Presented By:

SAIKIRAN NANDY(9777799366)
REGD NO:F18063002095
ELECTRICAL ENGG.
INTRODUCTION
EARTHING
The term ‘Earthing’ means connecting the non current carrying
parts of the electrical equipment or the neutral point of the
supply system to the general mass of earth in such a manner
that at all times an immediate discharge of electrical energy
takes place without danger.
PURPOSE OF EARTHING
The main objectives of the earthing are to :
 Provide an alternative path for the fault current to flow so that it will not
endanger the user . 
 Ensure that all exposed conductive  parts do not reach a dangerous
potential.
 Maintain the voltage at any part of an electrical system at a known value
so as to prevent over current or excessive voltage on the appliances or
equipment .
COMPONENTS TO BE EARTHED
In electrical installations the following components must be
earthed:
 The frames, tanks and enclosures of electric machines, transformers,
lighting fittings and other items of equipment.
 The frame work of the switch boards, control boards, individual panel
boards.
 The operating mechanism of the switch gear.
 The structural steel work of indoor and outdoor substations, metal cable
joining boxes and metal sheaths of the cable.
 The metal casing of all portable apparatus.
TYPES OF EARTHING
 System Earthing : It deals with earthing of the neutral to ensure system
security and protection.

 Equipment Earthing : It deals with earthing of non current carrying parts

of the equipment to ensure safety of personnel.
 SOIL RESISTIVITY
Type Resistivity in Ω-m
 The chief requirement of good
earthing is low soil resistivity. 2.5
Sea water 20
 Soil resistivity varies greatly from one Tap water 50
location to another. Clay 100
Sand clay
 Some typical values are shown mixture 2000
in the following table. Sand
100
Wet
10,000
concrete 10,000
Dry concrete

Rock
PRINCIPAL FACTORS AFFECTING SOIL
RESISTIVITY
 Type of soil :The soil composition can be clay, gravel, loam, rock, sand,
stones, etc. Very often, the soil composition is in layers or strata, and it
is the resistance of the varying strata, especially at sub-soil level where
the moisture content is not subject to drying out, that is important in
securing a good electrical path.
 Climate: Arid and good rainfall climates are at opposite extremes for
conditions of soil resistivity.
 Seasonal conditions: The effects of heat, moisture, drought and frost
can introduce wide variations in normal soil resistivity. Soil resistivity
usually decreases with depth and an increase in moisture content in a
normally dry soil will decrease soil resistivity. Conversely soil temp
below freezing greatly increases soil resistivity.
MEASURING SOIL RESISTIVITY
Resistivity of the soil is usually measured by the four-spike method, in
which four spikes arranged in a straight line are driven into the soil at equal
distances. A current is passed between electrodes C1 and C2 and potential
drop V is measured across electrodes P1 and P2.The current I develops an
electric field which is proportion four terminal instrument is required for
soil resistivity. The probes are installed in a straight line with an equal
spacing of “a” metres and inserted to a depth of no more than a/20 metres,
i.e.. for spacing of 2 metres, depth must be less than 100mm. Now keeping
the centre position the same, resistance measurements are taken at
increasing spacing .Always ensure that the spacing between individual test
probes is identical .The soil resistivity can be obtained from the following
formula,
r = 2πaR (Ohm metres)
where r = apparent soil resistivity
a = spacing of probes in metres
R = resistance value in Ohms
MEASURING SOIL RESISTIVITY
THE EARTH PATH
The resistance of the earth path is determined
 By the resistance of the soil surrounding the earth rod,
• By it’s contact resistance between the earth rod and the surrounding soil,
• By the resistance of the earth rod and connecting conductors.
When an electrical current passes from a buried earth rod, it passes from a low
resistance metal into an immediate area of high resistance soil. The areas of
resistance can be described as being that of a no. of sheaths of ever increasing
diameter. The current path passes into the 1st sheath adjacent to the earth rod and
then into the 2nd sheath which is of a larger cross section with a greater area for
current flow and, therefore, of lower resistance than the 1 st sheath, and so on into
a succession of sheaths of increasing area and, because of this, of ever decreasing
resistance. It is this resistance at the interface where the current leaves the earth
rod and flows into the main body of the earth.
FACTORS INFLUENCING EARTH
RESISTANCE
1. Condition of soil.
2. Temperature of soil.
3. Moisture content of soil.
4. Size and spacing of earth electrode.
5. Depth at which the electrode is embedded.
6. Material of conductor.
MEASUREMENT OF EARTH RESISTANCE
The resistance area of an earth electrode is the area of soil around the
electrode within which a voltage gradient measurable with commercial
instruments mexists.

 This measurement is made by the potential fall method.

 E is the earth electrode under test. A is an auxiliary earth electrode. B is a
second auxiliary electrode.
 An a.c. of steady value is passed through the earth path from E to A and
the voltage drop between E and B is measured.
METHODS OF REDUCING EARTH
RESISTANCE OF THE SYSTEM
 The earth resistance can be reduced by digging the earth electrode to a
depth of 1.5 or 2m,cleaning the surface of the earth plate of all rust and then
filling with charcoal soaked in salt solution. Pouring of fresh salt water
through pipe over all the coal bed will reduce the earth resistance.
 The earth resistance can also be reduced by :
increasing the plate area,
increasing of pit depth,
increasing number of electrodes in parallel.
SIZE OF THE EARTHING CONDUCTOR
Minimum cross section of the earthing conductor which should have
thermal stability can be calculated from the relation,
A (min) =[ I *(t)^ ½]/c
Where A (min) = minimum required section of the conductor in mm2
I = fault current in ampere
t = time in sec
c = is a CONSTANT
For steel conductor at 400°c,it is 70mm2
For copper conductor at 300°c,it is 166mm2
METHODS OF EARTHING
1. Strip or Wire Earthing : This type of earthing is used at places which
have rocky soil earth bed.

2. Rod Earthing : This system of earthing is suitable for areas which are
sandy in character.

3. Pipe Earthing : It is the best form of earthing and is very cheap in cost.
EARTHING MAT
 A number of rods when joined together through copper conductors
constitute an Eathing Mat.
 It reduces overall grounding resistance.
 Such a mesh of conductors laid near the grounding surface helps in limiting
the potential gradient.
 In a substation, it is bonded to the local supporting metal structure and to
the handle of the switchgear, so that the operator will not be exposed to a
high differential voltage due to a fault in the substation.
 In systems where large fault currents are to be experienced, it is preferable
to take care of the potential gradients by laying the earthing mat.
CONCLUSION

In an electrical installation, if a metallic part of an electric

appliance comes in direct contact with a live wire, the metal being a
good conductor of electricity is charged. If any person comes in contact
with this charged metallic part, he will get a severe shock. But if the
metallic parts of the appliances are earthed, the charge will be
transferred to the earth. As discharge takes place to earth, the impedance
of path of the current is low, a large amount of current flows to earth,
the current exceeds the limiting value, the fuse provided in the circuit
will blow off and cut off the appliance from supply. Thus, earthing of
metallic parts of electrical equipments and appliances provide safety.
 MATUR
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