around the pole. Two ends of the wire must be connected to the pole
grounding terminals.
Before deciding to install ground wire in place of ground rods it should be
investigated if normal (non rocky) soil is available within a reasonable distance
(up to 50 meters) from the installation. If available the required number of ground
rods should be installed in the normal ground and connected to the pole grounding
terminals. The connecting ground wire from ground rods to the pole should form a
ground mat around the pole. Copper ground wire alone (in place of ground rods)
should be laid only if normal soil as described above is not available.
For increasing the effectiveness of grounding arrangement the adjacent grounding
rods should not be located closer than 4 meters. In case of difficult situation less
than four meters separation is acceptable. However the respective SEC
Construction Supervisor should satisfy himself that reduced separation is indeed
unavoidable.
In case 2400mm rods can not be used, single 1200mm ground rod can be used with
separation of 2m instead of 4 m.
To prevent overheating features of connections in the grounding systems, following
shall be observed:

(a) Unless specified in this standard, compression connectors shall be used.

(b) Bolted connectors, when used, shall be properly tightened.
(c) Penetrox or equivalent oxide inhibiting compound shall be used at all
joints of dissimilar metals.
(d) The compression connectors shall always be crimped using the correct tool
and die.

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SDCS-03 Part II Rev.01
SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

2.0 BONDING OF LV NEUTRAL AND MV GROUNDS.

LV neutral ground and any grounds associated with MV equipment / system shall
always be kept bonded.

3.0 GROUND RESISTANCE VALUES AND NUMBER OF GROUND RODS

Every pole with MV equipment installation shall be grounded with minimum of 4

ground rods. In high soil resistivity areas, such as rocky areas, loose soil, etc;
additional number of rods or equivalent length of ground wire shall be used to achieve
the required ground resistance value.

Soil resistivity can also be improved by adding the appropriate Low Resistivity
Materials (LRM) as described in SDCS-03 part 3.

All installations with Surge Arresters for protection of line equipment shall be
grounded through minimum four ground rods.
Maximum recommended ground resistance for different installations is as follows:

System ground 5 Ohms

All distribution sub stations 5 Ohms
Surge arresters 5 Ohms
MV / LV poles 20 Ohms

4.0 OVERHEAD MV LINE INSTALLATIONS INCLUDING EQUIPMENT

INSTALLATIONS:

4.1 General:

Details of grounding arrangements for poles for overhead lines and the overhead
line equipment are given in respective figures as mentioned below.

4.2 Non plant poles with 33 kV & 13.8 kV, 3-Wire Circuits:

The circuit elements generally consist of the steel poles, pole top line metal work
consisting of cross arm and base metal work of insulators, which support
conductors energized to line voltage. Such poles do not support any "Equipment"
like cable riser, Transformer, Voltage Regulators etc.

Every fifth Pole of MV overhead line shall be grounded through single earth rod.
In case of less than five poles in a line, Tee-off and the Terminal Pole shall be

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SDCS-03 Part II Rev.01
SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

grounded. Typical arrangement of pole grounding is given in Figure 1. No separate

bonding is required for pole assembly metal work for steel poles.

4.3 Pole Mounted Transformers

Grounding arrangement for single and double pole mounted transformers is shown
in Fig. 2 to Fig. 5. The PMT body shall be grounded through four (4) earth rods and
70 mm2 bare copper conductor. Neutral of transformer is grounded by bonding

neutral bus bar inside LV cabinet with the body through a 70mm2 copper link. MV
& LV ground conductors shall be bonded to the continuous run ground wire.
A ground mat shall be provided under the LV cabinet.

4.4 Pole Mounted Equipment with Control Cabinets or Switch operating handle

The equipment such as Line Auto Reclosers, Line Sectionalizers and Load Break
Switches which have their operating handle or control cabinet near the ground level
shall be grounded as per Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 and bonded with continuous ground wire.
A ground mat shall be provided under the switch operating handle/ control cabinet
to establish an equipotential zone.

4.5 Power Capacitors on MV lines

The grounding arrangement for power capacitor shall be as per Fig. 8. Grounding
shall be through four (4) ground rods and 70mm² bare copper conductor.

4.6 Cable Riser

Grounding of cable riser shall be as per Figure 9. Grounding shall be through Four
(4) ground rods and 70 mm 2 bare copper conductor. Cable screens, armor and pole
top metal work shall be bonded to ground wire.

4.7 Guys on Steel Poles:

The pole top connection of guys, on all steel poles, already has a bond with ground
through metal work and continuous running ground wire.

4.8 Surge Arrester Grounding

All overhead MV equipment shall be protected by Surge Arresters and shall be

grounded through four (4) ground rods. Typical surge arrester connection

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SDCS-03 Part II Rev.01
SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

arrangement for PMT shall be as per Figures 4 and 5.

5.0 OVERHEAD MV AND LV COMPOSITE LINES:

5.1 General:

These networks are designed for use in the places with short of space and where the
customers are located adjacent to MV overhead lines. The steel poles carry both
MV conductor on post insulators and LV Quadruplex conductor.

5.2 Bonding and Grounding of MV Network.

All metal work is bonded together, and to the continuously running ground wire In
case of less than five poles in a line, Tee-off and the Terminal Pole shall be
grounded. For the lines with five or more poles, the grounding shall be carried out
according to clause 4.0.

5.3 LV Neutral Grounding:

a- The LV metalwork shall be bonded and grounded at each pole which is

shared with MV circuits and at customers meter positions.
b- The neutral of each LV feeder shall be grounded through minimum of four
(4) ground rods. These rods include the ground rods required to be installed
at customer premises. Total number of minimum rods shall be as per
following table.

No. of LV Poles Location of Ground Rods

0 4 at meter installation ( including customer provided
ground rods
1 4 at pole
2 3 first pole one at second pole
3 2 rods at first pole one rod at each next pole
4 One rod at each pole
5 or more At least 4 rods per circuit

c- One rod shall be driven at the meter position for every 4 KWH meters
served directly from a pole which carry both MV and LV circuit.
d- Connection between the LV neutral conductor and the grounding conductors
shall be as shown in Overhead Construction Standards SDCS-01.
e- The grounding conductor shall be 35 mm².

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SDCS-03 Part II Rev.01
SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

6.0 OVERHEAD LV NETWORKS AND SERVICES (alone):

6.1 General:

Overhead LV Distribution System extends from the LV terminals of Pole Mounted

Transformer to the terminals of KWH-Meter installations. It includes overhead LV
Mains, Services and Meter boxes. Messenger of quadruplex shall be directly
bonded and grounded at every pole. The grounding of LV poles shall be as per Fig.
1 (Except the grounding conductor shall be 35mm²). Total number of minimum
rods shall be as per clause 5.3.

6.2 Grounding at the customer interface:

It shall be essential for the customer to provide grounding at his interface. The
customer shall bring the grounding wire to the grounding terminals of the meter
box. The ground wire of the customer shall be connected to the ground terminal
inside the meter box. The ground terminal shall be short linked with the neutral.

For grounding details see part-1 of grounding standard (typical arrangement of

meter box as shown in Dwg.142 and Dwg.143 of Construction Standards SDCS-
01) Customer ground wire shall be installed through PVC conduit or protected by a
suitable guard as described 20-SDMS-02 (Overhead Accessories).

7.0 GROUND RESISTANCE MEASUREMENTS

Below mentioned procedures shall be adopted for measurements of grounding

resistance:

i) Measurement through fall of Potential method.

ii) Measurement through "Clamp on ground resistance measuring meter".

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SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

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SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

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SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

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SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

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SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

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SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

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SEC DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION STANDARD
DATE: 12 September 2007G

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DATE: 12 September 2007G

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DATE: 12 September 2007G

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