Electrical Earthing
The process of transferring the immediate
discharge of the electrical energy directly
to the earth by the help of the low
resistance wire is known as the electrical
earthing.
The electrical earthing is done by
connecting the non-current carrying part
of the equipment or neutral of supply
system to the ground.
Mostly, the galvanised iron is used for the
earthing.
Types of Electrical Earthing
Earthing can be classified into two types.
1. Neutral Earthing
b._Equipment Earthing.
Neutral Earthing
In neutral earthing, the neutral of the
system is directly connected to earth by
the help of the GI wire. The neutral
earthing is also called the system
earthing. Such type of earthing is mostly
provided to the system which has star
winding. For example, the neutral earthing
is provided in the generator, transformer,
motor etc.
Equipment Earthing
Such type of earthing is provided to the
electrical equipment. The non-current
carrying part of the equipment like their
metallic frame is connected to the earth
by the help of the conducting wire. If any
fault occurs in the apparatus, the short-
circuit current to pass the earth by the
help of wire. Thus, protect the system
from damage.
Importance of Earthing
The earthing is essential because of the
following reasons
1. The earthing protects the personnel
from the shortcircuit current.
2. The earthing provides the easiest path
to the flow of shortcircuit current even
after the failure of the insulation.
3. The earthing protects the apparatus
and personnel from the high voltage
surges and lightning discharge.
Earthing can be done by electrically
connecting the respective parts in the
installation to some system of electrical
conductors or electrodes placed near the
soil or below the ground level. The
earthing mat or electrode under the
ground level have flat iron riser through
which all the non-current-carrying
metallic parts of the equipment are
connected.
Electrical
Equipment
One phase secondary
---..,
0 0
distribution of transformer
Fault Current
Uvewlre Passes throuah the
]
'------ human body
Neutral wire
-- Fault
Current
Electrical System Without Earthing
One phase seco·n dary
Electrical
distribution of Equipment ._o__O---tv
transformer
Live wire
] .,___,__
Neutral wire
Fault Current
-- Ft1ult
Current
-
..,__ - - - Passes through the
earthln1
Electrical System With Earthing • • • t
Methods of Earthing
There are several methods of earthing like
wire or strip earthing, rod earthing, pipe
earthing, plate earthing or earthing
through water mains. Most commonly
used methods of earthing are pipe
earthing and plate earthing. These
methods are explained below in details.
Earthing Mat
.,,,,,-GI wire
Ground
Copper Level
•nductors
----- Earth
Mat
Earthing mat is made by joining the
number of rods through copper
conductors. It reduced the overall
grounding resistance. Such type of
system helps in limiting the ground
potential. Earthing mat is mostly used in a
placed where the large fault current is to
be experienced.
Earthing Electrode
Electrode
..--Moisture
1 meter
-----◄------- Ground level
..,__ Salt & Charcoal
25 meters Powder Mixture
Earthing Through Electrode
In this type of earthing any wire, rod, pipe,
plate or a bundle of conductors, inserted
in the ground horizontally or vertically. In
distributing systems, the earth electrode
may consist of a rod, about 1 meter in
length and driven vertically into the
ground. In generating substations,
grounding mat is used rather than
individual rods.
Pipe Earthing
Moisture
.,_,,,,,-- level
~ - - - -- -- -+--Ground level
8 ft
. . , _ Salt & Charcoal
Powder Mixture
Pipe Electrode
Pipe Earth Electrode
This is the most common and best system
of earthing as compared to other systems
suitable for the same earth and moisture
conditions. In this method the galvanized
steel and perforated pipe of approved
length and diameter in place upright in a
permanently wet soil, as shown . The size
of the pipe depends upon the current to
be carried and type of soil.
Normally, the size of the pipe uses for
earthing is of diameter 40 mm and 2.5
meters in length for ordinary soil or of
greater length in case of dry and rocky
soil. The depth at which the pipe must be
buried depends on the moistures of the
ground & Alternate layers of coke and salt
are used to increase the effective area of
the earth and to decrease the earth
resistance respectively.
Plate Earthing
Moisture
~---_..;;;.;:;..
Leve ;..;;;,..l--r--◄-Ground level
1.5
15cm meter
Salt & Charcoal
Powder Mixture Plate
Electrode
Plate Earth Electrode
In Plate Earthing an earthing plate either
of copper of dimension 60cmx60cmx3m
or galvanized iron of dimensions 60 cm x
60 cmx6 mm is buried into the ground
with its face vertical at a depth of not less
than 3 meters from ground level.
The earth plate is inserted into auxiliary
layers of coke and salt for a minimum
thickness of 15 cm. The earth wire (GI or
copper wire) is tightly bolted to an earth
plate with the help of nut or bolt. The
copper plate and copper wire are usually
not employed for grounding purposes
because of their higher cost.
Earthing Through Water Mains
l Moisture
Level
Water Pipe Salt & Charcoal
Powder Mixture
.,.___-Soil
Earthing Through Water Mains
C 11 ti I (11 , 11
In this type of earthing the GI or copper
wire are connected to the water mains
with the help of the steel binding wire
which is fixed on copper lead as shown
below.
The water pipe is made up of metal, and it
is placed below the surface of the ground,
i.e. directly connected to earth. The fault
current flow through the GI or copper wire
is directly get earthed through the water
•
pipe.