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The value of resistance which must be met by a service earthing will depend on the
purpose for which the earth likely to be carried by the earthing system, and the tolerable
voltage drop across the earth connection. The value chosen by most administrations is usually
not more than ten ohms, although in some isolated cases higher values are acceptable.
(a) carry the anticipated value of over-current without overheating and “burning
out”.
(b) Enable sufficient current to flow to ground to ensure that any over current
protective devices (e.g. fuses, circuit breakers, etc.) will operate to disconnect
the current after a very short time.
(c) prevent hazardous potential difference to develop across the earth connection
(excessive potential differences can cause breakdown of insulation, and danger
to life and limb).
The foregoing requirements can be satisfied by heavy gauge conductors of
very low resistance connected to earthing systems of very low resistance
(typically less than one ohm).
Earths which protect against excessive voltage (e.g. earths connected to lightning
protection systems) must possess a low surge impedance in order to enable the lightning
surge currents to be easily conveyed to the earth and thus diverted away from the equipment
which is to be protected from the lightning.
It now considered that it is better to install a common earth than go for different
earthing systems for different purposes as this may cause currents to flow through them
because of potential differences between them. The common earth must be designed and
installed to suit the requirement of various earthing systems which are required at the site.
The main advantage of a common earthing system are :
(a) By carefully bonding the various earthing systems together, the potential
difference between one earth connection and another is negligible. Thus, no
excessive currents or voltages will be developed within the earthing system.
(b) If, due to excessive voltage or current, the potential of the protective earth
rises, then so will all other earths rise in potential, thus once again preventing
the development of potential differences within the earthed environment of the
installation (This is the so-called “Faraday Cage” effect).
(a) connected to that plant via lightning protectors of adequate current carrying
capacity and an appropriate value of breakdown voltage;
(b) connected to the protectors via conductors having minimum surge impedance
(i.e., no sharp bends or coils in the conductor);
Service Earths
Service earths which carry current (e.g. teleprinter earths which may carry 20-25 mA)
must be capable of surviving the discharge of such current to ground for their designed
working life. It is of interest to note that a direct current of 1 ampere flowing through a steel
earth electrode will consume approximately 10 kg of steel per annum. Thus, if an earth
electrode is to carry 25mA for 20 years it must contain in excess of 5 kg of steel. In order to
ensure that the electrode is still in working order after this period, a factor of safety of two
would mean that the earth electrode must contain at least 10 kg of steel.
The actual layout depends on the space available for driving the electrodes and may
be modified to suit. The spacing, of not less than 375 cms between any two electrodes is
important and must always be kept up as for as possible.
The resistance of a single spike buried to its full length into the ground is given by the
formula.
a)R = (ρ/2L).log e (4L/a) -1. Where
b)ρ = soil resistively in ohms/cm2
All exposed surface of the tinned copper wire and the adjacent lead surface should be
liberally coated with black paint suitable for iron work.
Earth plate electrode system;
This consists of four galvanized iron plates of 145 SWG 76 cms square arranged as
shown in the diagram below.
RTTC NAGPUR Page 82 of 84
76 cm.
185 cm
These four plates are placed vertically and at diagonally opposite in an excavation
185 cm square and of a depth sufficient to reach damp soil. The depth should never be less
that about 250 cms and need not be greater than 500 cms. The lead pipe carrying the main
earth lead should be as close to the tails of the plates as possible.