EARTHING OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS:

FUNDAMENTALS
EARTHING & GROUNDING
 DISTINCTION BETWEEN GROUNDING AND EARTHING
• Grounding implies connection of current carrying parts to ground. It is mostly either generator
or transformer neutral. Hence it is popularly called ‘neutral grounding’. Grounding is for
equipment safety.
• Earthing implies connection of non-current carrying parts to ground like metallic enclosures.
Earthing is for human safety.
• The above definition is not rigid. Many times terms earthing and grounding are used
interchangeably. By context the terms are interpreted either as neutral earthing or body earthing.

Neutral Grounding & Earthing

 THE FOUR CONSTITUENTS IN SYSTEM OF EARTHING
• First is the Power System which is the active
component.
• Second is the earthing system to provide a return path
for current to return to source.
• Third is the human being for whose safety the earthing
system is designed.
• Fourth is ‘earth’ which is the medium for carrying
return fault current.
• It is not mandatory to have fourth element ‘earth’ for
carrying fault current back to source as in case of ships
or oil platforms.

4
 EARTH AS A CONDUCTOR
Resistance of element is given by: R= ῥL/A in Ὼ (Ohms)
L: Length of element (M); A: Cross sectional Area (M2); &
ῥ: Resistivity of element
ῥ= RA/L ; measured in ῺM
Hence, the unit of dimension for resistivity of any element including
soil is OHM-M. It is the resistance offered between two faces by 1M
cube.
Contrary to popular perception, ‘mother earth’ is a bad conductor.
Resistivity of earth is typically 100ῺM.
In comparison, Resistivity of copper is 1.7x10-8 Ὼ M and GI is 10-7
ῺM.
Taking 25x4 mm Cu as reference, to obtain the same resistance, the
size of GI will be 65x10 mm.
Comparison of resistivity among earth, GI & Copper
The corresponding figure for earth is 800x800 meters (158 acres)!
This comparison clearly shows that wherever possible, metallic
conductor is a preferred alternative to earth to bring the fault current
back to the source..
5
 EFFECT OF MOISTURE ON SOIL RESISTIVITY

One M3 of soil weighs approximately

1500 Kg.
If moisture content is less than 10% of soil
weight, there is steep increase in
resistivity.
Addition of water increases moisture
content in soil with corresponding
reduction in resistivity.
If moisture content is more than 25%, the
soil is almost saturated with water and
there is not much reduction in resistivity Moisture Vs Soil Resistivity

thereafter.

6
 EFFECT OF SALT ON SOIL RESISTIVITY
Even minute amount of salt results in sharp decrease in
resistivity. This decrease is possible with only sufficient
moisture content. Addition of salt to dry soil will not result
in much improvement.
Generally used salts are Sodium chloride (Common Salt),
Copper Sulphate, Calcium Chloride and Magnesium
Sulphate.
Addition of salt in soil results in corrosion of metal
(electrode) embedded in soil.
When sizing electrodes, the size is increased to account for
corrosion. The corrosion allowance is generally taken as
15%.
Effect of Salt in Soil resistivity
To mitigate the effect of corrosion, instead of salt,
alternative substances have been tried for treating the soil
to reduce resistivity.
7
 EFFECT OF ARTIFICIAL TREATMENT
Bentonite clay (chemical name is sodium montmorillonite) is a
popular alternative widely used. It is very benign on metals.
Resistivity of Bentonite is less than 5 ῺM.
The electrode (say 50 mm dia, 3M long GI) is surrounded by a
mix of Bentonite and native soil.
The typical mix is 1:5 (Bentonite to soil) by weight.
However abundant water supply shall be ensured when soil is
treated with Bentonite clay to achieve desired reduction in
resistivity.
Carbon based backfill compounds are also available and is
claimed to be as effective as Bentonite.

Effect of artificial treatment of soil with salt is given in Figure.

After treatment there is decrease in resistivity. But with time,
there is a gradual increase in resistivity as salt is washed away
by continual water seepage.
Typically re-treatment of soil is done every three to five years. 8
 EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON SOIL RESISTIVITY
It is relevant only in very cold climates. Resistivity decreases
with increase in temperature.
In summer resistivity is less and in winter resistivity is more.
Performance of soil is better (like battery) at higher
temperature.
Effect of temperature on resistivity is not serious until
freezing point is approached.
Near 00C, resistivity abruptly rises to a very high value.
Even though the atmospheric temperature may be near zero,
just a few meters below the ground, the ground temperature
is much higher.
This is the reason earth electrodes are buried deep down the
ground in cold climates.
The converse is also true. Even if atmospheric temperature is
high, the soil temperature one meter below ground can be
30C to 50C lower. 9
 SOIL RESISTIVITY MEASUREMENT
The basic principle is to inject the current and measure the
voltage (not vice versa). It is in line with ultimate requirement
where the fault current is injected into the ground and Wenner’s Four Probe method
resulting Ground Potential Rise (GPR) is to be estimated.
The current (I) is injected between two outer electrodes.
Resulting voltage (V) is measured between two inner
electrodes. D is the length of test electrodes (0.5M to 3M) and
A is the distance between the electrodes. A is varied from 2 to
20M.
Resistivity is evaluated from following formula:
R = V/I
Since D << A; Resistivity = 2πAR
Measured resistivity for spacing A represents apparent soil
resistivity to depth of A.
Make measurements with different spacing.
If resistivity rapidly increases with spacing A, it Indicates
underlying stratum is rock and it is difficult to install earth
electrodes to great depths. 10
 ELECTRODE RESISTANCE TO EARTH
It is the resistance between metal of electrode
and general mass of earth. It is the resistance
between specific electrode and imaginary
electrode of zero resistance placed at infinite
distance. Actually, 95% of resistance is
contributed by soil within a few meters of
electrode.
A lot of conceptual confusion arises as the
practicing engineer extrapolates ‘conventional
ohms law resistance’ to electrode resistance. Electrode Resistance to Earth

It does not reflect the situation where you

apply a voltage across the electrode and
measure the current and the resulting
resistance is less than, say, 1Ohm.
11
 RESISTANCE AREA OF A DRIVEN ELECTRODE
For electrode resistance to earth, current is injected
into the earth by electrode and the electric field
travels through the earth. Current flows through a
series of hemispherical shells of earth of
continuously increasing cross section.

The voltage appears at certain distance from

electrode and the resulting impedance is ‘electrode
resistance to earth’.

In majority of power system applications, current is

injected into earth at the point of fault for a very Resistance area of a driven earth rod
short duration.
In High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS)
applications, load current (single phase) is injected
into earth on a continuous basis if earth return is
used. 12
 CT & EARTH ELECTRODE
• Conceptually CT and Earth Electrode are same.
• In CT, the initiating quantity is primary current
and the voltage appears on CT Secondary to
drive current through connected burden.
• In Earth Electrode, the initiating quantity is
ground fault current. This sets up electric field
that penetrates spherical shells of increasing
size. Voltage appears at any distance from
electrode. CT & Earth Electrode

• In soil resistivity measurement or Earth

Electrode resistance measurement, current is
injected and resultant voltage is measured.
13
 ELECTRODE RESISTANCE VS DISTANCE
Consider a hemispherical electrode used for injecting
the current. Refer Figure.
Surface area of hemispherical earth at a distance X from
electrode is 2πX2 (surface area of full sphere of radius X
is 4πX2).
The resistance offered by hemispherical earth of
elemental thickness dX is given by R = ῥL/A =
ῥdX/2πX2
Resistance offered by hemispherical earth of radius X
is given by:
Rₓ =
Using Eqn., the resistance as a function of distance from
electrode is shown in Figure.
The most striking aspect of this curve is that almost
95% of final resistance is contributed by soil within 5 Electrode Resistance Vs Distance
meters from electrode. 14
 Resistance offered by earth of same elemental thickness & Distance from Electrode

Resistance offered by elemental earth of same thickness decreases rapidly

with distance from electrode.

Resistance offered by earth of same elemental thickness

15
 Percentage contributions to total resistance
Consider two substations A and B 100 KM apart with
respective earth grids. Assume current is discharged at
A. Only the soil within first five meters from A offers
substantial resistance. The resistance offered by earth
subsequently to reach B is very minimal.
This confirms our practice of treating earth pits. By
treating the soil locally around the electrode we are
able to reduce electrode resistance, as the influence of
earth away from electrode is minimal.
Another way to appreciate ‘local effect’ is based on
the fact that earth with its huge mass offers almost
ideal equipotential surface. A very large charge is
required to change earth potential everywhere. Since
the capacitance (C) of earth is extremely large, change
in voltage is insignificant even if current (or charge) is
dumped to the earth as V = Q/C. Any disturbance due
to current injection is felt only locally. 16
 PIPE ELECTRODE OR DRIVEN ROD
• Pipe electrode driven vertically is one of the
most widely used electrodes in earthing
grids.
• The resistance area for this case is shown in
Figure.
• At sufficient distance from electrode, the
electric field encounters shells that are
almost hemispherical. Hence the conclusions
drawn for hemispherical electrode are valid
here also.
Resistance Area

17
 RESISTANCE Vs LENGTH OF PIPE ELECTRODE
Variation of resistance with length and diameter is
given in the graph.
The length of electrode has major impact while the
diameter has very minor influence.
As an example, consider the case for length of 6M.
For Dia = 2.5 cm, R = 17.4 Ohm
For Dia = 10 cm, R = 13.7 Ohm
For 300% increase in diameter, resistance
decreases by only 20%.
Resistance Vs Length of Pipe Electrode
Typically length of electrode is less than 4M and at
the most 6M. Beyond 6M, resistance value of
individual electrode is almost constant.
18
 STRIP OR HORIZONDAL WIRE ELECTRODE
• The earth mats of EHV switchyards extensively use strip or rod electrodes .
• Typical layout of earthing grid formed with strip electrodes is shown in
Figure below.

Strip Electrode Switchyard Earthing Grid

19
 RESISTANCE OF STRIP ELECTRODE
The resistance of strip electrode is given by the well known Ryder’s formula:
R=
L: Length in M; h: Depth in M; T: Width in Met (for strip) / 2 x diameter in M
for wire or rod

As in pipe electrode the length of

electrode has major impact while
the diameter has very minor
influence.
As an example, consider the case
for length of 50M.
For Dia = 5 cm, R = 3.7 Ohm For
Dia = 20 cm, R = 3.2 Ohm. For
300% increase in diameter,
resistance decreases by only 14%. Variation of Resistance with Length & Diameter/Width 20
 CIRCULAR Vs RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION
When applying Ryder formula, Strip with width ‘W’ can be
approximated to round conductor with diameter of ‘W/2’.

Strip Vs Round Electrode

21
 INFLUENCING FACTORS FOR ELECTRODE RESISTENCE
The major factor is the length.
Diameter/width (cross section) has very minor influence.
The other interesting observation is that the electrode resistance is
not dependent on type of electrode material like Cu, Al or GI.
It is a function of physical dimensions (mainly length) and not on
physical properties.
A horizontal earth strip of 75x10 mm Cu and 45x10 mm GI, both
of same length will offer almost same electrode resistance.
In conventional ohms law resistance, increased cross sectional
area or use of Cu would signify smaller resistance but they are Electrode Resistance Vs length & cross section
irrelevant as regards electrode resistance to earth is concerned.
Finally, the soil resistivity has a linear impact.
Summarizing, resistance of electrode to earth is proportional to
maximum dimension (length).
It is not much influenced by minor dimensions like diameter or
width.
22
It is independent of material.
 PLATE ELECTRODE
In early days only plate electrodes were used. It
was presumed that to get low electrode resistance
to earth, surface area should be large (again the
extrapolation of conventional ohms law concept).
This fallacy has persisted for a long time.
In the figure one electrode which is a solid plate
and the other an annular ring of 5 cm thickness
but both of them with same radius of 50 cm are
shown.
Calculations show that resistance to earth in both
Resistance to Earth- Plate Electrode
cases is 29.2 Ohm.
Even an annular ring of 1 cm thickness with
radius of 70 cm will have the same resistance to
earth (29.2Ohm).
23
 RESISTANCE TO EARTH OF PLATE / STRIP ELECTRODE
In Figure the plate electrode and strip
electrode are shown having same volume or
material.
But resistance to earth of plate electrode is
almost three times that of strip electrode.
Intuitively it can be seen that linear
dimension of plate electrode is 4M
(perimeter) while that of strip electrode is
13M thus affirming the hypothesis that Resistance –Plate/strip Electrode
electrode resistance is dominated by
‘length’ of electrode buried.
Thus it is concluded that plate electrode is
very inefficient. It is rarely used in modern
times. 24
 PARALLEL ELECTRODE
Two Driven Rods or Pipe Electrodes in Parallel
To obtain low effective earth grid resistance,
electrodes are connected in parallel.
If resistance to earth of one electrode is
2Ohm, the common perception is that
effective resistance will be 1Ohm if two
such electrodes are connected in parallel.
This is again due to our extrapolation of
‘conventional ohms law’ concept. Parallel Electrode
Theoretically, the effective resistance will
be half of 2Ohm provided the separation
distance between electrodes is adequate.

25
 OVERLAPING RESISTANCE AREAS

For discharging the electric field effectively,

each electrode needs exclusive soil below it.
If the rods are too close, resistance area of
one electrode will interfere with that from
other and expected gain is not realized.
Effective Resistance Vs Separation distance (2 rods)
Overlapping resistance are of two earth rods

26
 OVERLAPING RESISTANCE AREAS
As a rule of thumb, if the rod length is L,
minimum separation distance shall be 2L
wherever practicable. Effective resistance
will be 50% only for very large separation
distance,
If equipment body or neutral is to be
connected to two independent earth
electrodes, it is preferable to locate the two
electrodes on opposite sides of equipment Separation Distance
to achieve large separation distance.

27
 Three Driven Rods or Pipe Electrodes in Parallel
• The electrodes are placed at the corners of equilateral triangle. The
relationship between percentage effective resistance and separation distance
(sides of triangle) is shown in Figure. If the rod length is L, separation distance
shall be at least 2L. Effective resistance will be 33% only for very large
separation distance.

Three electrodes in parallel Effective Resistance Vs Separation Distance (3 rods)

28
 RESISTANCE OF EARTHING GRID
To measure the resistance of earthing grid correctly
we need to deal with the earthing grid as a whole
formed by a mesh of horizontal strip electrodes and
vertical rod electrodes as in EHV switchyard.
The resistance to earth of the entire grid is given by
the famous Sverak formula:
C=
RG=
2 Switchyard Earth Grid
h: Depth of the Grid in M; A: Area of Earthing Grid, M
L: Total length of the buried conductor including vertical electrodes in M

: Soil Resistivity in Ohm-M

29
 RESISTANCE OF RECTANGULAR EATHING GRID
• Need to deal with the earthing grid as a whole
• Gross errors can arise if the evaluation is done based on

For Vertical Electrode

formula for individual electrodes

L=6M, Dia=0.05M(2”)
For Horizontal Electrode
T=0.1M,
Nx=Conductors in X direction=6
Ny= Conductors in Y direction=9 Rectangular Earthing Grid
LH= 9x50 + 6x80 = 930M
LV= 18x6 = 108M
L= LH+LV = 930+108 =1038M
h= 0.5M; 100ΩM, A= 80x50 = 4000 M
as per Sverak formula RG = 0.79 Ω 30
 RESISTANCE OF RECTANGULAR EATHING GRID
It is found that RG obtained through Sverak formula is much greater than that
derived from series and parallel combination of horizontal and vertical
electrodes.
This is due to the fact that resistance areas of earth for individual electrodes are
not exclusive and partially overlap which is accounted for in Sverak’s formula.
If GPR (Ground Potential Rise), Step and Touch potentials are calculated based
on series and parallel combination, it could result in unsafe design.
The earth grid resistance, as per Sverak’s formula, is not dependent on type of
electrode material like Cu, Al or GI.
It is also not dependent on cross section of individual electrode.
It is a function of physical dimensions (mainly length) and not on physical
properties.
31
 METHOD TO REDUCE EARTH GRID RESITANCE
As per Sverak formula two possibilities exists.
(i) One method is to reduce soil resistivity to a low value. This can be
obtained by treating the immediate soil surrounding the electrodes as
described earlier.
It must be note that treated earth pits are required only in case of
minor isolated systems like small substations, feeder pillars, lighting
poles, HVDS transformers etc. Treating of earth pits may not have
much value addition in majority of earthing grids where the length of
buried conductors and area enclosed are very large.
(ii) The second method is to increase the length of buried conductor
to the maximum extent possible. Also increase the area enclosed
using peripheral conductors.
32
 MEASUREMENT OF ELECTRODE RESISTANCE
Fall of Potential Method is the most wide spread
method used in practice. It consists of two current
electrodes (one is electrode under test CET and
the other is reference electrode CER) and one
potential electrode VE. Refer Figure.
CET can be a single electrode or earthing grid.
Test Current (I) enters here.
CER is a reference electrode at sufficient distance
(L) from electrode under test.
Test current leaves this electrode. Fall of Potential Method

VE is potential electrode placed between current

Take three measurement with
electrodes. L_P = L/2; L_P = L/2 +D; L_P = L/2 – D
The voltage (V) is measured between CET and
VE. If the three readings agree within tolerable
accuracy, average of three reading can be33take as
Electrode or Grid Resistance = V/I Ohm Electrode or Grid resistance
 MEASUREMENT OF ELECTRODE RESISTANCE
If the three readings vary widely, the resistance areas
described is interfere with each other.
To better the accuracy, readings are taken with increased
spacing ‘L’ to minimize interference in resistance areas.
It is not necessary for Potential Electrode VE to be in the
same line with other electrodes. In fact better accuracy is
obtained in 90° connection in which current leads and
potential leads are 90° apart.
Higher ‘L’ will yield more faithful results. But there
could be limitation due to site constraints. It could vary
from a few meters (in small substations) to a few
hundred meters in case of large switchyards. D depends
on available L and is in the range of 2 to 10 meters.
In case of large switch yards with small grid resistance,
xxx
it is very difficult to measure grid resistance accurately
at site. 34
 MEASUREMENT OF ELECTRODE RESISTANCE
In case of large power plants, earthing grids of constituent elements like 765kV
switchyard, 400kV switchyard, 132kV switchyard, Transformer Yard, TG building,
etc are all interconnected in a tight mesh and it is very difficult to isolate one
element completely for site measurement purposes. For these reasons, the
purported value of earth grid measurement at site suffers from doubtful
accuracy.
Hence the measurement of only isolated earth electrodes gives more realistic
result. However isolating individual vertical electrodes from grid and measuring
its resistance in large switch yard does not have any value addition since
effective resistance is more influenced by kilometers of horizontal rod or strip
electrode buried in ground.

35
 ELECTRODE SIZING
The Choices for type of material and
size are only with respect to the
amount of fault current to be The current density (A/mm2 )
discharge to earth. as per IS-3043(23) or IEC
Earthing grid for EHV switch yard is 60865 -1(32)is given below
designed for 0.5 sec duty and 1 sec
duty is selected for others.
Kindly note that design of current
density for sizing of copper conductor
is typically 3A/mm2 for steady state
operation.
36
 EHV EARTHING GRID DESIGN WITH GI
( Fault current 40kA for duration of 0.5 sec.)
Current density requirement for GI = 113A/mm2
Section required = 40000/113 = 353 mm2
Desired cross section = 353 x 1.15 = 406 mm2
For Strip Electrode, size = 50 x 8 mm; Area - 400 mm2
For Rod Electrode, size = 23 mm dia; Area – 415 mm2
The most common size used in EHV switchyard are 32mm & 40 mm dia rods.
If electrode sizing is to be done for any arbitrary time ‘T’, the corresponding
current density is obtained form the following formula;
Electrode rating in A: ; K: Constant defined for 1 sec duty (eg: 80 for GI)
If GI electrode is to be sized for 0.7 sec,
Considering the mechanical strength & ruggedness, minimum size for main
earthing grid shall be 50 mm2 for GI and 25 mm2 for copper
37
 EARTHING ELECTRODE SELECTION
Except for carrying ground fault current for certain duration,
neither the material nor the cross section plays any
significant part in earthing grid design.
It may be mentioned here that they do not have significant
influence on Step and Touch potential either.
The choice of material is based on other considerations like
possibility of theft , corrosion etc.

38
EARTHING IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

39
 EARTHING IN LV SYSTEM
Case-1: Source Grounded, Equipment Ungrounded.
The source AB is grounded through Electrode at E1.
Let Electrode resistance be 1Ω.
C is the load.
RC: Equipment load resistance (eg. 58 Ω for 1kW load)
RH = Human body resistance, say 2kΩ
RI: Equipment Insulation resistance (MΩ) Source Grounded, Equipment ungrounded

Under healthy condition, RI is very high. Even if the

equipment surface is touched, the current through the
person is negligible.
Under insulation failure, RI is zero. Current through the
person when he touches the equipment surface is
IH = = 240/(2000+1) = 120mA
This current is too small for the fuse to operate but high
enough to cause injury to a person. Equivalent Circuit
40
 EARTHING IN LV SYSTEM
Case-2: Source Grounded, Equipment Grounded
Source & Equipment grounded through
electrodes E1 & E2. Electrode resistance to earth
of E2 also be 1 Ω
Under insulation failure, RI = 0
REQ = RE2 // RH = 1 // 2000 = 1 Ω Source Grounded Equipment Grounded
IF= = 240/(1+1) = 120
IH = x 120 = 60 mA
The fault current IF is significant but not high
enough and fuse may or may not trip in desired
time.
Current through the body is less but may still
cause injuries. Equivalent Circuit 41
 EARTHING IN LV SYSTEM
(Case-3: Source Grounded, Equipment Grounded with Bonding Conductor)
It is same as case-2 but bonding conductor
running between equipment and source.
Bonding establishes direct metallic connection
between equipment and source. The resistance
of the bonding conductor RB is small. In case of
insulation failure, majority of the fault current
returns to source through the metal and Earthed with bonding conductor
negligible current through earth ensuring
human safety. The fault current magnitude is
significantly higher due to low resistance
metallic return path and positive fault isolation
by fuse or circuit breaker is ensured.
The increased safety offered by widely used
‘Three Pin Socket’ is obvious now. Equivalent Circuit 42
 SAFE EARTHING
• In top figure, earth continuity
conductor is absent. In case of
insulation failure, the current returns
through body. This is unsafe earthing.
• In bottom figure Earth Continuity
conductor is present (third wire). In
case of insulation failure, the current
returns through the metallic third wire.
This is safe earthing.

43
 SAFE EARTHING
The above studies illustrate an important concepts that in LV systems, for getting
the fault current back to source, ‘mother earth’ should not dependent upon. The
fault current shall be carried back to source through metallic connection (e.g.
cable armour, dedicated earth strips say 25 x 3 mm, etc).
Since no current injected into the earth, touch and step potentials are irrelevant
in these cases.
In fact, as per NEC, Sec 250.4(A)(5), “ the earth shall not be considered as an
effective ground –fault current path”. Earth can be only supplementary to a
metallic return path for flow of current back to source neutral.
Even the Indian Standard (IS 3043) recognizes this fact. In Cl 0.3, it mentions
that ‘ As a matter of fact, earth now rarely serves as a part of the return circuit,
but being used mainly for fixing the voltage of the system neutrals.
44
 EARTHING IN TPN SYSTEM
• Applicable only in industrial plant
environment and not in utility
1.
distribution system.
• Two alternatives are shown.
• Single phase loads that may present
at MCC & PCC are not shown
explicitly.
2.

45
 EARTHING IN TPN SYSTEM
In alternative 1, the neutral must carry only the steady state unbalance current
whilst the earthing conductor shall carry only ground fault current. Neutral and
earthing conductor shall be interconnected only at the neutral of the feeding
transformer.
In alternative 2, Neutral and protective earth wire are connected and bonded
to earth.
Alernative-1 is rarely achieved in field. The earthing conductor can run along
cable trays from MCC to PCC to transformer and cable tray support structures
are earthed. Only difference is that unlike alternative 2, no intentional earthing
arrangement is made at local PCC or MCC.
For positive clearing of earth faults, it must be ensured that armour of all
cables emanating from MCC & PCC are firmly bonded to the earth bus of PCC
& MCC. It is to ensure that ground fault current returns to source (transformer)
neutral via metal. 46
 (Mis) Interpretations of CEA Safety regulation:
Transformer Neutral & Body earthing
“Neutral of the transformer shall be connected to two separate earth electrodes.
Similarly body of the transformer shall be connected to two separate earth
electrodes”
The regulation 41(xii) & (xiii)states as follows:
• “The neutral point of every generator and transformer shall be earthed by
connecting it to the earthing system by not less than two separate and distinct
connections.”
• “(xii) the frame of every generator, stationary motor, portable motor, and the
metallic parts, not intended as conductors, of all transformers and any other
apparatus used for regulating or controlling electricity, and all electricity
consuming apparatus, of voltage exceeding 250 V but not exceeding 650 V shall
be earthed by the owner by two separate and distinct connections with earth.”
The emphasis of the above rule is to ensure last mile connectivity of metal. 47
 (Mis) Interpretations of CEA Safety regulation:
LA Earthing
• Reg-74(2): “The earthing lead for any lightning arrestor shall not pass through any iron
or steel pipe, but shall be taken as directly as possible from the lightning arrestor without
touching any metal part to a separate vertical ground electrode or junction of the earth
mat already provided for the sub-station of voltage exceeding 650 V subject to the
avoidance of bends wherever practicable.”
Two separate earth electrodes are not mandatory. Two separate connections from LA to
earth grid are also acceptable. Only caution is that the lead length must be as short as
possible without sharp bends. For this reason usually two treated earth pits are created near
to LA. The function of earth pit is to drain the electric charges from lightning strike to
ground effectively. Step and Touch potentials are irrelevant in this case as the current
duration is of the order of micro seconds. The earth pits created for LA shall also be
connected to main earth grid which will reduce overall earth grid resistance. The down
leads from LA to earth pass through surge counters on structures. Surge counters must be
insulated from support to avoid bypass of surge.

48
 BUS DUCT EARTHING
When any earth fault occurs
within the bus duct, it is
essential that the current
returns back to source vis the
metal for positive operation
of the protection system. To
achieve this, each bus duct
shall have an earth bus
running full length on the
outside.
49
 CLEAN EARTH: EARTHING OF EQUIPMENTS IN DCS OR
SCADA

i. Phase wire (P)

ii. Neutral Wire (N)
iii.Power Earth Bus (PG)
iv. Single Earth Bus (IG1): Instrumentation
Ground 1
v. Sheath Earth Bus (IG2): ): Instrumentation
Ground 2
• IG1 & IG2 are insulated from panel body.
• The sheath earthing is done only at one end,
generally at panel end.
50
 SOLAR FARMS
Solar PV modules are mounted on structural
steel members which are embedded in
ground and behave as earth electrodes.
These steel members along with module
frames are connected with each other and
bonded to the buried strip.
For utility scale PV plants, 25x3 mm GI
strip buried at a depth of 600 mm is
adequate.
For Lightning protection, ESEAT is used.
Redundant earth pit connected to ESEAT
air termina through Single core 50mm2
cable of copper or aluminium is sufficient to
drain the lightning charges to ground.
51