Earthing in Electrical Network - Purpose, Methods and Measurement
Earthing in Electrical Network - Purpose, Methods and Measurement
The process of electrically connecting to the earth itself is often called "earthing", particularly in
Europe where the term "grounding" is used to describe the above ground wiring.
The main reason for doing earthing in electrical network is for the safety. When all metallic
parts in electrical equipments are grounded then if the insulation inside the equipments fails
there are no dangerous voltages present in the equipment case.
If the live wire touches the grounded case then the circuit is effectively shorted and fuse will
immediately blow. When the fuse is blown then the dangerous voltages are away.
Purpose of Earthing
(1) Safety for Human life/ Building/Equipment
To save human life from danger of electrical shock or death by blowing a fuse i.e. To
provide an alternative path for the fault current to flow so that it will not endanger the
user
To ensure that all exposed conductive parts do not reach a dangerous potential.
There are many sources of electricity. Every transformer can be considered a separate source. If
there were not a common reference point for all these voltage sources it would be extremely
difficult to calculate their relationships to each other.
The earth is the most omnipresent conductive surface, and so it was adopted in the very
beginnings of electrical distribution systems as a nearly universal standard for all electric
systems.
Plate burred at the depth of 8 feet in the vertical position and GI strip of size 50 mmx6
mm bolted with the plate is brought up to the ground level.
These types of earth pit are generally filled with alternate layer of charcoal & salt up to 4
feet from the bottom of the pit.
Excavation on earth for a normal earth Pit size is 1.5M X 1.5M X 3.0 M.
Use 500 mm X 500 mm X 10 mm GI Plate or Bigger Size for more Contact of Earth and
reduce Earth Resistance.
Make a mixture of Wood Coal Powder Salt & Sand all in equal part
Wood Coal Powder use as good conductor of electricity, anti corrosive, rust proves for GI
Plate for long life.
The purpose of coal and salt is to keep wet the soil permanently.
The salt percolates and coal absorbs water keeping the soil wet.
Care should always be taken by watering the earth pits in summer so that the pit soil will
be wet.
Coal is made of carbon which is good conductor minimizing the earth resistant.
Salt use as electrolyte to form conductivity between GI Plate Coal and Earth with
humidity.
Sand has used to form porosity to cycle water & humidity around the mixture.
It will be better to use GI Pipe of size 2.5 diameter with a Flange on the top of GI Pipe
to cover GI Strip from EARTH PLATE to Top Flange.
Cover Top of GI pipe with a T joint to avoid jamming of pipe with dust & mud and also
use water time to time through this pipe to bottom of earth plate.
Maintain less than one Ohm Resistance from EARTH PIT conductor to a distance of 15
Meters around the EARTH PIT with another conductor dip on the Earth at least 500 mm
deep.
Check Voltage between Earth Pit conductors to Neutral of Mains Supply 220V AC 50 Hz
it should be less than 2.0 Volts.
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(3) Moisture
Moisture has a great influence on resistivity value of soil. The resistivity of a soil can be
determined by the quantity of water held by the soil and resistivity of the water itself.
Conduction of electricity in soil is through water.
The resistance drops quickly to a more or less steady minimum value of about 15% moisture.
And further increase of moisture level in soil will have little effect on soil resistivity. In many
locations water table goes down in dry weather conditions. Therefore, it is essential to pour water
in and around the earth pit to maintain moisture in dry weather conditions. Moisture significantly
influences soil resistivity
Single electrode rod or strip or plate will not achieve the desired resistance alone.
If a number of electrodes could be installed and interconnected the desired resistance could be
achieved. The distance between the electrodes must be equal to the driven depth to avoid
overlapping of area of influence. Each electrode, therefore, must be outside the resistance area of
the other.
(11) Obstructions
The soil may look good on the surface but there may be obstructions below a few feet like virgin
rock. In that event resistivity will be affected. Obstructions like concrete structure near about the
pits will affect resistivity.
If the earth pits are close by, the resistance value will be high.
(12)
Current Magnitude
A current of significant magnitude and duration will cause significant drying condition in soil
and thus increase the soil resistivity.
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For measuring soil resistivity Earth Tester is used. It is also called the MEGGER.
It is measured by using Four Terminal Earth Tester Instrument. The terminals are
connected by wires as in illustration.
P=Potential Spike and C=Current Spike. The distance between the spikes may be 1M,
2M, 5M, 10M, 35M, and 50M.
All spikes are equidistant and in straight line to maintain electrical continuity. Take
measurement in different directions.
= 3.14
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Suppose, the distance of Current Spike from Earth Electrode D = 60 ft, Then, distance of
Potential Spike would be 62 % of D = 0.62D i.e. 0.62 x 60 ft = 37 ft.
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As per IS 3043, the resistance of Plate electrode to earth (R) = (r/A) X under root(P/A).
The resistivity of the soil and the physical dimensions of the electrode play important role
of resistance of Rod with earth.
Any material of given dimensions would offer the same resistance to earth. Except the
sizing and number of the earthing conductor or the protective conductor.
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Suppose Copper Plate having of size 1.2m x 1.2m x 3.15mm thick. soil resistivity of 100
ohm-m,
From the above calculation the GI Pipe electrode offers a much lesser resistance than
even a copper plate electrode.
As per IS 3043 Pipe, rod or strip has a much lower resistance than a plate of equal
surface area.
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The salt content is expressed in percent by weight of the moisture content in the soil.
Considering 1M3 of Soil, the moisture content at 10 percent will be about 144 kg. (10 percent of
1440 kg). The salt content shall be 5% of this (i.e.) 5% of 144kg, that is, about 7.2kg.
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L.T.Pole= 5 Ohm
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