DVOC UNIT 5

Electrical Earthing :
Definition: The process of transferring the immediate discharge of the

electrical energy directly to the earth by the help of the low resistance
wire is known as the electrical earthing. The electrical earthing is done
by connecting the non-current carrying part of the equipment or
neutral of supply system to the ground.
The earthing provides the simple path to the leakage current. The
shortcircuit current of the equipment passes to the earth which has
zero potential. Thus, protects the system and equipment from damage.
When there is a fault in the machine or any electrical system, with the
help of the earth, the surge current goes to the ground, thus with the
help of the earth.
Types of Electrical Earthing

The electrical equipment mainly consists of two non-current carrying
parts. These parts are neutral of the system or frame of the electrical
equipment. From the earthing of these two non-current carrying parts
of the electrical system earthing can be classified into two types.
 Neutral Earthing
 Equipment Earthing
Neutral Earthing:
In neutral earthing, the neutral of the system is directly connected to

earth by the help of the GI wire. The neutral earthing is also called the
system earthing. Such type of earthing is mostly provided to the system
which has star winding. For example, the neutral earthing is provided in
the generator, transformer, motor etc.
Equipment Earthing:
Such type of earthing is provided to the electrical equipment. The non-

current carrying part of the equipment like their metallic frame is
connected to the earth by the help of the conducting wire. If any fault
occurs in the apparatus, the short-circuit current to pass the earth by
the help of wire. Thus, protect the system from damage.
Methods of Earthing.
There are three methods of earthing, they are:
 Pipe earthing
 Plate earthing
 Rod earthing
 Strip earthing
Pipe earthing :
Pipe earthing is the best and most efficient way of earthing and is also
easily affordable. Pipe earthing uses 38mm diametre and 2 metres
length pipe vertically embedded in the ground to work as earth
electrodes.
Plate earthing :
In plate earthing, an earthing plate made of copper or G.I. is buried into
the ground at a depth more than 3 metres from the ground level. This
earthing plate is embedded in an alternative layer of coke and salts.
Rod earthing
Rod earthing is very similar to Pipe Earthing. In this copper, the rod
replaces the pipe electrode. A copper rod along with galvanized steel
pipe is placed upright in the ground, physically or externally forced by
using a hammer. The embedded electrode length and the earth
decrease the resistance of the earth to a preferable value.
Strip Earthing
Strip Earthing is the process of transmission of current from the
electrical appliances to the ground through a metallic strip of low
resistance. The strips used in earth stripping have a diameter of 6mm
and are galvanized in a hot-dipped solution. Then these strips are
installed in the ground with a depth of 0.5m in horizontal trenches.
Mostly strips made up of copper are used for grounding current
through the process of earth stripping.
The major benefit’s of electrical earthing are:
1. Ensures the safety of electrical appliances and devices from the
excessive amount of electric current.
2. Helps in the flow of electric current directly inside the ground.
3. Keeps the electric appliance safe from the damage
4. It protects building breakdown from the lightning
5. It shields from fire occurred because of an electric short circuit and
saves goods from fire.
6. Earthing helps in protecting overvoltage, stabilization of voltage.
7. Earthing prevents injury damage and death caused by electric current.
8. It helps to avoid the risk of fire in electrical installation systems.
9. The earthing protects the personnel from the shortcircuit current.
10.The earthing provides the easiest path to the flow of shortcircuit
current even after the failure of the insulation.
11.The earthing protects the apparatus and personnel from the high
voltage surges and lightning discharge.
Different Terms used in Electrical Earthing

 Earth: The proper connection between electrical installation systems
via conductor to the buried plate in the earth is known as Earth.
 Earthed: When an electrical device, appliance or wiring
systems connected to the earth through earth electrode, it is known
as earthed device or simple “Earthed”.
 Solidly Earthed: When an electric device, appliance or electrical
installation is connected to the earth electrode without a fuse, circuit
breaker or resistance/Impedance, It is called “solidly earthed”.
 Earth Electrode: When a conductor (or conductive plate) buried in
the earth for electrical earthing system. It is known to be Earth
Electrode. Earth electrodes are in different shapes like, conductive
plate, conductive rod, metal water pipe or any other conductor with
low resistance.
 Earthing Lead: The conductor wire or conductive strip connected
between Earth electrode and Electrical installation system and
devices in called Earthing lead.
 Sub Main Earthing Conductor: A wire connected between switch
board and distribution board i.e. that conductor is related to sub
main circuits.
 Earth Resistance: This is the total resistance between earth electrode
and earth in Ω (Ohms). Earth resistance is the algebraic sum of the
resistances of earth continuity conductor, earthing lead, earth
electrode and earth.
What is an Electrical Fault? Write Causes, its Effects

Definition: Electrical Fault is defined as the abnormality of a current in
the system due to which there is a failure of system equipment like
generators, transformers, lines, and other small equipment.
In other words, the ‘fault’ simply means a ‘defect’. Short circuits and
other abnormal conditions often occur on a power system. When there
is a heavy current during the short circuit, the equipment is likely to
cause damage to a piece of equipment, if there is no proper protective
device installed to it.
Therefore, an automatic protective device is needed in order to isolate

or cut the faulty elements as quickly as possible so that the healthy
section of a system runs in normal condition.
Causes of Electrical faults
Some of the causes of Faults in the electrical system can be due to:
1. Insulation failure or conducting path failures.

2. Overvoltage due to lightning or switching surges.
3. Punctured or breaking of insulator.
4. Certain foreign particles, such as fine cement dust or any dirt.
5. Conducting objects falling on the overhead lines like tree
branches.
6. Poor quality of the system components or because of a faulty
system design.
Causes of fault on overhead lines are direct lightning strokes, abnormal

loading, storms, earthquake, etc. On the other hand, cables,
transformers, generators and other equipment, the cause of faults is
the failure of solid insulations due to aging, heat, moisture or
overvoltage, mechanical damage, accidental contact with the earth, or
earthed screens, flashover due to overvoltage, etc.
Types of fault
The types of electrical fault are:
1. A three-phase fault : In this fault, all the three-phase may be

short-circuited to the ground or it may be short-circuited
without touching the ground.
2. Single-phase to Ground (L-G) Fault : A short circuit
between any one of the phases and the ground is called single-
phase to ground fault.
3. Two-phase to Ground (2L-G) Fault : A short circuit
between any two of the phases and the ground is called a
single-phase to ground fault.
4. Phase to Phase Fault (L-L) : A short circuit between any two
phases is called single-phase to ground fault.
5. Open-Circuited Phase : The fault that is caused by a break in
the conducting part is called the open-circuited phase.
Effects of Faults
A short circuit is the most common and dangerous type of fault, we will
discuss its effect on a power system.
1. Heavy short circuit current may cause damage to equipment due

to overheating & high mechanical forces.
2. Arc associating with short circuits may cause fire hazards.
3. The voltage will reduce from healthy feeders, resulting in industrial
loads.
4. There will be unbalancing of supply voltages and currents, thereby
heating the rotating machine.
5. A short circuit can lead to the interruption of supply to consumers,
thereby causing a loss of revenue.
6. The heavy current due to fault causes excessive heating which
may result in fire or explosion.
7. Damage to other apparatus in the system may be caused due to
overheating and due to abnormal mechanical forces set up.

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Electrical Earthing :

Definition: The process of transferring the immediate discharge of the

Types of Electrical Earthing

In neutral earthing, the neutral of the system is directly connected to

Such type of earthing is provided to the electrical equipment. The non-

Different Terms used in Electrical Earthing

What is an Electrical Fault? Write Causes, its Effects

Therefore, an automatic protective device is needed in order to isolate

1. Insulation failure or conducting path failures.

Causes of fault on overhead lines are direct lightning strokes, abnormal

1. A three-phase fault : In this fault, all the three-phase may be

1. Heavy short circuit current may cause damage to equipment due

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