Laboratory Manual

Electrical Safety - EEE1021

SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

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Name of Laboratory : Electrical Workshop
Lab Subject Code : EEE1021
Name of School : SELECT
Exp. 5- Earth Electrode Resistance Measurement
Aim:

To understand the working of an earth-tester and measure the Earth resistance and

Apparatus Required
S. No. Description Range Type Quantity

Hand driven Earth (1–100

1 Tester )Ohms AC 1

2 Digital Earth Tester 3½ Digital 1

3 Spikes - - 4

4 Hammer - - 1

5 Wire stripper - - 1

6 Connecting Wires -- -- As Req.

Operating principle

The principle used in measuring the earth resistance is based on simple ohms law. 4
electrodes A, B, C, D are buried in the earth, the resistance of which is to be tested at the
distance of 20m from each other electrodes is shown in the figure.A.C. signal is applied to
electrodes A and B and the voltage developed across B and C due to flow of current
through the earth is measured by ammeter M. if current is constant, the voltage
measured will be directly proportional to the earth resistance.

Principle of measurement

To find out resistance of earth connection, the 3 terminal method is to be used. A current is
passed through the EARTH PLATE to an auxiliary electrode A in the earth at a distance away
from the earth plate. A second auxiliary electrode B is inserted between earth Plate and A,
the potential difference V between E and B is measured for a given current I, so that the
resistance of earth connection is V/I. the placing of the auxiliary electrodes is however
important. Following is the curve which gives a plot of distance B from E verses measured
resistance. When earthing resistance is low, the spacing between the earth plate and the
auxiliary electrode may be 20 to 30m. The exact value can be decided by actual experiment.
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Name of Laboratory : Electrical Safety
Lab Subject Code : EEE1021
Name of School : SELECT

How to operate the instrument

To operate the instrument, first turn the range selection switch to 10Ω position.
The digital display reads zero. Connect the test leads to the four terminals as per procedure
for testing the given earth electrode. Press the TEST switch the LCD display will indicate the
resistance. if “LO BAT indication appears on the upper side of the display while pressing the
test switch, it indicates that the battery needs charging. After completing the testing, move
the selector knob to OFF position.

Procedure for testing

The digital earth testes has four terminals marked as E1, P1, P2 and E2. It is suitable
for measuring Earth resistance as well as earth resistivity.

Measurement of the earth resistance

To measure earth resistance, it should be used as three terminal type. Terminals E1 and P1 is to be
shorted and connected to the Earth Electrode whose resistance is to found. Connect as per figure
and take the reading by pressing the TEST switch. Note down the reading displayed on the LCD
display of the instrument.

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Name of Laboratory : Electrical Safety
Lab Subject Code : EEE1021
Name of School : SELECT

Tabulation

Hand Driven Earth Tester

S. Dist. between. R1 R2 R3 Earth resistance

No. B and E (D in feet) at 52% D At 62% D At 72% D RE=(R1 + R2 + R3)/3

Average value

Model Graph

Result

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Name of Laboratory : Electrical Safety
Lab Subject Code : EEE1021
Name of School : SELECT

APPENDIX

Model: DET-2000
Digital Earth Tester
Application
'CIE' Digital Earth Resistance Tester is designed to measure the resistance if earth used in power circuit,
Telecommunications, Railway Electrification, Domestic and Industrial electrical installations. The tester measures directly the
resistance of the earth and also measure the ground resistivity. The study, elegant and compact body makes the instrument
portable, easy to use, Hand-held instrument.

Salient Features
Rugged ABS body
Easy to use hand held meter
Ni-cd Re- chargeable Cells
Facility as to make bench top type instrument
Confirms to ISS : 9223/1979
Four terminals {To measure earth resistance as well as specific soil resistivity}
Lo-Bat or indication appears on Display indicating that the indicating the cells
(batteries) have gone down, which can be recharged by connecting to 230V,
50 Hz AC mains supply through charging cord provided with the instrument
Technical Details
Display : 3½ Digits, LCD
Accuracy : 0% to 10% of the range ±3%
10% to 90% of the range ±1.5%
90% to 100% of the range ±3%
Dimensions (in mm) : 172 x 98 x 38 (Approx.)
Weight : 575 gm (Approx.)

Electrical Specifications
H. V. Test : 2KV AC (rms) for 1 min. between electrical circuit and containing case

Insulation Resistance : More than 25 Megohms at 500 V DC between electrical circuit & containing
Test case

Accessories

Standard Accessories : (i) Carrying Case

(ii) Charging Cord
(iii) Instruction Manual
Optional Accessories (at : • 4 Nos. M. S. Spike (45 cm Length) • 1 Nos. Hammer • 4 Nos. Cable (50 feet)
extra cost) • 1 No. Plier • 1 Nos. Screwdriver, all in one canvas bag

Dual Ranges
(a) 0 - 20 - 200 OHM (b) 0 - 10 - 1000 OHM (c) 0 - 100 - 1000 OHM (d) 0 - 5 - 500
OHM (e) 0 - 10 - 100 OHM
Any other combination of ranges can also be made on specific requirement.

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 Name of Laboratory : Electrical Safety
Lab Subject Code : EEE1021
Name of School : SELECT

Hand Driven Generator Type Model: CIE / 222M

Application
'CIE' Earth Tester permits direct measurement of the resistance of earth used in power circuits.
Telecommunication, Railway Electrification, Domestic & Industrial Electrical Installation, Lighting Protection Installation and
various other Electrical Systems. The tester performs equally well in Terrain where the conductivity of the soil is low, e.g., in
mountainous areas and in places where powerful stray earth current exist.
The four terminal instrument is specially designed for making straight forward and approximate soil investigation of the
kind needed in agricultural, geological research and in the planning of large civil engineering projects such as tunnels,
Drainage, Sewerage schemes, Tube-Railways etc.

Measuring accuracy of the instrument is not effected by stray alternating or back e.m.f. of earth electrolytic. The
instrument can also be used for measuring non-inductive or non-capacitive resistance.

Salient Features
Silent Generator with Collapsible Handle
Centrifugal Clutch (Governor) For Constant Output Voltage
Chuck Nut Locking Arrangement to Prevent Anti-Clockwise Rotation
Wide and Anti-Parallax Mirror Scale

Anti-Magnetic Aluminum Body with Protected Metallic Flap Over

Glass Window of Scale

Accurate, Reliable and Quick Response For Measurement of

Resistance of Earth
Accuracy CONFIRMS to IS : 923/1979
Graceful Appearance, Long Life & Strength Against Vibration & Impact

Technical Details
Scale Length : 80mm (Approx)
Accuracy : ±5% (as per IS: 9223/1979)
Generator Rotation Speed : 160 rpm
Weight : 2.5 kg (Approx)
Dimensions (in mm) : 110 x 128 x 190 (Approx)

Electrical Specifications
High Voltage Test : 2KV AC (rms) for 1 min. between Electrical Circuit & containing case
Insulation Resistance Test : Better than 25 Megohms at 500 V DC between electrical circuit & containing case

Types
Available in three (For measurement of Earth resistance) and four terminals (For measurement of Earth resistance &
soil resistivity both)

Ranges
(i) Available single range from 0 - 1 ohm to 10000 ohm ( Any one range)
(ii) Also available in multi ranges provided with range selector switch , to be chosen from 0 - 1 ohm to 10,000
ohm Any other ranges can also be made against specific requirement

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