Earthing / Grounding Issues

Reasons for Earthing and Bonding

Detect fault current and fast removal of
power source at fault
Prevent potential differences which may
cause electrocution or sparks
Minimise the effect of lightning strikes
Prevent build-up of ESD
Minimise the effect of electrical interferences
Meet Explosion-Proof apparatus safety
requirements

Reference: MTL website

Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 1

Earthing / Grounding Issues

Ground / earth resistance and resistivity should
be measured when:
Installing new ground systems and electrical
equipment
Periodically testing of ground and lightning
protection rods
Prior to design of ground protection systems

Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 2

Earth Testing Methods

Fall of Potential 3 and 4 Pole Testing

Resistivity
Selective Testing
Stakeless Testing

Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 3

Earth Testing Methods (1)

Fall of Potential Three and Four Pole Testing

Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 4

Earth Testing Methods (1)

Fall of Potential Three and Four Pole Testing

25m

RH

Joseph Ong

25m

RS

Aug 2005

I
RE

Company Confidential 5

Earth Testing Methods (1)

Fall of Potential Creating the S Curve

The positioning of temporary electrode for the test is

a critical issue

The distance between electrodes is dependant on the

pool of potential of the earth system under test

Distances of
temporary electrode
should be varied
to plot values as an S
curve
D is ta n c e (m )
Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 6

Earth Testing Methods (2)

Resistivity Measurement
From the indicated resistance value RE, the soil resistivity
calculates according to the equation :

E = 2 . a . R E

E
RE
a

Joseph Ong

...... mean value of soil resistivity (.m)

...... measured resistance (
...... probe distance (m)

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 7

Principle: Wenner Method

Measurement of specific earth resistance
The measuring method according to Wenner determines the soil
resistivity down to a depth of approx. the distance "a" between two
earth spikes.
By increasing "a", deeper layers can be measured and checked for
homogeneity. By changing "a" several times, a profile can be measured
from which a suitable earth electrode can be determined.
According to the depth to be measured, "a" is selected between 2 m and
30 m. This procedure results in curves:

Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 8

Earth Testing Methods (2)

Resistivity Measurement
Curve 1:As E decreases only
deeper down, a deep earth
electrode is advisable
Curve 2:As E decreases only
down to point A, an increase in
the depth deeper than A does
not
improve the values.
Curve 3:With increasing depth
E is not decreasing: a strip
conductor electrode is
advisable.
Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 9

Earth Testing Methods (3)

Selective Measurement Method

Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 10

Earth Testing Methods (3)

Selective Measurement Method

25m

RH

Joseph Ong

25m

RS

Aug 2005

I
RE

Company Confidential 11

Earth Testing Methods (3)

Principle: Selective earth measurements

Measured currentIm
IM

Measured
voltage

Probe

Auxiliary
earth
electrode

Advantage:
Distinct earth resistances
within meshed ground
systems can be measured
without disconnection. Only
clamp current Im is used for
calculation of RE.
Important: The minimum clamp
current is 0.5mA if not, an
error message is displayed.

R Display = R E3 !!
Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 12

Earth Testing Methods (3)

Selective Measurement Method on High Tension Towers

Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 13

Earth Testing Methods (3)

Measurements on high tension towers
Applicable for nearly
all metal constructions!
Example: Tower with
four stands.
Important: Do not
move the current
injection point (E)
during test!
All stands are tested in
sequence with the split
core transformer.

split
core
transformer

ring
earth
electrode

Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 14

Earth Testing Methods (3)

Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 15

Earth Testing Methods (4)

Application: Function RE selective
SATURN GEO X,
SATURN GEO plus

Connection
to equipotential
bus bar

Water pipe
RE Water pipe
IE Water pipe

Equi Potential bus bar

RE

Only the current

from the current
clamp is used for
calculation of RE.

sum

Earth electrode

Probe - (S)
(voltage reference)

The precise value

of RE is on display!

Auxiliary earth - (H)

(injection of test current)

Isum = IE + IE Water pipe

RDisplay= U / IE = RE
Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 16

Earth Testing Methods (4)

Stakeless Measurement Method

Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 17

Earth Testing Methods (4)

Stakeless Measurement Method

Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 18

Earth Testing Methods (4)

Stakeless Measurement Method

Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 19

Earth Testing Methods (4)

Stakeless earth loop measurements
I

Current
amplifier
Voltage

Rn

Rx

R1

R2

Rm-1

Rm

source

Rx

Rx

Rn= m earth resistances in

parallel

Assume that there are Rn resistances in parallel (e.g. in meshed ground systems,
telecom, electric power distribution systems) earth connections are inter-connected.
Thus Rn<<Rx is valid. Rn is negligible and the measuring loop resistance is mainly Rx.

In this case the value on display of the

ground loop tester is exactly Rx.
Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 20

Earth Testing Methods (4)

Principle: Stakeless earth measurements
Adapter
for GEO X
only

Simply put both clamps

around conductor, cable,
pipe etc.

Clamps with a large variety

of openings are available.

black
red

Erder
Earth
electrode

For all applications with at least

two earth electrodes...
e.g. high tension towers, meshed
grounding systems,
telecom-cables ......
Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

> 10cm

Company Confidential 21

Earth Testing Methods (4)

Example: Stakeless earth measurement

Joseph Ong

Aug 2005

Company Confidential 22