EARTHING SYSTEM

Chapter 3
 DEFINITION

• Grounding is implement to ensure rapid clearing of faults and to prevent

hazardous voltage, which is turn reduce the risk of fires and personal
injuries.
• Grounding serve the primary function of referencing the AC system which
providing a path for a faults current flow to the earth.
 OBJECTIVE OF EARTHING SYSTEM

1. To provide safety to personnel during normal and faults condition by

limiting step and touch potential
2. To provide means to carry electrical current into the earth under normal
and fault condition without exceeding any operating and equipment limit
or adversely affecting continuity of service.
3. To prevent damage to electrical/electronic apparatus
4. To stabilize voltages during transient conditions and to minimize the
probability of flashover during transient
5. To assure that a person in vicinity of grounded facilities is not exposed to
the danger of critical electrical shock
 FUNCTION OF EARTHING

1. Equipment Earth : path for fault current, lower touch voltage, protection
againts electric shock
2. Lighting Earth : low resistance path to diverse the current under lightning
attack
3. Telecom Earth : signal earth, reduce noise and interference, stabilize DC
voltage and prevent electrical shock
4. Computer Earth : reduce interference, maintain supply voltages.
PURPOSE
-Tosave human life from danger of electrical shock or death by blowing a fuse i.e.
To provide an alternative path for the fault current to flow so that it will not
endanger the user .

-To protect buildings, machinery & appliances under fault conditions ie. To ensure
that all exposed conductive parts do not reach a dangerous potential.

-To provide safe path to dissipate lightning and short circuit currents.

-To provide stable platform for operation of sensitive electronic equipments i.e.
To maintain the voltage at any part of an electrical system at a known value so as
to prevent over current or excessive voltage on the appliances or equipment .

-To provide protection against static electricity from friction

 ADVANTAGES

• IMPROVE ENERGY AVAILABILITY

• PREVENT FIRE OR EXPLOSIVE
• INCREASE LIFE TIME ANY DEVICES
 DISADVANTAGES

• Prevent from accidental transfer of electrostatic charge.

• User are exposes possibility to electric shock
• Equipment damage
• Dangerous from potential difference happened in system
• System insulation became overstressed; voltage appears across line to earth
capacitance.
EARTHING TESTING EQUIPMENT

EARTH TESTER
METHODS OF PROVIDING GOOD EARTHING

• Deep driven earth rods

• Parallel driven earth rods.
• Buried conductor
• Buried earth plate of mats
• Underground metal pipe’s system
• Steel reinforcing rods and wire for concrete.
 TYPES OF EARTHING
• Supply system-neutral earth
• System earth
• Electrical safety earth
• Lightning earth
• Generator earth
• Protection earth
• Telecom/computer earth
• Shielding earth
• Integrated earthling system
• Electrostatic earth
 CONCLUSION

• Grounding and Earthing systems form the first

line of defense in every type of electrical
systems.
• So it is strictly advised to know the basic
concepts of grounding as far as electrical
engineering is concerned.