Earthing : Myths & Facts

By
Pramode Mishra
Consultant ( Electrical Works) IGIMS
Rules & Regulations
IE RULES: 32, 33, 51, 61, 62, 67, 69, 88(2), 90, 92, 115, &
116
IS 3043 - 1987; IS 2309 – 1989 (IEC 62305 - Part1 to 4); IS
7689 – 1989
NEC 2011 (SP 30)
IEC 60364-5-54; IEC 60364-5-548; IEC 60364-7-707; IEC
62305-3; IEC 60364-4-41; IEC 62305 (Part1 to 4); IEC TR
61000-5-2
IEEE GUIDELINES & Standards: Green Book; Emerald Book;
Red Book; IEEE Std 80; IEEE Std 81; IEEE Std 142
Myth 1…

Earthing’ and ‘Bonding’ means the same

Equipotential Bonding

Electrical connection putting various exposed

conductive parts and extraneous conductive
parts at a substantially equal potential
Equipotential Bonding
No Equipotential Bonding
Equipotential Bonding
Fact 1:

They are related, but not the same.

Simply speaking, earthing is about
connecting parts
to the conductive mass of earth, while
bonding is
about connecting parts to each other. Think
'zero potential” versus 'equi-potential.'
(Ref: IS 3043, Cl. 0.4 & 2.15)
 Myth 2…

By connecting equipment body properly to

earth,
human safety is ensured!
(This misconception is often due to wrong belief
that the entire current
only flows through least resistance path !!).
 Basics Of Electricity

The current will flow through all

available
conductive paths – more through
lower resistance & lesser through
higher resistance path.
Human Safety in TT System
Human Safety in TN-S System
Fact 2:

Connecting equipment body properly to earth

(Equipment Earthing), human safety is enhanced
but still not fully ensured
Further safety measures are essential:
Automatic disconnection of the supply (in a way
that the touch voltage w.r.t. time safety
requirements are respected for any level of Uc)
Equi potential bonding
(Ref: IS 3043, Cl.18.2.2)
 Myth 3…

Electrical current wants to go to the

ground or earth.
Ungrounded System
Ungrounded System
Grounded System
Grounded System
Grounded System

Electrical current wants to return to the transformer

that created it, & the conductors that were designed
to carry it safely are the preferred route it takes.
Whenever current goes to ground or any other
ground loop, it is the result of a fault.
Current will also take all available paths to return
to the transformer (that created it) – more through
lesser resistive & less through more resistive paths.
Fact 3:

The current flows to earth only when there is

a closed circuit or loop formed accidentally or
intentionally); & in doing so, it always returns
to the source that was feeding it.
Myth 4…

Copper earth electrodes are better

than GI or steel earth electrodes.
To obtain a low overall resistance the current density should be lowest
possible in the medium adjacent to the electrode. This requirement is
met by making the dimensions in one direction large compared to other
two ., thus a pipe or rod / strip has much lower resistance than a plate of
equal surface area
 Earth Resistance

For plate electrode, the resistance to earth is:

where,
ρ = Resistivity of the soil in ohm-m
A = Area of both sides of the plate in m2
(Ref: IEEE Std 80, Cl.14.2, Eq. 50)
Earth Resistance

For Rod or Pipe Electrodes:

where,

ρ = Resistivity of the soil in ohm-m

Lr = Length of the Rod or Pipe in m
d = Diameter of the Rod or Pipe in m
(Ref: IEEE Std 80, Cl.14.6, Eq. 59)
 Fact 4:
Only the resistivity of the soil & the physical dimensions
of the electrode play a major role in determining the
electrode resistance to earth.
Hence, irrespective of the material of construction of the
earth electrode, any material of given dimensions would
offer the same resistance to earth.
The material of construction does matter, while sizing the
earthing conductor or the protective conductor. Because,
the short time withstand current ratings do vary according
to the material of construction of the conductor.
(Ref: IS 3043, Cl. 9.3 & 12.2.2.3)
 Myth 5…

Plate earthing is better than pipe earthing.

(It is not uncommon to find that Copper plate
earthing is preferred or rather insisted upon, at
least for system earthing, over pipe or rod
earthing).
Earth Resistance Of Plate Electrode

Let us consider a Copper plate electrode of size 1.2 m x 1.2

m and thickness 3.15 mm. Assuming a soil resistivity of 100
Ohm-m, the resistance of this electrode to earth will be:

Ro is resistivity of soil in ohm .m , A is area

of both sides of plate in meter square

= 26.1 Ohm

Generally two or more plates in parallel with 2 meter separation 60x60

cm 12 mm cast iron , 63mm GI , 3.15 thick in cu
 Earth Resistance Of Rod Electrode

Now, consider a GI Pipe electrode of 5 cm

diameter and 3.5m long. Assuming a soil
resistivity of 100 Ohm-m, the resistance of this
electrode to earth will be

= 100 ρ/2Π l log ( 4l/d) where l is length

in cm of the rod
D is dia, in cm
ρ is resistivity in Ω .m
= 24 Ohm
Fact 5:

The copper plate electrode do not offer

much lesser resistance to earth than
the GI pipe electrode.
Hence material does not affect earth initial earth resistance, chosen
material should be resistant to corrosion, tests have shown whether tinned
or not is satisfactory,
Copper plate (150x25x3mm) – 12 years- 0.2% / year
GI plate (150x25x3 mm) -12 years- 0.5% /year
Cast iron (150x 25x3 mm) -12 years- 2.25 /year
 Myth 6…

Equipment body earthing earth electrodes should not

be connected to system earthing earth electrodes
Earthing Network Types

T N -S TN-C

TN-C-S
 TT IT

Fact 6:
Fact 6:

The system neutral & equipment body

earthing can be interconnected to the same
earth electrode system if it is a TN system
Myth 7…

The neutral points of two electrically separate

electricity systems cannot be connected to a
common earth electrode system at site
 Common Earthing

There is a coupling of the systems in the event of an earth

fault occurring on either system by virtue of the rise of
earth potential due to the passage of the fault current
through the earth electrode system.
Similarly, if non-current carrying metalwork is bonded to
the same earth electrode as the neutral point of the
supply the metalwork will experience the same rise of
earth potential.
Separate Earthing

If complete separation of electrical systems were required,

it would be essential that the neutral points of each system
and its associated metalwork be separately earthed.
If such a method were adopted, each earthing system would
require insulation from other earthing systems to withstand
the maximum rise of earth potential occurring in any
system by virtue of lightning currents or power system fault
currents.
Insulation to this level is rarely practicable.
Common vs Separate

The choice of using a common earth or separate earths for the system
of different voltages at a transforming point affect:
a) the probability of breakdown occurring in a transformer between
the higher and lower voltage sides due to lighting or other surges; &
b) the safety of consumers or their property supplied by any low
voltage system distributed from the station against a rise of potential
of the earthed neutral by a high voltage system earth fault at the
station.
The former risk is reduced by use of a common earth system, & the
latter danger only arises if the resistance of the earth electrode
system is not sufficiently low to limit the rise of earth potential to a
safe value.
Common vs Separate

As per IS 3043 Vide Cl. 20.1:

“There is advantage in using a common earth
where the earth electrode resistance, including
the parallel resistance of any bonded metalwork,
etc, to earth is 1 ohm, or less, as is usual at power
stations, large outdoor substations or substations.”
Fact 7:

There is advantage & hence generally desirable that neutral

points of two electrically separate electricity systems
should be connected to a common earth electrode system
at site.
Myth 8…

To earth ‘Sensitive Electronic Equipment’ to

isolated earthing electrodes separate from the
power system earthing electrode system
Isolated Earthing
Isolated Earthing
Isolated or Separated Earthing

Large voltages impressed on computer

components under thunderstorm conditions
(direct strike or charge induced because of clouds
overhead).
With isolated earthing, a fault in a computer
requires fault current to pass thru the resistance
of both the isolated & power system ground in
series. In this case the current would be
insufficient to operate the protective device.
IS 3043

Vide Cl. 39.4.1 :

“Whatever measures are taken to provide a lownoise
earthing connection, it is required that
exposed conductive parts of data processing shall
be connected to the main earthing terminal.
NOTE — The use of separate earth electrodes for
simultaneously accessible exposed conductive
parts is not permitted.”
IEC 60364-5-548

Vide Cl. 548.7.5.1 :

(On use of local earth electrodes for functional earthing)
“The earth electrode for functional earthing shall
be connected to the main earthing terminal of the
installation”
 Fact 8:

While continuous low-level noise are eliminated,

other catastrophic incidents are encountered.
Since unsafe, therefore ‘Isolated Earthing’ for
‘Sensitive Electronic Equipment’ is not
recommended or permitted.
Myth 9…

The Lightning Protection Earthing should be separate

from System & Equipment Earthing of the installation.
IS 2309

“The drawback of isolation lies in obtaining and

maintaining the necessary safe clearance and in
ensuring that isolated metal has no connection via
the water pipes or other services with the earth.
In general, isolation can be practised only in small
buildings.”
IS 2309

Vide Cl. 12.3.3 :

“A common earth termination network is
recommended for the lightning protective system
and all other services.”
“The resistance to earth should, in this case, be the
lowest value required for any of the individual
services (see IS 3043).”
IEC 62305-3

Vide Cl. 5.4.1 :

“From the viewpoint of lightning protection, a single
integrated structure earth-termination system is
preferable and is suitable for all purposes (i.e.
lightning protection, power systems and
telecommunication systems).”
IEC TR 61000-5-2
IEC TR 61000-5-2

This approach has been found satisfactory & is suitable for safety (at
power
frequencies); it is generally not suitable for high-frequency EMC
concerns.
IEC: 60364-5-548
Single Point Earthing
Single Point Earthing Connection

SRG Resonance Reduction

Single Point Earthing Connection

Grid network in raised floor structure

IEC: 60364-5-548
IEC: 60364-5-548
IEC TR 61000-5-2
Earthing In Industrial Installation
Power Supply to electronic loads
Fact 9

It is recommended that the lightening

protection earthing should be connected
to the same earth electrode system to
which system and equipment earthing of
that installation is connected.