1

EARTHING
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 of 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 an immediate
discharge of electrical energy takes place without danger.

Earth Electrodes Resistance

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

Electrode auxiliary
electrodes

R(ohm)

1.5m 3m 6m Distance(m)
Fig.1

The value of this electrode resistance will depend on the length and cross-sectional
area of the electrode and the type of the soil.

Typical Value of Soil Resistivity in Ohms

Garden Soil 5 to 50
Clay 10 to 100
Sand 250 to 500
Rock 1000 to 10,000
Earth-fault-loop path
Fig. 2 shows the path taken by an earth-fault current. This system has a direct
connection of the supply transformer to earth and a direct connection of the installation
metalwork to earth.

By Sintayehu Challa
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Consumer’s installation
protection
p

Supply Transformer LOAD

N

E
If CPC
General mass of earth

a) TT Supply system

R1
Protection
P P

Ze E Load R2

Fig 2
The total sum impedance of the individual parts of the path is known as the loop impedance,
Zs. This is made up of :
Ze which is the impedance external to the consumer’s intake terminals and include
the supply transformer secondary winding, the phase conductor and the metallic
return path (general mass of earth) back to the supply transformer earthing
arrangement.
The value of ZB depends on the type of supply system.

R1. Which is the resistance of the phase conductor from the supply intake position to
the final circuit load.

R2. Which is the resistance of the circuit protective conductor (CPC).

The total earth-loop impedance is thus:

Zs = Ze + (R1 + R2)Ohms
and 1f = Vol ZS

Where If is the fault current and VS is the nominal voltage to earth (usually 220 V).

The loop impedance Ze external to the installation may be measured in existing

installations using a phase-to-earth loop impedance tester. However, when a building is noly
at the drawing board stage, we have three methods available to assess the value of Ze:

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(I) determine it from details (if available) of the supply transformer, the main distribution
cable and the proposed service cable: or
(II) measure it from the supply intake position of an adjacent building having service cable of
similar size and length to that proposed; or
(III) use maximum likely values issued by the supply authority. Having established ZS, the
resistance of the phase conductor (R1) plus the resistance of the CPC (R2), i.e. R1+R2
calculated for the type of conductor used (normally copper or aluminum).

Section D-2 of EELPA1 lists rules for the protection against earth-leakage currents.

D.13 Earth-leakage protection may be afforded by means of fuses or excess- current

circuit breakers provided that the earth fault current available to operate the
protective device and to make the faulty circuit dead exceeds;

(I) 3 times the current rating of any semi-enclosed fuse, or any cartridge fuse
used to protect the circuit(see Table below), or
(II) 1.5 times the tripping current of any excess current circuit breaker used to
protect the circuit.

Maximum earth-loop impedance for earth-leakage

Protection by semi-enclosed fuses or cartridge fuses,

Current Rating of Fuse Impedance

Amperes Ohms
5 16
10 8
15 5.5
20 4
25 3.1
35 2.2
45 1.7
60 1.3
100 0.8
In the TT system where the mass of the earth is part of the fault path, the maximum
values of ZS given in table above may be hard to satisfy. In addition, climatic conditions will
after the resistance of the earth in such a way that ZS may be satisfactory in wet weather but
not in very dry.
D.14 Where the requirements of Regulation D.13 cannot be satisfied, earth leakage
protection shall be provided by one or more earth-leakage circuit breakers.
D.15 A current-operated earth-leakage circuit-breaker shall be used only where the
product of its operating current in amperes and the earth loop impedance does not exceed
40 V. Where such a circuit breaker is used, the consumer’s earthing terminal shall be
connected to suitable earth electrode.

1 See EELPA’s Regulation SECTION D-2.

By Sintayehu Challa
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Testing of Installation

The tests to be performed before a new installation or an addition to an existing

installation is connected to the supply mains are as follows:

1. Insulation Resistance
1.1. The insulation resistance between the wiring and earth with all fuses (breakers)
and lamps in and all switches ‘ON’
1.2. 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.

1.1. 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 an insulation test ensure
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
on the installation side.

N Final
Circuits
Insulation
Resistance All Switches
Tester Closed
DB

Fig. 1. Insulation Resistance to Earth

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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 1 Mega ohm. Very
220v
small leakage current (IL =
1 MΩ

1.2. Testing of Insulation Resistance Between Conductors

The objective of this test is to ensure that the insulation is sound between the
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 all the lamps
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.

Final Circuit

Insulation
Resistance
Tester
DB All switches closed

Fig. 2 Between Poles Test

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.

___________________________________________________________________________

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1
See EELPA’s regulation SECTION E-2
N

Lamp Holder
SW
Test Lamp
(Light)

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 3)

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 satistactory 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 Consumers Earth-Electrode Resistance

The following procedure shall be adopted where it is desired to measure the resistance
of the earth electrode, e.g. where the installation falls to satisfy the earth-loop
impedance test or where it is desired to check the continuity effected through an earth
electrode.

An alternating current of a steady value shall be passed between the earth

electrode x and an auxiliary earth electrode Y placed at such a distance from X that the
resistance areas of the two electrodes do not overlap. A second auxiliary earth
electrode, Z which may be a metal; spike driven into the ground, shall the be inserted
half-way between X and Y and the voltage drop between X and Z shall be measured.

The resistance of the earth electrodes is then the voltage between X and Z divided by
the current flowing between X and Y, provided that there is o overlap of the resistance
areas.

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To check that the resistance of the earth electrode is a true value, two further readings shall be
taken with the second auxiliary electrode Z moved 6 meters further and 6 meters nearer to X
respectively. If the three results are substantially in agreement, the mean of the three readings
shall be taken as the resistance of the earth electrode X. If there is no such agreement the test
shall be repeated with the distance X and Y increased.

The test can be performed with current at power frequency from a double wound
transformer, by means of a voltmeter and an ammeter or by means of an earth tester. The earth
tester is a special type of megger that sends AC through earth and DC through the measuring
instruments. It has got four terminals P1, C1, P2, C2. Two terminals P1 and C1 are shorted to
form a common point that is connected to earth electrode under test. The other two terminals
C2 and P2 are connected to the auxiliary electrodes Z and Y.

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Testing Earth-Fault Loop Impedance

Here is a test that has to be carried out on an energized installation, and hence
all necessary safety precautions must be taken.
The purpose of the test is to ensure that, in the event of a phase-to-earth fault,
enough current will flow around the earth fault loop path to operate the protection
within a specified time, for socket outlet circuits and bath rooms this specified time is
0.4s, and for fixed equipment circuits it is 5 s.

Care must be taken to ensure that if the circuit under test is earth leakage-
circuit breaker (ELCB) protected, then either the ELCB is bypassed or the test
instrument is one that is designed to not trip ELCB’s, as it will be seen that the test is
putting a phase-to-earth fault on the circuit under test.

By Sintayehu Challa