Earthing

Earthing is the system of connecting the metallic frame of electrical installation to the general mass of
the earth. In other words, the term 'earthing' means connecting the neutral point of a supply system or
the non-current carrying parts of electrical apparatus to the general mass of earth in such a manner that
at all times an immediate discharge of electrical energy takes place without danger.

The purpose of earthing is to provide protection to the human beings as well as equipment from
electrical hazards.

In an electric installation, if a metallic part of an electric appliance comes in direct contact with a bare or
live wire, the metal being a good conductor of electricity is charged. Now if any person comes in contact
with this charged metal part, he will get a severe shock. Fig. 3.4 (a) shows the circuit without earthing of
the body of the appliance. In this condition, the current through the body will be calculated as

Where, I = I L + I body is not large enough to blowout the fuse

Rbody = 10,000 in dry condition
V V
I body  
R body 10,000

But if the metallic parts of the appliances are earthed as shown in fig. 3.4 (b), the charge will be
transferred to the earth immediately. And as the discharge takes place to earth, the resistance of path of
the current is low, a large amount of current flows to earth. In this instant, the current exceeds the
limiting value, the fuse provided in the circuit will blow off and cut off the appliance from supply. Fig.
3.4 (b) shows the circuit with earthing. In this condition, the fault current through the earth will be
calculated as
V
If 
Re
Where, Re = Resistance of the earthing, which is very low.
Therefore, I = IL + If will be enough to blowout the fuse instantly before somebody comes in contact
with the appliance's body.
Body of appliance
Fuse I = IL+Ibody

L
N Ibody
IL

Fig. 3.4 (a) Circuit without earth of appliance body

 Fuse I = IL+If

N
IL
If

Fig. 3.4 (b) Circuit with earthing of appliance body

Thus, earthing of metallic parts of electrical equipment and appliances provide safety.

The various important specifications regarding earthing as recommended by I.S.I. are given below:
1. Distance of Earth From Building: An earthing electrode shall not be situated within a distance of
1.5 metres from the building whose installation system is being earthed.

2. Size of Earth Continuity Conductor: The conductor, by means of which the metal body of an
equipment or appliance is connected to the earth is known as earth continuity conductor (E.C.C.).
The earth continuity can be ensured either through metal conduit, metal sheathing of metal sheathed
cables or by a special earth continuity conductor. The cross-section of earth continuity conductor
should not be either less than 2.9 mm2 (14 SWG.) or half of the installation conductor size.

3. Resistance of Earth: There is no hard and fast rule. The main principle regarding earth resistance is
that the earth resistance should be low enough to cause flow of current sufficient to operate the
protective relays or blow fuses, in the event of an earth fault. The value of earth resistance does not
remain constant but changes with the weather, as it depends upon the moisture content of the soil,
and are maximum during dry season. As a general rule the lower the value of earth resistance better
it is but even then the following values of earth resistance (maximum permissible values) will give
satisfactory results.

Large power station - 0.5 

Major power station - 1.0 
Small substation - 2.0 
In all other cases - 8.0 

4. The sensitivity of the protective equipment, system voltage and the maximum fault current directly
relate to permissible value of earth resistance. In case the earth resistance exceeds the permissible
value, then in case of earth fault, the fault current may not reach a sufficient value to operate the
protective equipment (such as fuses or relays) and dangerous condition may arise.

5. The earth wire and earth electrode will be of same material.

6. The earth wire shall be taken through GI pipe of 12.7 mm of diameter for at least 30.5cm length
above and below ground surface to the earth electrode to protect it against mechanical damage.

7. It is not necessary that earth wire connected to an earth electrode is run along the whole wiring
system. All the earth wires run along the various sub-circuits shall be terminated and looped firmly
at the main board and from main board the main earth wire shall be taken to the earth electrode. The
loop earth wires used shall not be either less than 2.9 mm2 (14 S.W.G.) or half of the size of the sub-
circuit conductor.

8. This earthing electrode shall always be placed in vertical position inside the earth or pit so that it
may be in contact with all the different earth layers.

Points to be Earthed: According to Rules and Regulations:

(i) Earth pin of 3 pin lighting plug sockets and 3 and 5 pin power plug sockets should be permanently
and efficiently earthed.
(ii) All metal casing or metallic coverings containing or protecting any electric supply line or
apparatus, such as iron clad switches, iron clad distribution fuse boards, GI pipes and conduits
enclosing VIR or PVC cables, the down rods of electric fans, metallic reflectors of light fixture
should be connected to earth.
(iii) The metal casing of portable apparatus such as heaters, refrigerators, hand lamps, soldering irons,
electric drills etc., should be connected to earth. If any one of them is installed in a fixed position, a
separate direct connection to the earth should be provided in addition to the earth wire in the
connecting cable.
(iv) The frame of every generator, station motor, portable motor and the metallic parts (not intended as
conductors) of all transformers should be earthed.
(v) The neutral conductor of a 3-phase, 4-wire system and the middle conductor of a 2-phase, 3-wire
system should be earthed by not less than two separate and distinct connections with earth at the
generating station and at the substation. It may also be earthed at one or more points along the
distribution system or service line in addition to any connection with earth, which may be at the
consumer's premises.
(vi) In the case of a system comprising electric supply lines having concentric cables, the external
conductor of such cables should be earthed by two separate and distinct connections with earth.
(vii) Fabricated steel transmission line towers, tubular steel or rail poles carrying overhead conductors
should be earthed. For this purpose a continuous earth wire is provided and connected with earth at
four points in every mile (1.61 km.), the spacing between the points being as nearly equidistant as
possible, alternatively, the metal work should be connected to an effective earthing device at each
individual support.

Factors Influencing the Earth Resistance: The resistance of earthing system depends upon the
following factors:
1. Condition of soil.
2. Temperature of soil.
3. Moisture content of soil.
4. Size and spacing of earth electrodes.
5. Depth at which the electrode is embedded.
6. Material of conductor.

Methods of Reducing Earth Resistance of the System:

As mentioned above earth resistance depends upon the condition, temperature and moisture content of
soil, area of earth electrode and depth to which it is driven. The earth resistance can be considerably
reduced by digging around the earth electrode to a depth of 1.5 or 2 meters, cleaning the surface of the
earth plate or pipe of all rust and then filling with charcoal soaked in salt solution. In summer season, the
pouring of fresh salt water (Copper sulfate solution in case of copper plate earthing) through pipe over
all the coal bed will reduce the earth resistance.

The additional steps for reducing the earth resistance of the system are increasing of plate area,
increasing of pit depth and increasing of number of electrodes in parallel.

3.3 Methods of Earthing

The various methods of earthing are:

1. Strip or Wire Earthing: - In this system of earthing, strip electrodes of cross-section not less
than 25 mm x 1.6 mm of copper or 25 mm x 4 mm of galvanised iron or steel are buried in
horizontal trenches of minimum depth 0.5 meter. If round conductors are used, their cross-
sectional are shall not be smaller then 3.0 mm2 if of copper and 6.0 mm2 if of galvanised iron or
steel. The length of buried conductor shall be sufficient to give the required earth resistance. It
shall, however, be not less than 15 meters. The electrodes shall be as widely distributed as
possible, preferably in a single straight or circular trench or in a number or trenches radiating
from a point. If conditions requires use of morel than one strip, they shall be lain either in
parallel trenches or in radial trenches.

This type of earthing is used at places which have rocky soil earth bed because at such places
excavation work for plate earthing is difficult.

2. Rod Earthing: In this system of earthing 12.5 mm. diameter solid rods of copper or 16 mm
diameter solid rods of galvanised iron or steel or hollow section 25 mm G.I. pipes of length not
less than 2.5 meters are driven vertically into the earth. In order to increase the embedded length
of electrodes under the ground, which is sometimes necessary to reduce the earth resistance to
desired value, more than one rod sections are hammered one above the other.

This system of earthing is suitable for these areas, which are sandy in character. This system of
earthing is very cheap as no excavation work is involved.

3. Pipe Earthing: Pipe earthing is the best form of earthing and is very cheap in cost.

In this method of earthing, a galvanised and perforated pipe of approved length and diameter is
placed up right in a permanently wet soil.

[Note:-Three or four buckets of water shall be pour into the sump through the watering chamber every
week.]
The pipe is provided with a tapered casing at the lower end in order to facilitate the driving. The
pipe at the bottom is surrounded by broken pieces of coke or charcoal for a distance of about 15
cm. around the pipe. Generally, alternate layers of coke and salts are used to increase the
effective area of the earth and to decrease the earth resistance respectively. Another pipe of 19
mm diameter and minimum length 1.25 meters is connected at the top to G.I. pipe through
reducing socket.

In summer season the moisture in the soil decreases which causes increase in earth resistance.
So a cement concrete work is done in order to keep the water arrangement accessible. And in
summer to have an effective earth, 3 or 4 buckets of water are put through the funnel connected
to 19-mm diameter pipe, which is further connected to G.I. pipe.
 The earth wire (either G.I. wire or G.I. strip of sufficient cross-section to carry faulty current
safely) is carried in a G.I. pipe of diameter 12.7 mm. at a depth of about 60 cm. from the ground.

4. Plate Earthing: An earthing plate either of copper of dimensions 60 cm x 60 cm x 3.15 mm or

of galvanised iron of dimensions 60 cm x 60 cm x 6.30 mm is buried into the ground with its
face vertical at a depth of not less than 3 meters from ground level. The earth plate is embedded
in alternate layers or coke and salt for a minimum thickness of 15 cm. The earth wire (G.I. wire
for G.I. plate earthing and copper wire for copper plate earthing) is securely bolted to an earth
plate with the help of a bolt, nut and washer. These are made of same material of that of earth
plate. (Made of copper in case of copper plate earthing and of galvanised iron in case of G.I.
plate earthing).

5. Selection of size of Earth electrode

5.1. For rod or pipe electrode following formula is used:

100  4l
R log e 
2l d

Where Approximate value of the soil resistivity

  Soil Resistivity Ohm-m Types of soil Resistivity
d  Diameter of rod or pipe in cm 1. Alluvium (Left by river or floods) 6-40
2. Alluvium dry sandy 60-200
l  Lenth of the rod or pipe in cm 3. Clay black soil 6-23
4. Sandy loam 6-14

5.2 For plate electrode following formula can be used

 
R Where, A = Area of both sides of the plate (m2)
4 A

6. Measurement of earth Resistance

There are various methods of measurement of the earth resistance. The simple method of earth
resistance tester is “Megger earth tester”. The Megger earth tester works on the potential method.

V
R
I

Where, A - Earth electrode

B,C - Two auxiliary electrodes,
used for potential and current circuit.