EARTHING
Earth Continuity Conductor or Earth Wire
That part of the earthing system which interconnects the overall metallic parts of electrical installation
e.g. conduit, ducts, boxes, metallic shells of the switches, distribution boards, Switches, fuses,
Regulating and controlling devices, metallic parts of electrical machines such as, motors, generators,
transformers and the metallic framework where electrical devices and components are installed is
known as earth wire or earth continuity conductor as shown in the above fig.
The resistance of the earth continuity conductor is very low. According to IEEE rules, resistance
between consumer earth terminal and earth Continuity conductor (at the end) should not be increased
than 1Ω. In simple words, resistance of earth wire should be less than 1Ω. Size of the Earth Continuity
Conductor or Earth Wire depends on the cable size used in the wiring circuit.
Size of Earth Continuity Conductor
The cross sectional area of the Earth Continuity Conductor should not be less than the half of the
cross sectional area of the thickest wire used in the electrical wiring installation.
Generally, the size of the bare copper wire used as earth continuity conductor is 3SWG. But keep in
mind that, don’t use less than 14SWG as earth wire. Copper strip is also can be used as earth continuity
conductor instead of bare copper wire but don’t go for it until manufacture recommend it.
Size of the Earthing Lead
The size or area of earthing lead should not be less than the half of the thickest wire used in the
installation.
The largest size for earthing lead is 3SWG and the minimum size should not be less than 8SWG. If
37/.083 wire is used or the load current is 200A from the supply voltage, then it is recommended to use
copper strip instead of double earthing lead. The earth lead connection methods is shown in the above
fig.
Note: We will post additional article about Earth Plate size with simple calculations… Stay tune.
Size of Earthing Electrode
Both copper and iron can be used as earthing electrode.
The size of earth electrode (In case of copper)
2×2 (two foot wide as well as in length) and 1/8 inch thickness.. I.e. 2’ x 2’ x 1/8”. (600x600x300 mm)
In case of Iron
2’ x2’ x ¼” = 600x600x6 mm
It is recommended to bury the earth electrode in the moisture earth. If it is not possible, then put water
in the GI (Galvanized Iron) pipe to make possible the moisture condition.
In the earthing system, put the earth electrode in vertical position (underground) as shown in the above
fig. Also, put a 1 foot (about 30cm) layer of powdered charcoal and lime mixture around the earth
plate (don’t confuse with earth electrode and earth plate as both are the same thing).
This action makes the possible increase in the size of the earth electrode which leads a better continuity
in the earth (earthing system) and also helps to maintain the moisture condition around earth plate.
Earth Plate or Earth Electrode Size for Small installation
In small installation, use metallic rod (diameter = 25mm (1inch) and length = 2m (6ft) instead of earth
plate for earthing system. The metallic pipe should be 2 meter below from the surface of ground. To
maintain the moister condition, put 25mm (1inch) coal and lime mixture around the earth plate.
For effectiveness and convenience, you may use the copper rods 12.5mm (0.5 inch) to 25mm (1 inch)
diameter and 4m (12ft) length. We will discuss the installation method of rod earthing latter.
Methods of Earthing | Types of Earthing
Earthing can be done in many ways. The various methods employed in earthing (in house wiring or
factory and other connected electrical equipment and machines) are discussed as follows:
1). Plate Earthing:
In plate earthing system, a plate made up of either copper with dimensions 60cm x 60cm x 3.18mm
(i.e. 2ft x 2ft x 1/8 in) or galvanized iron (GI) of dimensions 60cm x 60cm x 6.35 mm (2ft x 2ft x ¼ in) is
buried vertical in the earth (earth pit) which should not be less than 3m (10ft) from the ground level.
For proper earthing system, follow the above mentioned steps in the (Earth Plate introduction) to
maintain the moisture condition around the earth electrode or earth plate.
2). Pipe Earthing:
A galvanized steel and a perforated pipe of approved length and diameter is placed vertically in a wet
soil in this kind of system of earthing. It is the most common system of earthing.
The size of pipe to use depends on the magnitude of current and the type of soil. The dimension of the
pipe is usually 40mm (1.5in) in diameter and 2.75m (9ft) in length for ordinary soil or greater for dry and
rocky soil. The moisture of the soil will determine the length of the pipe to be buried but usually it should
be 4.75m (15.5ft).
3). Rod Earthing
it is the same method as pipe earthing. A copper rod of 12.5mm (1/2 inch) diameter or 16mm (0.6in)
diameter of galvanized steel or hollow section 25mm (1inch) of GI pipe of length above 2.5m (8.2 ft)
are buried upright in the earth manually or with the help of a pneumatic hammer. The length of
embedded electrodes in the soil reduces earth resistance to a desired value.
4). Earthing through the Waterman
In this method of earthing, the waterman (Galvanized GI) pipes are used for earthing purpose. Make
sure to check the resistance of GI pipes and use earthing clamps to minimize the resistance for proper
earthing connection.
If stranded conductor is used as earth wire, then clean the end of the strands of the wire and make sure
it is in the straight and parallel position which is possible then to connect tightly to the waterman pipe.
5). Strip or Wire Earthing:
In this method of earthing, strip electrodes of cross-section not less than 25mm x 1.6mm (1in x 0.06in)
is buried in a horizontal trenches of a minimum depth of 0.5m. If copper with a cross-section of 25mm
x 4mm (1in x 0.15in) is used and a dimension of 3.0mm2 if it’s a galvanized iron or steel.
If at all round conductors are used, their cross-section area should not be too small, say less than
6.0mm2 if it’s a galvanized iron or steel. The length of the conductor buried in the ground would give a
sufficient earth resistance and this length should not be less than 15m.
General method of Earthing / Proper Grounding Installation
(Step by Step)
The usual method of earthing of electric equipments, devices and appliances are as follow:
1. First of all, dig a 5x5ft (1.5×1.5m) pit about 20-30ft (6-9 meters) in the ground. (Note that, depth and width
depends on the nature and structure of the ground)
2. Bury an appropriate (usually 2’ x 2’ x 1/8” (600x600x300 mm) copper plate in that pit in vertical position.
3. Tight earth lead through nut bolts from two different places on earth plate.
4. Use two earth leads with each earth plate (in case of two earth plates) and tight them.
5. To protect the joints from corrosion, put grease around it.
6. Collect all the wires in a metallic pipe from the earth electrode(s). Make sure the pipe is 1ft (30cm) above the
surface of the ground.
7. To maintain the moisture condition around the earth plate, put a 1ft (30cm) layer of powdered charcoal
(powdered wood coal) and lime mixture around the earth plate of around the earth plate.
8. Use thimble and nut bolts to connect tightly wires to the bed plates of machines. Each machine should be
earthed from two different places. The minimum distance between two earth electrodes should be 10 ft (3m).
9. Earth continuity conductor which is connected to the body and metallic parts of all installation should be tightly
connected to earth lead.
10. At last (but not least), test the overall earthing system through earth tester. If everything is going about the
planning, then fill the pit with soil. The maximum allowable resistance for earthing is 1Ω. If it is more than 1
ohm, then increase the size (not length) of earth lead and earth continuity conductors. Keep the external ends
of the pipes open and put the water time to time to maintain the moisture condition around the earth electrode
which is important for the better earthing system.
SI specification for Earthing
Various specifications in respect to earthing as recommended by Indian Standards are given below.
Here are few;
• An earthing electrode should not be situated (installed) close to the building whose installation system is being
earthed at least more than 1.5m away.
• The earth resistance should be low enough to cause the flow of current sufficient to operate the protective
relays or blow fuses. It’s value is not constant as it varies with weather because it depends on moisture (but
should not be less than 1 Ohm).
• The earth wire and earth electrode will be the same material.
• The earthing electrode should always be placed in a vertical position inside the earth or pit so that it may be
in contact with all the different earth layers.
