Introduction to

Earthing of Sensitive
Electronic Equipment
(Computers/IT Loads/PLCs/Other
Similar Sensitive Electronic Equipments)

Electrical Standard Products/VR

Sensitive Electronic Equipment
Systems to be Earthed...
1) Equipment earthing - metallic enclosures, or
frame of electronic equipment.
2) Signal Common Earthing - the zero reference
system for data lines & the signal portion in
general.
3) DC Power Supply Reference Earthing - the
electronic equipment may have different DC
voltage systems 12V/24V.
Sensitive Electronic Equipment
Basic Issues
1 Susceptible to random voltages far
below the levels that are perceptible to
humans & that have no effect on
electrical power equipment (even the
static voltage charges generated by
lightning strokes within several
thousand feet can cause damage).
Sensitive Electronic Equipment
Basic Issues
2 Problem of noise coupling (capacitive
& inductive) between signal circuits &
power circuits.
Sensitive Electronic Equipment
Basic Issues
3 Impedance considerations related to
the power frequency safety aspects of
a earthing system may not necessarily
provide the desirable low impedance
at the high frequency signals.
Sensitive Electronic Equipment
Basic Issues
4 Several elements at different locations,
but linked by a data cable that carries it
own zero reference - a conductor linking
the earthing connections at different
locations. Under certain conditions
substantial differences can exist
between distant elements of the system
- leading to component failures.
Earthing Methods
1) Multiple Earthing Connections
# In a commercial/non-industrial building it is not
unusual to find neutral connected to earth/panel
enclosures at more than one location.
# Results in noise causing errors or worse.
# Whether accidental or intentional, this practice
is not recommended.
Multiple Earthing
The N current gets
divided & a part of it
will be flowing thru
ground/ground wire,
Ground Loops even w/o earth fault

Signal & Ground Wire 5V Pick-Up if (say)

0.1 Ohm Z 50A stray current
flow

Building Steel (Earthed)

Earthing Methods
2) Separate/Isolated Earthing Connection
# To earth computers to isolated earthing
electrodes separate from the power system
earthing electrode system.
# While continuous low-level noise are eliminated,
other catastrophic incidents are encountered.
# Since unsafe, therefore not recommended.
Isolated Earthing

Building Steel/Power
System Earthing
Signal & Ground Wire
(Insulated)

Isolated Computer Earthing

10 KA Stroke to
Building
Building to Computer
Capacitance

1 Ohm

10 KV
Isolated Earthing
Why Unsafe?
• 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.
 Isolated Earthing

20A CB Computer Modules

Earth Fault
415V/240V

5 Ohm 5 Ohm Isolated Earthing

IF

IF = 240/10 = 24A
Earthing Methods
3) Single Point Earthing Connection
# To prevent stray/circulating currents from
affecting the computer signals & operations, it is
necessary to keep the computer ground system
separate from the equipment ground components
& connect together at only one point.
# Recommended method, as it eliminates
problems of earlier two methods.
 Single Point Earthing
R Computer
Modules
Y

N
G

Isolation
Transformer

Equipment
Earthing Conductor
RECOMMENDED POWER DISTRIBUTION – COMPUTER SYSTEM
FROM MAIN
415V SOURCE

240V COMPUTER SYSTEM

POWER PANEL
Computer Isolation Transformer
Single Point Earthing
Only Limitation...
Due to length of the grounding conductor
from the computer units to the grounding
point, there is possibility of computer
conductors being subjected to high-frequency
resonance with RF signals.
Single Point Earthing
In addition requires...
• Since equipment earthing employing long
earthing conductors exhibit higher
impedances at higher frequencies
• Therefore, requirement of equipotential
earth plane to ensure minimal voltage
variances exist among the connected
signal circuit & interconnected equipment
Equipotential Plane
Includes:

• Conductive grid embedded in or attached

to a concrete floor
• Metallic screen or sheet metal under floor
tile
• Ceiling grid above sensitive equipment
Earthing Methods
4) Single Point Earthing Connection plus
Connection with Grid in the Floor
# For each group of computer equipment, provide
a grid network in the raised floor, with tie wires
from each computer unit to the grid & one from
the grid to the room grounding point.
# Recommended method, as it also eliminates
problems of interference from radio frequencies.
Single Point Earthing
R Computer
Y Modules

N
G

Grid Network in Raised Floor Structure

SRG - Resonance reduction
 Distributed Processing System
Power Wiring & Data Cable Wiring
Use of Isolation Transformers
Need...
• For establishing the power ground
reference close to the point of use. This
greatly reduces common mode noise thru
ground loops etc.
• Ability to transform or change the input to
output voltage level &/or to compensate
for high or low site voltage.
CASE HISTORIES
1)PC experiencing frequent lock ups &
unexplained failures
2)Erratic computer operation within a large office
building experiencing several lightning storms
3)Intermittent data memory errors & data
transmission errors between remote terminals
& a central computer system.
Problem 1
• No problem was found in the utility supply;
earthing was also found to be okay.
• The power outlet serving the computer was
examined for polarity, revealing the phase & the
neutral conductors were reversed at the
receptacle.
• Once the conductors were correctly connected,
the PC ran w/o problems.
Problem 2
• The earthing conductors of all the computers in the
building were connected to isolated earthing electrode
system (consisted of 6 rods driven into the earth away
from building).
• The computer manufacturer was persuaded to permit
earthing of the computer system to the building
earthing system, which had concrete encased earthing
electrodes. Immediately the erratic operations ceased.
Problem 3
• In the installation of a multistory office building, several
floors of modular workstations were powered from a
common, 3 phase step down transformer with a
shared neutral. Mainframe terminals in these
workstations experienced intermittent data memory
errors & data transmission errors, & occasionally
hardware failures.
• It was found that considerable (& variable) neutral
current existed. RMS values of N to earth didn’t
exceed 3.7V, but the peak voltage ranged up to 10V.
Problem 3
• Each floor of the building was isolated into 2 sections
via shielded isolation transformers. Individual N
conductors were installed for all workstation branch
circuits.
• Re-establishment of the N-E bond at the new
isolation transformers, combined with the reduced
neutral current in the dedicated neutrals, reduced N-
E voltage to less than 2V. The problem was solved.