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TT Earthing System Overview

The TT earthing system uses independently installed local earth electrodes at the generator and consumer locations, without an earth wire connecting them. This results in a higher fault loop impedance requiring the use of residual current devices (RCDs) for protection. The key advantages of TT earthing are reduced electromagnetic interference and no safety risks from a broken neutral. It has become more widely used with the introduction of RCDs to provide automatic disconnection in the event of a fault.

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95 views1 page

TT Earthing System Overview

The TT earthing system uses independently installed local earth electrodes at the generator and consumer locations, without an earth wire connecting them. This results in a higher fault loop impedance requiring the use of residual current devices (RCDs) for protection. The key advantages of TT earthing are reduced electromagnetic interference and no safety risks from a broken neutral. It has become more widely used with the introduction of RCDs to provide automatic disconnection in the event of a fault.

Uploaded by

lcsyen
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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TT network[edit]

In a TT (Terra-Terra) earthing system, the protective earth connection for the consumer is provided by
a local earth electrode, (sometimes referred to as the Terra-Firma connection) and there is another
independently installed at the generator. There is no 'earth wire' between the two. The fault loop
impedance is higher, and unless the electrode impedance is very low indeed, a TT installation should
always have an RCD (GFCI) as its first isolator.
The big advantage of the TT earthing system is the reduced conducted interference from other users'
connected equipment. TT has always been preferable for special applications like telecommunication
sites that benefit from the interference-free earthing. Also, TT networks do not pose any serious risks in
the case of a broken neutral. In addition, in locations where power is distributed overhead, earth
conductors are not at risk of becoming live should any overhead distribution conductor be fractured by,
say, a fallen tree or branch.
In pre-RCD era, the TT earthing system was unattractive for general use because of the difficulty of
arranging reliable automatic disconnection (ADS) in the case of a live-to-PE short circuit (in
comparison with TN systems, where the same breaker or fuse will operate for either L-N or L-PE
faults). But as residual current devices mitigate this disadvantage, the TT earthing system has become
much more attractive providing that all AC power circuits are RCD-protected. In some countries (such
as the UK) is recommended for situations where an low impedance equipotential zone is impractical to
maintain by bonding, where there is significant outdoor wiring, such as supplies to mobile homes and
some agricultural settings, or where a high fault currents could pose other dangers, such as at fuel
depots or marinas.
The TT earthing system is used throughout Japan, with RCD units in most industrial settings. This can
impose added requirements on variable frequency drives and switched-mode power supplies which
often have substantial filters passing high frequency noise to the ground conductor.

Comparison[edit]
TT

IT

TN-S

TN-C

TN-C-S

Earth fault loop


impedance

High

Highest

Low

Low

Low

RCD preferred?

Yes

N/A

Optional

No

Optional

Need earth
electrode at site?

Yes

Yes

No

No

Optional

PE conductor cost

Low

Low

Highest

Least

High

Risk of broken
neutral

No

No

High

Highest

High

Safety

Safe

Less Safe

Safest

Least
Safe

Safe

Electromagnetic
interference

Least

Least

Low

High

Low

Safety risks

High loop
impedance (step
voltages)

Double fault,
overvoltage

Broken
neutral

Broken
neutral

Broken
neutral

Advantages

Safe and reliable

Continuity of
operation, cost

Safest

Cost

Safety
and cost

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