ADAMA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

School of Electrical Engineering and Computing

Electrical Power and Control Engineering Department

Electrical Design of Building EPEC3209

Chapter Four Grounding System and Testing of Electrical

Installation
 Chapter Four
Grounding System and Testing of Electrical Installation
The definition of earth is the conductive mass of earth, whose electric potential at any point is
conventionally taken as zero. Hence if we connect a voltmeter between a live part (e.g. the phase
conductor of, say, a socket outlet) and earth, we would probably read 220V; the conductor is at
220V, the earth at zero. And Earthing means connection of the neutral point of a supply system or
the non-current carrying parts of electrical apparatus such as metallic frame work, metallic
covering cables, metal covers of switches, metal casing of portable apparatus, frame of every
generator and motor etc. to the general mass of earth in such a manner that at all times immediate
discharge of electrical energy takes place without danger. Note the connection of the supply neutral
in Fig. 5.1, to earth, which makes it possible to have complete circuit via the earth. Supply authority
neutrals should be at around zero volts, and in order to maintain this condition they are connected
to the zero potential of earth.

Fig. 5.1 Earthling System

This also means that a person in an installation touching a live part while standing on the earth
would take the place of the voltmeter in Fig. 5.1, and could suffer a severe electric shock.
Remember that the accepted lethal level of shock current passing through a person is only 50 mA
or 1/20 A. One method of providing some measure of protection against these effects is to join
together (bond) all metallic parts and connect them to earth. This ensures that all metalwork in a
healthy situation is at or near zero volts, and under fault conditions all metalwork will rise to the
same potential. So, simultaneous contact with two such metal parts would not result in a shock, as
there will be no p.d between them. This method is known as earthed equipotential bonding.

5.1 Connecting to Earth

There are several methods of making a connection to earth, including the use of rods, plates and
tapes. By far the most popular method in everyday use is the rod earth electrode. The plate type
needs to be buried at a sufficient depth to be effective and, as such plates may be 1 or 2 meters
square, considerable excavation may be necessary. The tape type is predominantly used in the
earthing of large electricity substations, where the tape is laid in trenches in a mesh formation over
the whole site. Items of plant are then earthed to this mesh.

Rod electrodes

These are usually of solid copper. The choice of length and diameter of such a rod will depend on
the soil conditions. For example, a long thick electrode is used for earth with little moisture
retention. Generally, a 1–2 m rod, 16mm in diameter, will give a relatively low resistance (Fig.5.2).

Fig.5.2 copper earth electrode

Earth electrode resistance

If we were to place an electrode in the earth and then measure the resistance between the electrode
and points at increasingly larger distances from it, we would notice that the resistance increased
with distance until a point was reached (usually around 2.5 m) beyond which no increase in
resistance was seen (Fig. 5.3).

Fig.5.3 resistance area of electrode

The value of this electrode resistance will depend on the length and cross-sectional area of the
electrode, the type of soil and its moisture content. Any soil that holds moisture such as clay or
marshy ground has a relatively low resistivity, whereas gravel or rock has a high resistivity.
Typical values for soil resistivity in ohms are as follows:

Table 5.4 soil resistivity

Earthing systems

Contact with metalwork made live by a fault is called indirect contact. One popular method of
providing some measure of protection against such contact is by earthed equipotential bonding and
automatic disconnection of supply. This entails the bonding together and connection to earth of:

1. All metalwork associated with electrical apparatus and systems, termed as exposed
Conductive parts. Examples include conduit, trunking and the metal cases of apparatus.
2. All metalwork liable to introduce a potential including earth potential, termed as extraneous
conductive parts. Examples are gas, oil and water pipes, structural steelwork, radiators,
sinks and baths.

The effect of all this bonding is to create a zone in which all metalwork of different services and
systems will, even under fault conditions, be at a substantially equal potential. If, added to this,
there is a low-resistance earth return path; the protection should operate fast enough to prevent
danger. The resistance of such an earth return path will depend upon the system. These systems
have been designated in the IEE Regulations using the letters T, N, C and S. These letters stand
for:

T - Terre (French for earth) and meaning a direct connection to earth.

N - Neutral

C - Combined

S -Separate

When these letters are grouped they form the classification of a type of system. The first letter in
such a classification denotes how the supply source is earthed. The second denotes how the
metalwork of an installation is earthed. The third and fourth indicate the functions of neutral and
protective conductors. Hence:
 1. A TT system has a direct connection of the supply source to earth and a direct connection
of the installation metalwork to earth. An example is an overhead line supply with earth
electrodes, and the mass of earth as a return path (Fig. 5.5).

Fig.5.5 TT system

2. A TN–S system has the supply source directly connected to earth, the installation
metalwork connected to the earthed neutral of the supply source via the metal sheath of
the supply cable, and the neutral and protective conductors throughout the whole system
performing separate functions (Fig. 5.6).

Fig. 5.6 TN–S system

3. A TN–C–S system is same as the TN–S system but the supply cable sheath is also the
neutral, i.e. it forms a combined earth/neutral conductor known as a PEN (Protective
 Earthed Neutral) conductor (Fig. 5.7). The installation earth and neutral are separate
conductors. This system is also known as PME (Protective Multiple Earthing).

Fig 5.7 TN–C–S system

Earth fault loop impedance

As we have seen, circuit protection should operate in the event of a direct fault from phase to earth.
The speed of operation of the protection is of extreme importance and will depend on the
magnitude of the fault current, which in turn will depend on the impedance of the earth fault loop
path.

Fig. 5.8 earth fault loop path.

Starting at the fault, the path comprises:

 1. The circuit protective conductor (CPC).
2. The consumer’s earthing terminal and earth conductor.
3. The return path, either metallic or earth.
4. The earthed neutral of the supply transformer.
5. The transformer winding.
6. The phase conductor from the transformer to the fault.

Fig. 5.9 is a simplified version of this path.

We have

Zs = Ze + R1 + R2

Where: Zs- is the actual total loop impendence,

Ze- is the impedance external to the installation,

R1- is the resistance of the phase conductor and

R2- is the resistance of the CPC.

We also have:

I = 𝑈𝑂𝐶 /Zs

Where: I- is the fault current and 𝑈𝑂𝐶 is the supply transformer open circuit voltage

(Usually 220 V) and 𝑈𝑂 is the voltage to earth at consumer terminals.

Determining the value of total loop impedance Zs

The IEERegulations require that when the general characteristics of an installation are assessed,
the loop impedance Ze external to the installation shall be ascertained. This may be measured in
existing installations using a phase-to-earth loop impedance tester. However, when a building is
only at the drawing board stage it is clearly impossible to make such a measurement. In this case,
we have three methods available to assess the value of Ze:

1. Determine it from details (if available) of the supply transformer, the main distribution

Cable and the proposed service cable; or

2. Measure it from the supply intake position of an adjacent building having service cable

Of similar size and length to that proposed; or

3. Use maximum likely values issued by the supply authority as follows:

TT system: 21 ohms maximum

TN–S system: 0.8 ohms maximum

TN–C–S system 0.35 ohms maximum.

Method 1 will be difficult for anyone except engineers Method 2, if it is possible to be used; will
give a closer and more realistic estimation of Ze. . Method 3 can, in some cases, result in
pessimistically large cable sizes. However, if in any doubt, use method 3. Having established a
value for Ze, it is now necessary to determine the impedance of that part of the loop path internal
to the installation. This is, as we have seen, the resistance of the phase conductor plus the resistance
of the CPC, i.e. R1 + R2. Resistances of copper conductors may be found from tables in the
guidance notes to the Regulations, which give values of resistance/meter for copper and aluminum
conductors at 20°C in milliohms/meter.
 7. Testing of Installation

The tests to be performed before a new installation or an addition to an existing installation are
connected to the supply mains are as follows:

1. Insulation Resistance
 The insulation resistance between the wiring and earth with all fuses
(breakers) and lamps in and all switches ‘ON’
 The insulation resistance between the conductors with all lamps out and
all switches ‘ON’
2. Testing of polarity of non-linked single pole switches.
3. Testing of earth continuity path.
4. Testing of earth-electrode resistance.

1. Insulation Resistance

The aim of this test is to know whether the wires or cables used in the wiring are sufficiently
insulated to avoid leakage current. Test is performed by a DC source not less than twice of working
voltage but not exceeding 500 V. A 500 V tester, known as ‘Megger’ is used for this purpose.
Since installation circuits are wired in parallel, one can see that for a very large Installations an
insulation resistance test at the intake position may show a low value, which isn’t actually due to
bad insulation. In order to overcome this problem, EELPA regulation (SECTION E-2) permits
such installation to be broken down into smaller units of not less than 50 outlets.

• Testing of Insulation Resistance between the Wiring and the Earth.

The resistance offered to leakage from conductors to earth is known as insulation resistance test
between the wiring and earth. Before making insulation test ensures that:

a) Supply is isolated, i.e. the main switch, breaker or fuse is in OFF position.

b) All protective devices are in place.

c) All the switches are in ON position.

d) All the lamps are in their positions or the holders are short-circuited.
 e) Link all the poles of the supply together i.e. line and neutral terminals are
shorted onthe installation side.

Fig5.10 insulation resistance to earth

The line terminal of the Megger (marked as L) is connected to the point where the conductors have
been shorted at the main switch and the E terminal is connected to the earth. Now the handle of
the tester is turned so that it begins to slip and the reading on the dial gives the insulation resistance
between the wiring and earth. The insulation resistance to earth measured should not be less than
220𝑉
1 Mega ohm Very small leakage current(𝐼𝐿 = ).
1𝑀Ω

•Testing of Insulation Resistance between Conductors

The objective of this test is to ensure that the insulation is sound between conductors so that there
may not be an appreciable leakage between them. In this test the circuit diagram remains the same
as in Fig.1 except that the entire lamp and all metallic connections between the two wires of the
installation are removed from the holders. With the supply isolated, all protective devices in place,
and all single pole switches in ‘ON’ position; the terminals of the Megger are connected between
poles (i.e. R to S, R to T, S to T, and each pole in turn to N). The reading should not be less than
1 Mega ohm.
 Fig 5.11 between pole tests

2 Testing of polarity of Single Pole Switches

Section E-2 of EELPA’s regulation states that “A verification of polarity shall be made and it shall
be ensured that all fuses and all single pole control devices are connected in the live conductor
only, that the outer contacts of center-contact bayonet and Edison-type lamp holders are connected
to the neutral or earthed conductor, and that wiring has been correctly connected to plugs and
socket outlets”. A convenient and quicker method of performing this test is by means of a small
neon tube tester.

Fig 5.12

An alternative method is by means of a test lamp. In this method one end of the test lamp is
connected to earth and the other end is tapped to each contact of the switch in turn. If the test lamp
is in the live wire i.e. gives light, otherwise the installation is wrong (see fig 5.12).

3. Testing of Earth Continuity Path

For safely all metal pieces or covering such as conduits, metal covers of switches, metal casing of
portable apparatus, frame of every generator and motor, etc, must be solidly connected to earth
otherwise on the damage of insulation, the leakage current will start giving severe shock to the
person touching it.

In case of conduit wiring there is a possibility of the conduit joints to become loose to be separated
resulting in high resistance in the earth path.

The test shall be made when the normal supply is disconnected from the final sub-circuit under
test. One end of the earth-continuity conductor shall be connected to a cable of known resistance.
An AC voltage not exceeding 40 V at approximately the frequency of supply shall then be applied
between the other end of the earth conductor and the other end of the cable. Subject to the
requirement for the total earth loop impedance, it is satisfactory if, after allowance has been made
for the return conductor, value not exceeding 0.5 ohm for the ratio voltage/current is obtained
where steel conduit or pipe form part or whole of the earth-continuity conductor, or a value of 1
ohm where the earth-continuity conductor is composed entirely of copper, copper alloy or
aluminum.

4. Testing of earth electrode resistance