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l3 - 304-11 - Handout - Efli 2018

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33 views4 pages

l3 - 304-11 - Handout - Efli 2018

Uploaded by

yousef mansour
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Buildings and Structures) Unit 304 Handout 11

304: Electrical Installations: inspection, testing and commissioning


Handout 11: Earth fault loop impedance
Learning outcome
The learner will:
6. Understand the requirements for testing energised installations.
Assessment criteria
The learner can:
6.1 state the procedures for confirming polarity of the incoming supply
6.3 describe common earth fault loop paths
6.4 state the methods for verifying protection by automatic disconnection of supply.
Range
Common earth fault loop paths: TT, TN-S, TN-C-S.
Methods for verifying protection: The measurement of the external earth fault loop impedance
(Ze) and the system earth fault loop, Impedance (Zs), Establishing Ze by enquiry, Calculation of the
value of Zs from given information, Comparing measured Zs values with the maximum tabulated
figures as specified in BS7671 including the application of the correction factor.

Earth fault loop impedance (643.7.3 – page 235)


Where protective measures are used, which require knowledge of earth fault loop impedance, the
relevant impedances shall be measured or determined by an alternative method.
The earth fault current loop comprises the following parts, starting at the point of the fault on the
line-earth loop:
1. Circuit protective conductor
2. The main earthing terminal and earthing conductor
3. For TN systems, the metallic return path or, in the case of TT and it systems, the earth
return path
4. The path through the earthed neutral point of the supply transformer
5. The source line winding
6. The line conductor from the source to the point of the fault.
The impedance of this fault path, the ‘earth fault loop impedance’, is denoted by the symbol ZS.
The earth fault current path for a TN-S system is shown in the diagram below:

© 2018 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved Page 1 of 4
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Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Buildings and Structures) Unit 304 Handout 11
The earth fault current path for a TN-C-S system is shown in the diagram below:

The earth fault current path for a TT system is shown in the diagram below:

Earth fault loop impedance testing


The earth fault loop impedance (Zs) is required to be determined for the furthest point of each
circuit. It may be determined by:
1. measurement of R1 + R2 during continuity testing (see earlier notes) and adding to Ze, ie
Zs = Ze + (R1 + R2)
were Ze is determined by:
 measurement (see below), or
 enquiry of the electricity supplier, or
 calculation, or
2. direct measurement using an earth fault loop impedance tester.

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Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Buildings and Structures) Unit 304 Handout 11
Confirming polarity of the incoming supply
Before any live testing is carried out, the correct polarity of the supply must be confirmed. If the
supply polarity is incorrect, ie transposed line and neutral, there could be very serious risk of
electric shock to anyone using the installation.
In theory, an earth fault loop impedance tester could be used as this has polarity indications. An
alternative method of confirming supply polarity is by using a GS38 approved voltage indicator and
carrying out the following steps at the supply intake point:
Step 1: Test between Line and Neutral – should indicate 230 volts.
Step 2: Test between Line and Earth – should indicate 230 volts.
Step 3: Test between Neutral and Earth – should indicate 0 volts.
Measurement of (R1 + R2) to add to Ze
While testing the continuity of protective conductors of radial circuits or while testing the continuity
of ring final circuits, the value of (R1 + R2) is measured.
The measured value of (R1 + R2) for the final circuit should be added to the value of (R1 + R2) for
any distribution circuit supplying the final circuit, to give the total (R1 + R2) from the origin of the
installation.
Direct measurement of Zs
Direct measurement of ZS can only be made on a live installation so for safety reasons the
connection with earth or bonding conductors should not be disconnected. Readings given by the
loop impedance tester may be less than Ze + (R1 + R2) because of parallel earth return paths
provided by any bonded extraneous-conductive-parts. This must be taken into account when
comparing the results with design data.

Care should be taken during the tests to avoid any shock hazard to the testing personnel, other
persons or livestock on site.

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Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Buildings and Structures) Unit 304 Handout 11
Verification of test results
Values of Zs should be compared with one of the following:
1. Tabulated values in BS 7671:2018 (Tables 41.2 (page 61), 41.3 (page 62), 41.4 (page 63)
and 41.5 (page 64)), corrected for temperature.
2. Rule-of-thumb figures.
3. Earth fault loop impedance figures provided by the designer.
The circuit loop impedances in Tables 41.2, 41.3 and 41.4 have been determined using a value for
factor Cmin of 0.95. Cmin is the minimum voltage factor to take account of voltage variations
depending on time and place, changing of transformer taps and other considerations.
Rule-of-thumb figures
As a rule of thumb, the measured value of earth fault loop impedance for each circuit at the most
remote outlet should not exceed 0.8 of the relevant value in BS 7671:2018 tables. This takes into
account the increase of resistance of the conductors with the increase in temperature due to load
current and errs on the side of safety.
Determining Ze
The reasons that Ze is required to be measured are two-fold:
 To verify that there is an earth connection.
 To verify that the Ze value is equal to or less than the value determined by the designer and
used in design calculations.
Ze is measured using an earth fault loop impedance tester at the origin of the installation.
The impedance measurement is made between the line of the supply and the means of earthing
with the main switch open or with all the circuits isolated.
The main earthing conductor must be disconnected from the installation earthed equipotential
bonding for the duration of the test, to remove parallel paths that would reduce the measured value
of Ze.
Care should be taken to avoid any shock hazard to the testing personnel and other persons on the
site, both whilst establishing contact, and performing the test.
ENSURE THAT THE EARTH CONNECTION HAS BEEN REPLACED BEFORE RECLOSING
THE MAIN SWITCH.

© 2018 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved Page 4 of 4

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