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A Guide To Earth Ground Resistance Test
A Guide To Earth Ground Resistance Test
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The information given uses simple language for easy understanding by the
users and it is intended to be an educational tool.
Specific procedures may vary with each task and must be performed by
qualified people.
Kyoritsu Electrical Instruments Works, LTD informs that this guide is not a
substitute for any International, National or Local Standard, which should always
be consulted in case of doubt.
Kyoritsu Electrical Instruments Works, LTD is not liable for any claims, damages
or losses, including property damage or personal injury incurred on this practical
guide.
In fact, the whole of the planet may thus be considered as an infinite conductor
which is at reference (zero) potential. In Europe it is referred to ‘earth’ whilst in
the USA it is called ‘ground’.
People are usually constantly in contact with earth, thus if they touch a charged
object whose potential is different from earth, the resulting potential difference
across the person will result in an electric shock.
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The process of earthing consists of connecting together all objects that may
potentially become charged to the general mass of earth, so as to provide a
path for fault currents and to create an equipotential on all objects as close as
possible to the earth potential.
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across the body, a current will pass from the chassis to earth via the human
body causing a potentially lethal electric shock. (Human body can be also
considered as a conductor with resistance of approx 1000 / 3000Ω)
If the metal case is earthed, the fault current flow is divided. Thus the majority of
the fault current flows through the earth protective conductor and into the ground
since the earth path resistance is designed to be much lower than the resistance
of the human body. (N.B. Current flow is inversely proportional to the resistance
value). Thus only a small amount of harmless current flows through the body.
The soil composition, temperature and moisture content all have an impact on
the earth resistivity. The schematic below shows the effect of soil composition,
temperature and moisture on earth resistance.
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For example, in case the insulation between the primary (6 to 22kV depends on
country) and the secondary (100/ 230/400V depends on country) of a
distribution transformer is degrading, a dangerous high voltage could appear on
the secondary side. In such case, an electrical load connected to the secondary
side will be damaged and will expose persons to electrical shock hazards and
fire.
However earthing systems are also used to prevent static electricity, for
lightening rods, soundproofing purposes, etc. The below table shows some
earthing applications.
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However, the earth resistance value obtained, R, includes the earth resistances
of electrode E under test but also the resistance of the auxiliary electrode C.
When observing the potential distribution curve (in the above figure), a flat
portion can be observed. This corresponds to the drop-of-potential due to the
earth resistance of the earth electrode E.
In order to measure only the earth resistance of the electrode under test E,
another auxiliary electrode P is driven into the ground between electrode E and
C and a voltmeter is used to measure the potential across P-E , that is Vp.
Then the earth resistance RE value is given by the formula:
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Electrodes such as P and C driven into the ground for measurement are called
as auxiliary earth electrode. (Electrode P is called Potential electrode and C
Current electrode.)
The test current frequency employed by earth testers are frequency bands other
than the commercial ones (16Hz, 50Hz, 60Hz, 400 Hz) in order to reduce noise
effects during testing.
Modern electronic earth testers are almost immune to noise effects by using
special hardware and software filters, including the automatic selection of the
test current frequency.
Notes:
-The ground into which the auxiliary earth electrodes are driven should be as
humid as possible.
-High earth resistance of auxiliary earth electrode can impair the measurement
accuracy, in such a case the Earth tester should indicate the problem. If the
ground is gravel or sand, or if it is dry, a sufficient amount of water should be
poured near the electrodes to ensure the ground has
sufficient humidity.
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The driven auxiliary earth electrode C should be placed as far from the earthing
system as practical, with this distance being at least equal to the estimated
diagonal of the earthing system.
The correct earth resistance value is usually obtained from the flat part of curve.
See the below figure.
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common earth for commercial power supply, buried metal pipes like main water
pipe a lightning protection electrode on buildings
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With this method, P and C terminals of the earth tester should be shorted
together. Connect the P terminal to the existing earth system and E terminal to
the earth electrode to be measured.
Then measure the earth voltage and also the earth resistance.
When using the simplified measurement method, the resistance re of the
existing earth system to which P terminal is connected is added to the
resistance Rx of the electrode under test E, and displayed as the measured
result.
Re (measured value) = Rx + re
Rx= Re – re
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-The earthing system under test must be far enough away from the earthing
system of a commercial supply to be outside its sphere of influence.
-The earth resistance re is normally very low since the earthing system of a
commercial supply is usually bonded to the earthing system of the other power
transformers (so called common earth).
Given this situation the earth tester can be practically used to measure the
resistance of a simple earthing system Rx.
-The MEC (Main earth conductor) has to be temporarily disconnected.
-To avoid possible risk of electric shock due to voltage difference between Main
earth bar (MEB) and MEC / Earthing system and neutral conductor switch off
the power supply prior to implementing the temporary measures. The power
supply should only be restored after the temporary measures have been
removed.
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Soil resistance value depends on the nature of the soil and percentage of water
contained.
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The earth resistivity measurement is useful for soil surveys to establish the
optimum design, depth and site location of earth electrode system. Such
surveys are made, for example, when a new electrical generating station,
substation, transmission tower, telecommunication station or tower is under
construction. Without such surveys, extra cost of re-working electrode
installations may be needed after the construction is finished.
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Regarding the connections, stick all the 4 auxiliary Earth electrodes into the
ground at the same interdistance a [m]. Note: The depth should be 5% or less of
a.
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With advanced earth resisitivity testers, that use the above mentioned formula,
the Earth Resistivity ρ measurement is automatically calculated and shown on
the instrument display.
Let’s regard earth resistance under test as Rx, and the other earth resistances
as R1, R2, …Rn, see the below figure.
Normally in a distributed power line system as in the above figure, the earth
electrodes R1, R2 Rn can be considered as resistors connected in parallel.
The total earth resistance (Rs) of this circuit will usually be very small compared
to the resistance of a single earth electrode (Rx) because there are many
electrodes in parallel.
Following is an equivalent circuit diagram of this circuit.
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The resultant R can be considered equal to the Rx under test since the Rs can
be negligible enough against Rx.
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Kyoritsu Earth Clamp Kew 4200/4202 are instruments that includes the voltage
injection transformer CT1, the current detection transformer CT2 and all the
necessary electronics for obtaining the measurement result in ohms.
●Single earth systems (isolated from the other earth systems) like in many TT
systems.
●Earth systems on which large fault current (over 2A) flows (This current can be
checked by AC current range of our Kew 4200/4202)
●Earth systems with earth resistance values larger than 1500Ω
● When earth resistance under test is smaller than the total earth resistance
(very rare case).
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Earth resistance measurement of a simple earthing system using the main water
pipe:
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Therefore, under these circumstances, the reading obtained using the Earth
Clamp indicates the resistance of the simple earthing system under test.
Safety Warnings!
To avoid possible risk of electric shock due to voltage difference between:
-Main earth bar (Meb) and Mec
-Earthing system and metallic water pipe
switch off the power supply prior to implementing the temporary measures. The
power supply should only be restored after the temporary measures have been
removed.
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The above figure shows a possible field application when a very low Ro is
present. Ro is normally very low since the earthing system of a transformer is
usually bonded to the earthing system of the other transformers.
Given this situation the Earth Clamp can be used to measure the resistance of a
simple earthing system. However the Mec has to be temporarily disconnected
and a temporary link introduced between the neutral conductor and the earthing
system (Refer to safety warnings below).
Therefore, under these circumstances, the reading obtained using the Earth
Clamp indicates the resistance of the simple earthing installation under test.
Safety Warnings!
To avoid possible risk of electric shock due to voltage difference between:
-Main earth bar (Meb) and Mec.
-Earthing system and neutral conductor
switch off the power supply prior to implementing the temporary measures. The
power supply should only be restored after the temporary measures have been
removed.
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There is no tool that can guarantee your safety if you do not follow a safe work
procedure.
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Kyoritsu reserves the rights to change the information described in this guide
without prior notice and without obligations.
No part of this guide may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means
without the permission from Kyoritsu.
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U N C AT E G O R I Z E D
W H AT I S E A R T H T E S T E R , W H AT I S G R O U N D R E S I S TA N C E T E S T E R , W H AT
I S E A R T H R E S I S TA N C E , E A R T H I N G S YS T E M S : A P P L I C AT I O N S , P R I N C I P L E
O F E A R T H R E S I S TA N C E M E A S U R E M E N T , I T E M S N E C E S S A RY F O R E A R T H
E A RT H I N G S YS T E M , E A RT H R E S I S T I V I T Y M E A S U R E M E N T S , P R I N C I P L E O F
C L A M P E A R T H T E S T E R , P R A C T I C A L A P P L I C AT I O N S O F E A R T H C L A M P
TESTER
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Downloads Service C
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