Types of Earthing Systems Used in

Electrical Installations
The international standard IEC60364, part 4, and Reference 10 uses a set of diagrams
to explain the five basic methods of earthing and providing the neutral of an electrical
installation where it is required. The five methods are
abbreviated TNC, TNS, TNCS, TT and IT.

The first letter denotes the source of power from a star-connected winding. T denotes
that the star point of the source is solidly connected to earth, which is usually at a
location very near to the winding.
I denote that the star point and the winding are isolated from earth. The star point is
usually connected to an inductive impedance or resistance. Capacitive impedance is
never used.

The second letter denotes the consumer. The consuming equipment needs
to be earthed. There are two basic methods that can be used to earth the body of
electrical equipment. These methods are denoted by the letters T and N. The
letter N is sub-divided into other letters, S and C, thus giving NS and NC and NCS.

T denotes that the consumer is solidly earthed independently of the source earthing
method.

N denotes that a low impedance conductor is taken from the earth connection at the
source and routed directly to the consumer for the specific purpose of earthing the
consuming equipment.

S denotes that the neutral conductor routed from the source is separate from the
protective earthing conductor, which is also routed from the source. This implies that
five conductors need to be routed for a three-phase consumer.

C denotes that the neutral conductor and the protective earthing conductor are one
and the same conductor. This means that four conductors need to be routed for a three-
phase consumer.

The different earthing types are illustrated with the diagrams that now follow:
(a) TNC Earthing System
(b) TNS Earthing System

(c) TNCS Earthing System

(d) TT Earthing System

(e) IT Earthing System