Earthing System, Earthing

Arrangement and Bonding

 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Objective of Earthing

Allows rapid and effective operation of electrical

protective devices, thereby breaking the faulty circuit
and supply to the equipment
Protect against danger to life from electric shock due
to a rise in potential at a dangerous voltage relative to
earth (>50V)
Equalise the potential between conductive parts in an
installation
2
‘Terra’ means earth
 Protective
conductor
impedance

Z S = Z0 + Z4 + R1 + R2 + Z3
 Phase conductor
circuit resistance

Protective
conductor circuit
Transformer resistance
Phase
impedance
conductor
impedance
external to
circuit

Installation earth
Source resistance
earth
resistance Z S = Z0 + Z4 + R1 + R2 + RA + RB
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Earth Fault Current Compared

TT system vs TNS system

For TT system, the earth fault current :

U0
If =
Z 0 + Z 4 + R1 + R2 + RA + RB

For TNS system, the earth fault current :

U0
If =
Z 0 + Z 4 + R1 + R2 + Z 3
8
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Earth Electrodes

The following types of electrodes are recognised:

– Earth rods
– Earth tapes
– Earth plates
– Earth electrodes embedded in foundations (should not
be relied upon as the main earth but only as an
additional earth)
– Public gas or water services should not be used
11
Driving Head

High strength steel driving head

can be used many times over.
Driving head is in contact with
rod. The driving force therefore
being transferred directly to the
rod, allowing power hammers to
be used for deep driving.
Coupling
Long length silicon & aluminium bronze
coupling counter bored to completely
enclose threads, protecting them from
damage and corrosion.
Coupling is high strength and also
corrosion resistant.
Rod to rod contact ensures the driving
force is directly applied and does not pass
through coupling threads, which can
cause them to strip and good electrical and
mechanical contact to be lost.
Rod
Made of pure electrolytic copper,
molecularly bonded to the steel core of
minimum thickness 0.25 mm.
No interface, so no dissimilar metal
reaction is possible. Low carbon steel
core with high tensile strength, making
it highly resistant and hard to bend,
enable power hammers to be used for
deep driving.
Clamps
High copper content alloy
body, phosphor bronze screw.
Strong resistant to corrosion.

Strength of screw enables it

to be fully tightened ensuring
good electrical contact.
 Soil
(preferably not
too coarse)
Resistivity of soil (ohms per cm2) 300,000
Variation of soil resistivity
with moisture content (red
clay soil)

200,000

100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000

0 10 20 30 40 50

Effects of salt content on soil resistivity

Inspection chamber
(150 mm x 150mm)

Connection of Earthing Conductor to Earth Electrode

 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Classifications of Protective
Conductors
Circuit protective conductor
Main equipotential bonding conductor
Earthing conductor
Supplementary equipotential bonding conductor

26
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Purpose of Protective Conductor

Protective Conductor is the conductor used to

connect together the following parts:
– Exposed conductive parts
– Extraneous conductive parts
– Main earthing terminal
– Earth electrode
– Earthed point of the source
– neutral

27
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Types of Protective Conductor

PCV insulated single core cable with
greeen/yellow colour
PVC insulated and sheathed cabel with an
integral protective conductor (BS6004)
Copper strip
MICC – cable sheath
Lead covered cable sheath
SWA cable armourings
30
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Types of Protective Conductor (cont)

Note : i) when using armouring/sheath as the protective
conductor, care shall taken to ensure electrical
continuity
ii) Conduit, trunking, ducting and exposed conductive
parts cannot used used as protective conductor
iii) protective conductor not forming part of a cable of
6mm2 or less must be protected by an insulation
according to that specified for single core non-
sheathed cable. Copper strip or integral protective
conductor in the twin or multi-core is exempted from
this clause (543-03-02) 31
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Constraints on mechanical protection

and corrosion
If the protective conductor is separate (not
enclosed in the same conduit or trunking) and
does not form part of a cable, the cross-sectional
area should not be less than:
– 2.5 mm2 if sheathed or provided with mechanical
protection
– 4.0 mm2 if mechanical protection is not provided

32
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Sizing of protective conductor

By Table

33
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Sizing of protective conductor

By Calculation
Using the formula below to determine the minimum
cross - sectional area of protective conductors :
I 2t
S=
k
where S = cross - sectional area in mm 2
I = value of maximum fault current in Amp
t = operating time of the protective device in sec
k = factor for specific protective conductor (Table 43A)
34
 R1

ZE R2

Zs = ZE + (R1 + R2)
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Automatic disconnection of supply

afforded by overcurrent device
For final circuits supplying socket outlets, the earth
fault loop impedance (Zs) at every socket outlet is such
that disconnection occurs within 0.4 sec
For final circuits supplying fixed equipment, the earth
fault loop impedance (Zs) at every point of utilization is
such that disconnection occurs within 5.0 sec
Using the alternative method, final circuit supplying
socket outlets, disconnection time in the event of fault be
extended from 0.4 sec to 5 sec
39
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Type Ratings of MCBs

45
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Earth Fault Loop Impedance, Zs(max)

(General formula)
230V
For Type 1, Zs (max) = = 57.5/I n
4. I n

230V
For Type 2, Zs (max) = = 32.85/I n
7. I n
230V
For Type 3, Zs (max) = = 23/I n
10. I n
230V
For Type B, Zs (max) = = 46/I n
5. I n
230V
For Type C, Zs (max) = = 23/I n
10. I n
230V
For Type D, Zs (max) = = 11.5/I n 46
20. I n
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Earth Fault Current

In the event of an earth fault,

the current is given by :
Vp
If =
Zs
where Vp − nominal voltage (230V)
Z s - earth fault loop impedance
47
R2 => Z2
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Alternative Method of sizing

protective conductor
Live

Transformer
Neutral

Metallic return Main Earthing

path (TN-S) terminal

Earthing conductor

Earth return path (TT) Circuit Protective

Conductor
49
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

General formula for Z2

50
Z2 ≤ Ω for fuses other than fuse (BS3036)
current for 5 sec disconnection
230
Z2 ≤ Ω for fuse (BS3036)
current for 0.04 sec disconnection
50 12.5
Z2 ≤ = Ω for MCB Type 1
4. I n In
50 7.1
Z2 ≤ = Ω for MCB Type 2
7. I n I n
50 5
Z2 ≤ = Ω for MCB Type 3
10 I n I n
50 10
Z2 ≤ = Ω for MCB Type B
5 In In
50 5
Z2 ≤ = Ω for MCB Type C
10 I n I n
50 2.5 50
Z2 ≤ = Ω for MCB Type D
20 I n I n
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Automatic Disconnection of supply

afforded by RCD
Ensures that the presence of leakage currents from
equipment will not cause excessive voltages to occur on
exposed conductive parts, and between these parts and
extraneous conductive parts

Z s × I ∆n ≤ 50V

where Zs = earth fault loop impedance

I ∆n = RCD rated tripping current
50V = touch voltage 53
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Earthing Conductors
The minimum cross-sectional areas of buried earthing
conductors (Table 54A):
Protected against Not protected
mechanical against
damage mechanical
damage
Protected against
corrosion by a Cl 543-01 16 mm2
sheath

Not Protected
against corrosion 25 mm2 25 mm2
54
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Objective of Bonding

Create a zone where the magnitude of fault

voltages appearing between exposed and
extraneous conductive parts are kept to a
minimum
Not practical to calculate the earth fault current
flowing in protective bonding conductors
Minimum size of bonding conductors are based
on assessment of probabilities and experience

55
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Main Bonding Conductor

No aluminium or copperclad aluminium

conductors can be used
Not less than ½ the cross sectional area of
earthing conductor, subject to a minimum of 6
mm2

58
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Supplementary Bonding Conductor

Not less than ½ the circuit protective conductor

(CPC), subject to a minimum of :
– 2.5 mm2, if mechanical protection is provided or
– 4.0 mm2 if mechanical protection is NOT provided

62
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Bonding of extraneous part – metal

window, etc?
According to IEC 479-1, 0.5mA is assumed to be the
human’s threshold of perception and sensing of ac current
passing through the body
This gives an insulation of 230V/0.5mA or 460,000 ohms
Recommendation for bonding:
– If the insulation resistance is less than 0.5 Mohms,
– If potential rise of above 50V between simultaneous accessible
parts is present

63
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Design Question 1
A 400/230 V 3-phase circuit is run in single-core
non-armoured copper conductor cable with PVC
insulation, the cross-sectional area of the live
conductors being 16 mm2. The cable is installed
in conduit with cables of other circuits and is
protected against overload and short circuit by a
32 A Type B MCB.

If ambient temperature is 300 C and the circuit

route length is 48 m, determine the minimum
cross-sectional area for the circuit protective
conductor, given that ZE = 0.6 ohm. 65
Solution to Design Question 1
Solution to Design Question 2
(i) Using the Table 54G Method
Since the phase conductor is 16 mm 2 , the cpc size = 16 mm 2

(ii) Using the Calculation Method

Step 1: Check for shock protection
Given that Z E = 0.6 Ω, Zs (max) = 1.43 Ω (from Table 41B2)
  R 1 +R 2     R 1 +R 2  
 × m×l    × m×l 
since Zs = Z E + (R 1 +R 2 ) or Zs = Z E +  
l   or Z = Z +  l  max 
 1000  s (max) E  1000 
   
   
 R +R2  ( 1.43 - 0.6 ) ×1000
the maximum tolerable value of (R 1 +R 2 ) or  1  = = 12.53 Ω / m
 l  max 1 . 38 × 48
from Table 17A/B, and given that live conductor = 16 mm 2 ,
R1 R2
= 1.15 Ω / m, ≤ 12.53 − 1.15 ≤ 11.38. Hence a cpc size of 2.5 mm 2 can be chosen.
l l
Step 2 : Check for thermal constraint (adiabatic equation)
k = 115, S = 2.5mm 2
 8.56 × 1.38 × 48 
Z s = Z E + ( R1 + R2 ) = 0.6 +   = 1.167Ω
 1000 
U0 230
If = = = 197 A
Z s 1.167
t = 0.02 sec from the time - current characteristic curve
Hence, k 2 S 2 = ( 115 )2 (2.5) 2 = 82656 J
I 2f t = (197) 2 (0.02) = 776 J
Since k 2 S 2 > I 2f t , 2.5 mm 2 cpc is acceptable.
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Design Question 2

A 230 V single phase circuit is run in single core

copper cable with PVC insulation, the
cross-sectional area of the live conductors being
2.5 mm2. It is intended to protect the circuit
against indirect contact by a 500 mA ELCB. The
cable is not grouped with cables of other circuits
and ambient temperature is 300 C.

If the cable route length is 40 m, ZE is 0.4 ohm,

what is the minimum cross-sectional area that
can be used for the cpc? 68
Solution to Design Question 2
The requirement Z s I n < 50V is easily met in practice as the limiting
consideration to residual current specified ensures that the RCCB
operates within 0.4 sec at a residual current of 5I n Amperes.
I 2f t
S= , t = 0.04 sec
k
kS kS U 0 0.2U 0
If = = , Zs > >
t 0.2 If kS
From Table 54B, k = 115, U 0 = 230V
0.2 × 230 0.32
Hence Z s > > −condition required to meet thermal constraint
143S S
If S = 1.0 mm 2 , Zs > 0.32. Since Z E = 0.4 Ω, and Zs = Z E + (R 1 + R 2 )
it is obvious that cpc of 1.0 mm 2 is not acceptable.
Since the protective conductor is not contained in the same enclosure,
the minimum cross sectional area of cpc shall be 2.5mm 2 pvc/pvc insulated cable
or pvc cable installed in conduit.
 LeeCW
Earthing / Lee CW

Design Question 3

A 230V, 15kW domestic electric cooker installed in

a house is to be supplied by a 15m run of PVC
enclosed in conduit on a wall. The cooker control
unit incorporates a 13 A socket outlet. The circuit
is to be protected by an MCB and the value of
external impedance is 0.6 Ω. Determine the
minimum size of phase and circuit protective
conductors which may be used. Given ZE = 0.6Ω.
71
Solution to Design Question 3
Step 1 : Determine the full load current.
W 12,000
I= = = 52.2 A
V 230
Step 2 : Determine design current, I b
Apply allowance for diversity from Table.
Diversity for cooker = 10A + 30% of excess current + 5A for S/S/O
= 10 + 0.3 (52.2 - 10) + 5
= 27.66A
Step 3 : Choose protective device
I n = 30A MCB Type C
Step 4 : Select cable size
From Table 4D1A, Reference Method 3 (column 4)
choose cable size = 4 mm 2 (which has a ccc of 32A) for phase conductor
choose cable size = 2.5 mm 2 for CPC (assumed)
Solution to Design Question 3 (cont)
Step 5 : Calculate voltage drop (check Vd from Table 4D1B)
Maximum voltage drop = 2.5 % of 230 V (assuming 1.5 % from main incoming to DB)
2 .5 V × I × l 11× 27.66 × 15
Vd (max) = × 230 = 5.76V . Actual Vd = 0 b = = 4.56V
100 1000 1000
Step 6 : Check for shock protection
A criteria of 0.4 sec disconnection time is used since s/o is incorporated
From Table 41B2, Zs(max) = 23/30 = 0.77Ω for 30A Type C MCB
R0 × m × l 12.02 ×1.38 ×15
From Table 17A/B, ( R1 + R2 ) = = = 0.25Ω
1000 1000
∴ Z S = Z E + ( R1 + R2 ) = 0.6 + 0.25 = 0.85Ω.
∵ Z S > Z S (max) , hence 2.5 mm 2 is not acceptable.
∴ choose 4.0 mm 2 cpc . This will normally satisfy thermal constraint.
Alternatively, choose 30A Type 2 MCB. From Table 41B2, Zs(max) = 46/I n = 46 / 30 = 1.53Ω
∵ Z S < Z S (max) , 2.5 mm 2 cpc is acceptable.
Step 7 : Check for thermal constraints
U 0 230
If = = = 270.6 A
Z S 0.85
From the time - current characteristics for 30A Type B MCB, tripping time = 0.015sec
∴ k 2 S 2 = 1152 (2.5) 2 = 82656 J ; I 2f t = (270.6) 2 (0.015) = 1098 J
∵ k 2 S 2 > I 2f t , 2.5 mm 2 cpc is acceptable.