PC57.13.

IEEE Guide for Grounding of

Instrument Transformer Secondary
Circuits and Cases
OUTLINE

Scope
References
Need for grounding; Warning
Definition of Instrument transformers
Grounding secondary circuits
 Grounding at a single location

 Conductor size for connecting to ground

Scope

The scope of the guide includes the grounding

practices presently used and the practices that
were not previously reported. Specifically, the
issue of the grounding of cases of electronic
transducers is addressed.
Covers

The practices described in this standard apply to

all instrument transformers, including capacitive
voltage transformers and linear couplers,
irrespective of primary voltage or whether the
primary windings are connected to, or are in,
power circuits or are connected in the secondary
circuits of other transformers as auxiliary cts or
vts.
Does not cover

This guide does not discuss the grounding of some

applications. For example, grounding of gas insulated
substations and metal clad switchgear is not discussed in
this guide; the reader will find these topics addressed in
reference [9] listed in clause 2. The grounding of circuits
of core-balance CTs is also not discussed in this guide.
The reader can find this information also in reference [9]
listed in clause 2. Another issue that is not discussed in
this guide is the practice of using separate safety and
control grounds. For discussion on this topic, the reader
is directed to reference [12] listed in clause 2.
References

[1] NFPA 70-2002, National Electricity Code® (NESC®)

[2] ANSI C2-2002, National Electrical Safety Code®
(NESC®)
[3] C37.103™-2004, IEEE Guide for Differential and
Polarizing Relay Circuit Testing
[4] C57.13.1™-1981 (Reaffirmed 1999), IEEE Guide for
Field Testing of Relaying Current Transformers
[5] C37.92™-2004, IEEE Trial Use Standard for Low
Energy Analog Signal Inputs to Protective Relaying
References
[6] C62.92™-2000, IEEE Guide for the Application of
Neutral Grounding in Electrical Utility Systems
[7] Std. 80™-2000, IEEE Guide for Safety in AC
Substation Grounding
[8] Std. 142™-1991, IEEE Recommended Practice for
Grounding of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems
[9] Std. 242™*2001, IEEE Recommended Practice for
Protection and Coordination of Industrial and Commercial
Power Systems
[10] Std. 518™-1982 (R1996), IEEE Guide for the
Installation of Electrical Equipment to Minimize Electrical
Noise Inputs to Controllers from External Sources
References

[11] Std. 525™-1992, IEEE Guide for the Design and

Installation of Cable Systems in Substations
[12] Std. 665-1995, IEEE Guide for Generating Station
Grounding
[13] Std. 1050-1996, IEEE Guide for Instrumentation and
Control Equipment Grounding in Generating Stations
[14] Std. 1100™-1999, IEEE Recommended Practice for
Powering and Grounding Electronic Equipment
[15] Std. 1143™-1994 (Reaffirmed 1999), IEEE Guide on
Shielding Practice for Low Voltage Cables
Need for Grounding Secondary Circuits

To protect equipment connected to the circuits

To Protect personnel who might come into
contact with the equipment
How the problem manifests
 When secondary circuit is not grounded
 When a case is not grounded
Voltage due to charge accumulation on an
ungrounded secondary circuit or case
Warning

Grounding of secondary circuits is an issue of

safety of personnel and equipment connected to
the secondary circuits. The reader is urged to
consider it seriously and follow the stipulations of
relevant standards and ensure that the
stipulations of the National Electrical Code [1]
and the National Electric Safety Code [2] are
always adhered to.
Warning

Article 90.2 (A) of National Electrical Code [1]

lists the installations that are covered by the
Code [1] and Article 90.2 (B) lists the installations
that are not covered by the Code. For immediate
reference of the readers, Article 90.2 of National
Electrical Code [1] is reproduced in Annex C.
Grounding of Instrument Transformer
Secondary Circuits

Definition of a secondary circuit for the purposes

of the guide
Issues
 Grounding at a single location

 Minimum size of the grounding conductor

Issues

Grounding at a single location

 Voltage at different locations of the physical
ground and circuits connected to ground is
different when fault currents flow
 Convenience of testing a secondary circuit

 Problem with forming a common neutral of

more than one instrument transformers and
then grounding the neutral bus
Isolation of all secondary circuits from
ground
Issues

Recommended point of grounding

 switchboard or relay panel

Grounding unused secondary windings

Grounding examples
Grounding 3  4 Wire VT Circuits
Grounding 3  3 Wire VT Circuits

PA

OPEN PB
DELTA
PC

CONNECTIONS TO
GROUND BUS AT
SWITCHBOARD
PA (#12 AWG CU
MINIMUM)
PB

WYE PC

NEUTRAL NOT BROUGHT

GROUND ISOLATING
OUT
CONNECTION
Grounding unused CTs
ISSUES

Minimum size of grounding conductor

 12 AWG required by NESC©
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS

VT circuits
Voltage provided from distribution transformers
Using Voltage from a Distribution Transformer
Generator Neutral Grounding Transformer

PG
TO GEN
NEUTRAL
TO RELAYS,
R OSCILLOGRAPH,
ETC.
PN

GROUND ISOLATING CONNECTION

SWITCHBOARD
STATION GROUND GROUND
MAT
Generator Neutral Grounding Transformer

PG
TO GEN
NEUTRAL
OPTIONAL
R CONNECTION TO RELAYS,
OSCILLOGRAPH,
ETC.
PN

CENTER TAP GROUND SOMETIMES

STATION GROUND USED SO THAT ACCIDENTAL GROUND
MAT ON PG WILL NOT COMPLETELY DISABLE
GENERATOR GROUND PROTECTION
Generator Neutral Grounding Transformer
Generator Grounding Transformer

TO RELAYS,
R OSCILLOGRAPH,
ETC.

GROUNDING
TRANSFORMER
Basic Synchroscope Circuit

PB 25 SCOPE 25 PB

CKT. 2 RUN INC CKT. 1

PN PN

GROUNDING ISOLATION
CONNECTION
Synchroscope with Multiple Incoming Circuits
Synchroscope with Multiple Incoming and Running
Circuits

PB 25-2 25-2 PB

PB 25-1 SCOPE 25-1 PB

CKT. 4 CKT. 3 RUN INC CKT. 1 CKT. 2

PN 25-1 25-1 PN

PN 25-2 25-2 PN

GROUNDS NOT NECESSARILY GROUNDING ISOLATION

ELECTRICALLY CLOSE CONNECTION
Synchroscope with Multiple Incoming and Running
Circuits using Isolating Transformers

PB 25-2 25-2
PB

PB 25-1 SCOPE 25-1

PB

CKT. 4 CKT. 3 RUN INC CKT. 1 CKT. 2

PN PN

PN PN

GROUNDING ISOLATION
CONNECTION
1 - 1 ISOLATING
TRANSFORMERS
Synchroscope with Synchronizing Lights

SYNCHRONIZING LIGHTS

25 25 PB
PB

CKT. 2 RUN INC CKT. 1

25 PN
PN

SCOPE OR
SYNC-CHECK
RELAY
GROUNDS SHOULD BE
ELECTRICALLY
AS GROUNDING
CLOSE AS PRACTICAL
ISOLATION
CONNECTION
THIS CONTACT PERMITS THE TWO VOLTAGE
CIRCUITS TO BE SEPARATELY GROUNDED
Grounding Distribution Station with one  used for
Instrumentation

SWITCHBOARD TERMINALS

PN

GROUND ISOLATION
CONNECTION

G(N)

NOTE: BECAUSE OF THE TWO GROUNDS

ON G(N), IT SHOULD BE SUFFICIENTLY
HEAVY SO THAT STATION GROUND
FAULTS WILL NOT CAUSE DAMAGE TO
G(N)
Grounding 1  CT Circuit

CP

BURDEN

CN
Grounding 1  CT Circuit

CP

BURDEN

CN

GROUND ISOLATION
CONNECTION
Grounding 3  CT Circuit
Grounding 3  CT Circuit
Grounding V Connected CT Circuit
Delta-Delta Connected CTs in a Differential
Protection Relay
Delta-Wye Connected CTs in a Differential
Protection Relay

A B C C B A
SWITCHBOARD
TERMINALS
DIFF.
RELAYS

CBC CBC

CBB CBB

CBA CBA

GROUND ISOLATION
CONNECTION
Percentage Bus Differential Scheme
SWITCHBOARD
TERMINALS RESTRAIN
T
CD3A
OPERATE
CD3B
TO CTS
ON CKT. 3 CD3C PHASE A

CD3N

CD2A

CD2B
TO CTS PHASE B
ON CKT. 2 CD2C

CD2N

A CD1A

B CD1B PHASE C
CKT. 1
C CD1C

CD1N

GROUND ISOLATION
CONNECTION
Ring Bus or Breaker and a Half Scheme

TO METERS,
RELAYS, ETC.

TERMINALS TERMINALS
AT CT LOCATION AT CT LOCATION

GROUND
ISOLATING
CONNECTION
SWITCHBOARD TERMINALS
(MAY BE SLIDING LINK
CONTROL HOUSE
TYPE
GROUND BUS
TO FACILITATE TESTING)
51-
A
51-B
51-C
Multiple use of CTs

51-C
51-B
51-
A
Grounding of Cases

Grounding metallic conductive cases

Insulated cases with conductive internal parts
Ungrounded metallic cases or internal parts
 Protected by suitable barriers or elevated to
prevent contact if operating voltage exceeds
1,000 V
Exceptions to Grounding

If the primary windings of instrument transformer

circuits are connected to circuits of less than
1000 V with no live parts or wiring exposed or
accessible to other than qualified persons, the
circuits may not be grounded.
Exceptions to Grounding

For instrument transformer cases, the cases or

frames of CTs may not be grounded if the
primary windings are not over 150 V to ground
and are used exclusively to supply current to
meters.
Exceptions to Grounding

Cases of instruments, meters, and relays

operating at less than 1000 V on switchboards
having exposed live parts on the front of panels
are not usually grounded. Mats of insulating
rubber or other suitable floor insulation is
provided where the voltage to ground exceeds
150 V.
Exceptions to Grounding

Instruments, meters, and relays, whose current-

carrying parts operate at voltages to ground of
1000 V and over, are isolated by elevating them
or protecting them by suitable barriers, grounded
metal or insulating covers, or guards. In such
situations, the cases are not usually grounded.
Grounding of Low-Energy Transducers
Grounding of Low-Energy Transducers
Grounding of Low-Energy Transducers
Annex A

Grounding of shielded cables

 To consider current carrying capacity of the
shield
 Cables with spiral design shields are grounded
at both ends
 Cables with drain wires are grounded at one
end
Annex A

CTs installed over shielded cables

Annex B

IEEE Standards reviewed by the WG

Annex C

Clause 90.2, Scope of National Electricity Code

 Type of installations covered by the Code

 Type of installations not covered bye the Code

 Special permission
ANNEX D

Survey of Grounding Practices

 Approximately one-third of the respondents do
not ground voltage transformers “at the first
point of use” as described in the Guide. The
Working Group is of the opinion that grounding
“at the first point of use” is better than
grounding at other locations.
 Almost all respondents indicated that current
transformers are grounded “at the first point of
use” as described in the Guide.