GROUNDING AND

EARTHING TECHNIQUES
INDEX
Introduction
Need of Earthing & Grounding
Types of Earthing
Comparison between Earthing &
Grounding
Types of grounding
Conclusion
Introduction:
• To connect the mettalic parts of an
electric circuit or appliances to the
earth is called as Earthing or
Grounding
• In earthing or Grounding , the parts of
electrical machinery and devices are
connected to the earth plate or
electrode which is burried in the moist
earth through a thick wire for safety
purpose
• Earthing can also be said as the
connection of the neutral point of a
power supply system to the earth so as
to avoid or minimize the danger during
the discharge of electrical energy
Need of Earthing & Grounding:
The primary purpose of earthing is to avoid or minimize the danger
of electroduction ,fire due to earth leakage of current through
undesired path and to ensure that the potential of current carrying
conductor does not rise with respect to the earth than its designed
insulation
• To protect human lives as well as provide safety to electrical
devices from leakage current
• To keep voltage constant in the healthy phase
• To protect Electric system and buildings from lightening
• To serve as return conductor in electric traction system
• To avoid risk of fire in electrical installation systems
Plate Earthing:
• A plate made up of copper or
galvanized iron is buried vertical
in the earth
• The dimensions of plates are:
 For copper: 60 cm * 60 cm *
3.18 mm
 For GI : 60 cm * 60 cm * 6.35
mm
• It is recommended to keep the
earth moist
• A layer of lime & charcoal is put
on the earth plate
• This makes the possible increase
in the size of plate which leads to
better continuity in the earth
Pipe earthing:
• It is most common system of
earthing
• A galvanized steel and a
perforated pipe of approved
length and diameter is placed
vertically in a wet soil
• The size of pipe depends on the
magnitude of current and the type
of soil
• The size of pipe is usually 40 mm
in diameter and 2.75 m in length
for ordinary soil
• The moisture of soil will decide
the length of pipe to be buried but
usually it is 4.75 m
Rod Earthing:
• Pipe are buried in the earth manually or with the help of
pneumatic hammer
• Length of embedded elctrodes in the soil reduces earth
resistance

Earthing through the waterman:

• Waterman pipes are used for earthing purpose
• Use of earth clamps to minimize the resistance for proper
earthing connections

Strip or Wire Earthing:

• Strip electrodes is buried in a horizontal trenches of a minimum
depth of 0.5 m
• Length of the conductor buried in the ground give sufficient
earth resistance
 Comparison between Earthing and Grounding
Basis For Comparison Grounding
Definition The current carrying part is
connected to ground.
Location Between the neutral of the
equipment and ground
Zero Potential Does not have
Protection Protect the power system
equipment.
Types Three (Solid, Resistance and
Reactance grounding)
Application Provide the return path to
the current.
Examples Neutral of generator and
power transformer is
connected to ground.
Earthing
The body of the equipment
is connected to ground.
Between the equipment
body and earth pit which is
placed under the earth
surface.
Have
Protect the human from
electric shock.
Five (Pipe, Plate, Rod
earthing, earthing through
tap and strip earthing)
It discharges the electrical
energy to the earth.
The enclosure of the
transformer, generator,
motor etc. are connected to
the earth.
Types of Grounding:
•Resistance grounding
•Reactance grounding
•Solid grounding

Conclusion:
• Grounding and Earthing system form the first line of
defence in every type of electrical system.
•The system may be generator/transformer/housing
installation /generating station etc.
•So it is strictly advised to know the basic concept of
grounding as far as electrical engineering is concerned