The Earthing System: Sometimes Simply Called Earthing', Is The Total Set of

Definition:
The Earthing System: sometimes simply called ‘earthing’, is the total set of
measures used to connect an electrically conductive part to earth. The
earthing system is an essential part of power networks at both high- and
low-voltage levels.
Functions of Earthing Systems
A good earthing system is required for:
1. Protection of buildings and installations against lightning

2. Safety of human and animal life by limiting touch and step
voltages to safe values
3. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) i.e. limitation of
electromagnetic disturbances
4. Correct operation of the electricity supply network and to
ensure good power quality.
Earting Main Divisions
The earthing is broadly divided as:
 System earthing: Connection between part of plant in an operating

system like LV neutral of a Power Transformer winding and earth.
 Equipment earthing (Safety grouding): Connecting frames of
equipment (like motor body, Transformer tank, Switch gear box, Operating
rods of Air break switches, etc) to earth.
Rule of Electrical Inspector in Inspecting Earthing System
As an electrical inspector, you must verify correct grounding system

installation and operation by doing the following:
1. Visually inspecting conductors and,

2. Measuring ground resistance.
The need for Testing Earthing Systems
Test the ground system resistance to provide the only concrete proof that
the preliminary design assumption is accurate and that the system is
adequate and totally effective.
Measurements of ground resistance or impedance and potential gradients on

the surface of the earth that are due to ground currents are necessary for
the following reasons:
 To verify the adequacy of a new ground system

 To detect changes in an existing grounding system
 To determine hazardous touch and step voltages
 To determine ground potential rise (GPR) in order to design
protection for power and communication circuits
A totally effective Earthing system
A grounding system to be totally effective, must satisfy the following

conditions:
 Provide low impedance path to ground for personnel and equipment

protection and effective circuit relaying.
 Withstand and dissipate repeated fault and surge current.
 Provide correction allowance or correction resistance to various soil
chemicals to ensure continuous performance during life of the equipment
being protected.
 Provide rugged mechanical properties for easy driving with minimum
effort and rod damage.
How Earthing system works
 The grounding system is essential to complete an electrical path to

ground if there is non-designed or unanticipated above-normal potential
current or voltage surges during operating conditions. Personal injury, death
or equipment damage can result if the grounding system is not designed and
installed properly to guide these potentially dangerous charges safely to
ground.
 The grounding systems under normal conditions carry NO current. The
only time they carry current is under abnormal conditions when an
electrical appliance or piece of electrical equipment is faulty and has
become a potential shock or fire hazard. Under a fault condition the
grounding conductor that is connected to the outer shell or sheet metal of
the equipment or appliance must be able to provide a very low resistance
path back to the source of the power (utility company's transformer) so that
enough current will flow causing a breaker or fuse to open the circuit and
automatically disconnect the hazard from the system.
 It is NOT the purpose of grounding system to send current through the
ground. Sending equipment fault currents through the earth can be a fatal
misunderstanding of how a grounding system works. For the most part, the
only time you intentially send current into the earth is during a lightning
strike or line surge due to a nearby lightning strike.
In any discussion of grounding, the question always asked is how in low resistance ground
should be? The answer is by determining the lowest possible ground resistance, the lower the
ground resistance, the safer the grounding.
2.1 Determining Ground Resistance
Every Building, substation, equipment operation, and facility that uses electrical power
requires a grounding system for safe and proper operation.
Importance of Ground Resistance
It is essential that the grounding system be of the proper resistance to

maintain safety to personnel and equipment. And to verify this, you will
perform the following:
 Accurately measure ground resistance of a grounded system facility

and or components.
 Calculate ground resistance of a designed or completed ground
system.
Definition:
Ground Resistance: is the measure of resistance between a grounded

system in its entirety or in part, and the soil.
You do this by using the grid electrode at the center of the grounded system
and the earth at a determined distance away from the system. Record all
measurements in ohms (Ω).
Note:
As an inspector, you must make ground resistance measurements during
electrical inspections to verify safe operating limits of grounded systems and
their components. The initial measurements will often be of a complete
system.
Electrode Ground Resistance Components
The resistance of a ground electrode has 3 basic components:
1- The resistance of the ground electrode itself and the connections to

the electrode:
The resistance of the ground electrode and it's connection is generally very
low, ground rods are generally made of highly conductive/ low resistance
material such as copper of copper clad.
2- The contact resistance of the surrounding earth to the electrode:

The contact resistance of the earth to the electrode: The Bureau of
Standards has shown this resistance to be almost negligible providing that
the ground electrode is free from paint, grease etc. and that the ground
electrode is in firm contact with the earth.
3- The resistance of the surrounding body of earth around the ground

electrode:
The ground electrode is surrounded by earth which is made up of concentric
shells all having the same thickness.
Ground Resistance Values
The ohmic values of ground resistance objectives vary from industry to

industry as follows:
 For distribution systems above 600 V, the ground resistance from any
point of grounding connection must not exceed 2 ohms for a direct metallic
path.
 For systems 600 V and below, the NEC, Article 250-84, specifies 25
ohms as the maximum value for an electrode at a consumer's premises
before an additional grounding electrode is required.
 For substation grounding having equipment operating at a nominal
voltage exceeding 1,000 volts, a ground grid or loop must meet the
requirements of IEEE-80. The design must meet the requirements for step,
touch, and transferred potentials.
 Telecommunications industry has often used 5 ohms or less as their
value for grounding and bonding.
The goal in ground resistance values is to achieve the lowest ground

resistance value possible that makes sense economically and physically.
2.2 Soil Resistivity
As an electrical inspector, you should be familiar with soil resistance in order to make
calculations for ground resistance layouts, when needed.
Definition:
Soil resistivity ρ (specific earth resistance): is the resistance, measured

between two opposite faces, of a one-metre cube of earth. The earth
resistivity is expressed in Ωm.
Factors Affecting Soil Resistivity ρ
Soil resistivity depends on:

1. soil composition,
2. moisture,
3. Temperature.
It stands to reason that soil resistivity will vary throughout the year in those
areas where seasonal changes bring about a change in the moisture and
temperature content of the soil. For a grounding system to be effective it
should be designed to withstand the worst possible conditions.
Determination of Soil Resistivity ρ Values
One of the first requirements for a new-grounded installation site or upgrade is to

measure the soil resistance. You measure from the soil itself. No outside influences
from buildings, pipelines, high lines, grids, or other installed (fabricated) grounds
should be near whenever possible.
In spite of the relatively simple definition of ρ given above, the determination of its
value is often a complicated task for two main reasons:
1. The ground does not have a homogenous structure, but is formed of

layers of different materials
2. The resistivity of a given type of ground varies widely (as in below Table)
and is very dependent on moisture content.
The other problem in determining soil resistivity is the moisture content, (see fig.2)
which can change over a wide range, depending on geographical location and weather
conditions, from a low percentage for desert regions up to about 80% for swampy
regions. The earth resistivity depends significantly on this parameter.
Fig (2)
Note:
Where no information is available about the value of ρ it is usually assumed

ρ = 100 Ωm.

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Definition:

Functions of Earthing Systems

A good earthing system is required for:

1. Protection of buildings and installations against lightning

Earting Main Divisions

The earthing is broadly divided as:

 System earthing: Connection between part of plant in an operating

As an electrical inspector, you must verify correct grounding system

1. Visually inspecting conductors and,

The need for Testing Earthing Systems

Measurements of ground resistance or impedance and potential gradients on

 To verify the adequacy of a new ground system

A totally effective Earthing system

A grounding system to be totally effective, must satisfy the following

 Provide low impedance path to ground for personnel and equipment

How Earthing system works

 The grounding system is essential to complete an electrical path to

2.1 Determining Ground Resistance

Importance of Ground Resistance

It is essential that the grounding system be of the proper resistance to

 Accurately measure ground resistance of a grounded system facility

Ground Resistance: is the measure of resistance between a grounded

Electrode Ground Resistance Components

The resistance of a ground electrode has 3 basic components:

1- The resistance of the ground electrode itself and the connections to

2- The contact resistance of the surrounding earth to the electrode:

3- The resistance of the surrounding body of earth around the ground

Ground Resistance Values

The ohmic values of ground resistance objectives vary from industry to

The goal in ground resistance values is to achieve the lowest ground

2.2 Soil Resistivity

Soil resistivity ρ (specific earth resistance): is the resistance, measured

Factors Affecting Soil Resistivity ρ

Soil resistivity depends on:

Determination of Soil Resistivity ρ Values

One of the first requirements for a new-grounded installation site or upgrade is to

1. The ground does not have a homogenous structure, but is formed of

Where no information is available about the value of ρ it is usually assumed

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