ISSN No:APPLY FOR, V – 1, I – 1, 2014

Journal Club for Electrical Engineering (JCAS)

Manuscript No: JCEE/CAS/2014/8, Received On: 07/09/2014 , Accepted On : 16/09/2014 , Published On: 27/09/2014

REVIEW ARTICLE

A Review on the Basics of Earthing

J. Ganesan1, S. Ganesh Kumar2, J. Ramakrishnan3, D. Edison Selvaraj4, J.Ramathilagam5, R.

Anandharaj6, K. Sathiyamoorthi7, M. Raja8
1,2
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Sree Sowdambika College of Engineering,
Aruppukottai, India
3
Department of Information Technology, Sree Sowdambika College of Engineering, Aruppukottai,
India
4
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Panimalar Engineering College, Chennai,
India
5
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, CCMR Polytechnic College, Kuruvadi,
Thanjavur, India
6,7,8
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Sree Sowdambika College of Engineering,
Aruppukottai, India
ABSTRACT

This paper deals with the basic knowledge for engineers to study about the basic need of earthing,
types and applications of earthing. In addition IE rule, recommended specification and factors
affecting the earth resistivity were mentioned in this paper.
KEYWORDS
Earth wire, earth resistance, copper plate, copper rod

INTRODUCTION supply. If a fault within an electrical device

In electricity supply systems, an earthing
system or grounding system was circuitry
which connects parts of the electric circuit
with the ground, thus defining the electric
potential of the conductors relative to the
Earth's conductive surface. The choice of
earthing system can affect the safety and
electromagnetic compatibility of the power
*Address for Correspondence:
J. Ganesan
Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
Sree Sowdambika College of Engineering,
Aruppukottai, India
E-Mail Id: powergrid4@gmail.com
connects a live supply conductor to an
exposed conductive surface, anyone touching
it while electrically connected to the earth will
complete a circuit back to the earthed supply
conductor and receive an electric shock. In the
event of a fault, currents will flow that should
trip or blow the fuse or circuit breaker
protecting the circuit. Earth connection serves
a purpose other than shock protection, and
may normally carry current. The most
important example of a functional earth is the
neutral in an electrical supply system. It is a
current-carrying conductor connected to earth,

© Copyright Reserved by “Journals Club & Co.” 18

 A Review on the Basics of Earthing
often, but not always, at only one point to
avoid flow of currents through the earth. The
faults in any electrical system are unavoidable.
Every electrical equipment, appliance, system
must be earthed or grounded to obtain a low
resistance path for dissipation of current into
the earth. Earthing plays an important role in
generation, transmission and distribution for
safe and proper operation.
Definition of Earthing and Good Earthing
Earthing
1. Connecting the Neutral point of the supply
system or the non-current carrying parts used
in electrical system to the ground.
2. The electrical appliances or machines
when connected with earth attains zero
potential were said to be earthed.
Purpose of Earthing
1. To save human life and Electrical
Equipments from shock
2. To protect large building from lightning
3. To maintain the line voltage constant
4. To avoid the risk of fire due to leakage
current
Good Earthing
Gives very low resistance to the flow of short
circuit current.
Standards for Earthing
Indian Electricity Rule (IE 1956) for
Earthing
1. This insists on the earthing of a 3Φ four
wire system.
© Copyright Reserved by “Journals Club & Co.”
2. The frames of all generators, motors,
portable equipments, metallic frames,
switches, circuit breakers, etc., should be
connected by two separate and distinct
connections with the earth.
3. All conduit frames and metallic covers
shall be connected by a good mechanical
joint to maintain electrical continuity of
earth.
4. All earthing systems shall be tested before
commencement of supply.
Recommended Specifications as per ISI for
Good Earthing
1. Earthing electrode should be placed at
least 1.5 meters away from the building.
2. Earth wire and earth electrode should be in
same material.
3. Size of earth conductor should not be less
than half of the section of the line
conductor
4. Loop earth wire size should be 14 SWG
copper wire
5. Minimum sectional area of earth load wire
0.02sq. inch and maximum sectional area
of earth load wire were 0.1sq. inch
6. All joints in the earth wire, bolts, and nuts
should be in same material as of earth
wire.
7. Loose earth and coal salt mixture should
be filled around the earth electrode.
Maximum Allowable Earth Resistance
The following table 1 shows the Maximum
Allowable Earth Resistance value.
19
 A Review on the Basics of Earthing

Table 1 Maximum Allowable Earth Resistance  For normal work galvanised iron plates
value were preferred

Maximum  Plate burned at the depth of 8 feet in the

allowable vertical position and GI strip of size 50 mm x
Sr.
Location earth
No. 6 mm bolted with the plate was brought up to
resistance
Value in Ω the grounded level
1. Major Power Station 0.5
2. Major Sub-station 1  These types of earth pit were generally
3. Minor Sub-station 2 filled with alternate layer of charcoal and salt
4. Neutral bushing 2
5. Service connection 4 up to 4 feet from the bottom of the pit
Medium voltage Pipe earthing
6. 2
network
7. LT lightening arrester 4 GI pipe of 38 mm diameter, two metres (seven
8. LT Pole 5 feet) electrode were used
9. HT Pole 10
10. Tower 20-30 The pit area around the GI pipe was filled with salt
and coal mixture to improve the efficiency of the
Factors affecting on Earth Resistivity earth system
1. Soil resistivity Earth resistance Measurement and its
Applications
2. Soil condition Necessity : To ensure the acceptable value of
3. Moisture earth electrode resistance. Normally Megger
4. Dissolved salt or earth resistance tester were used.
Applications of Earth resistance
5. Climate condition
Measurement
6. Physical Composition 1. Used to measure the earthing of
7. Location of earth pit Transmission pole
2. To check proper grounding of Transformer
8. Effect of current magnitude
3. Tomeasure earth resistance of live electrical
installation
Types of Earthing and Application of
Earthing Measurement 4. To measure the earthing of
telecommunication system
Plate Earthing
5. To mesure the earthing at Substation,
 Cast iron plate of size 600 mm x 600 mm Receiving station and secondary of
x12 mm trnsformer
6. Used in HT ans High voltage appliance
 Galvanized iron plate of size 600 mm x 600
Applications of Earthing System
mm x 6 mm Used in Transmission lines
 Copper plate of size 600 mm x 600 mm x Used in Telecommunication
Used in Power house, Substation and
3.15 mm
Transformer
 Generally copper plates were most effective Used in all type of electrical machines
Used in Residential building and Industry.

© Copyright Reserved by “Journals Club & Co.” 20

 A Review on the Basics of Earthing

Fig1 Line diagram of Plate earthing system.

Fig 2 line diagram of Pipe earthing system

© Copyright Reserved by “Journals Club & Co.” 21

 A Review on the Basics of Earthing

CONCLUSIONS
Thus this paper would be helpful for the
engineers to provide the basic ideas and
necessity of earthing. Types of earthing,
recommended specification and applications
were discussed in this paper. Safety point of
view this paper would be useful for the
technicians and engineers.

REFERENCE
1. Basic Electrical Engineering, M. L.
Anwani, Dhanpat Rai & Co.
2. Earthing in electrical network – purpose,
methods and measurement, Electrical
Engineering portal.
3. Basic Electrical and Electronics
Enginnering, J. Gnanavadivel et. al,
Anuradha Publications.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE

Ganesan J., Ganesh Kumar S., Ramakrishnan J., Edison Selvaraj D., Ramathilagam J., Anandharaj
R., Sathiyamoorthi K., Raja M. (2014). A Review on the Basics of Earthing. Journal Club for
Electrical Engineering (JCEE), 1(I), 18-22.

© Copyright Reserved by “Journals Club & Co.” 22