Grounding principle and
concept
Grounding philosophie,
computation and
measurement
Dr. Ir. DJOKO DARWANTO
Dr. Ing. DENY HAMDANI
INSTITUT TEKNOLOGI BANDUNG
GROUNDING PRINCIPLES
Grounding means connecting an object or electric circuit to
ground or earth with an electrical conductor
Grounding has four basic purposes:
1. Protect people from electrical shock and equipment from
a short circuit fault
2. Provide a zero reference point
3. Provide noise control
4. Provide a path for lightning and switching surge faults
GROUNDING TYPES
System grounding network
LF: wire
HF: plane/coaxial
Low-Frequency Analog Signals: narrowband, low-level (uV
or mV), noise in = noise out, noiseless dedicated return path
High-Frequency Analog Signals: wide range of frequencies
and signal levels, noise-sensitive, low-impedance, noise-free
return paths (planes/coax)
a
GROUNDING TYPES
Digital Signals: broadband with moderate voltage levels (< 5V),
low-impedance return path over the entire bandwidth of operation
(edge rate)
Powerful Load Signals: a broadband signature, with extremely
high levels (kV), return path not to be shared
SINGLE-POINT GROUNDING
a single physical location (ground-reference point)
to prevent currents from different subsystems result in common-
impedance coupling
“daisy chain” or series connection and “star” or parallel
connection
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WIRING PRINCIPLES
Objective: to minimize the conductor and connector resistance
The three basic principles of wiring:
1.Keep the length of the wire to a minimum to avoid an
unnecessary voltage drop on the conductor.
2.Connect wires solidly to panels and switchboards.
3.Size and select the type of wires to match the current-
carrying requirements of the load.
CONCEPT
The most important aspect of electrical or electronic system, yet
it is probably the least understood by most engineers.
(Polemics: Single point vs Multi point). 90% EMC problem
Objective: safety and reference. (∆V = 0); No shock, No spark
CONCEPT
Faraday’s Law and Ampere’s Law are fundamental for
understanding grounding theory.
Faraday’s Law of Induction: currents always flow in a loop area
having the smallest possible contours.
Ampere’s Law: current always flows in closed loops and must
return to its source.
Current, not voltage: the source of electromagnetic fields.
CONCEPT
A vital key to EMC, particularly as related to grounding theory:
the nature of currents to flow in closed loops (Ampere’s Law) and
The currents can flow in paths other than those intended.
EMC grounding:
Provide signal, power, electrical safety paths
Divert interference energy away from susceptible part
Differential (desired) mode is also known as “symmetrical mode,”
“transverse mode,” “metallic mode,” or “normal mode.”
Common (undesired) mode is also known as “asymmetrical mode”
or “longitudinal mode.”: difficult to predict, unintentional path,
CONCEPT
Facts:
Potential differences across the signal reference structure
External interference sources introducing conductively,
inductively or capacitively undesired currents into the circuit
CONCEPT
CONCEPT
CONCEPT
TYPICAL WIRING AND GROUNDING PROBLEMS
A sample of problems that can occur on the grounding system.
Isolated grounds: improper installation, e.g sharing the conduit of
an insulated ground circuit with another circuit.
Ground loops: share a common circuit, but have separate
grounding systems
Missing safety ground
Multiple neutral-to-ground bonds
Additional ground rods
Insufficient neutral conductors share a common circuit, but have
separate grounding systems
Missing safety ground; Multiple neutral-to-ground bonds
EARTHING SYSTEM
EARTHING SYSTEM
Wiring Principles
Objective: to minimize the conductor and connector resistance
The three basic principles of wiring:
1. Keep the length of the wire to a minimum to avoid an unnecessary
voltage drop on the conductor.
2. Connect wires solidly to panels and switchboards.
3. Size and select the type of wires to match the current-carrying
requirements of the load.
EARTHING SYSTEM
GROUNDING PRINCIPLES
Grounding means connecting an object or electric circuit to ground
or earth with an electrical conductor
Grounding has four basic purposes:
1. Protect people from electrical shock and equipment from a
short circuit fault
2. Provide a zero reference point
3. Provide noise control
4. Provide a path for lightning and switching surge faults
GROUNDING TYPES
System grounding network
LF: wire
HF: plane/coaxial
CONCEPT
GROUNDING TYPES
• Low-Frequency Analog Signals: narrowband, low-level (uV or
mV), noise in = noise out, noiseless dedicated return path
• High-Frequency Analog Signals: wide range of frequencies and
signal levels, noise-sensitive, low-impedance, noise-free return
paths (planes/coax)
• Digital Signals: broadband with moderate voltage levels (< 5V),
low-impedance return path over the entire bandwidth of operation
(edge rate)
• Powerful Load Signals: a broadband signature, with extremely
high levels (kV), return path not to be shared
SINGLE-POINT GROUNDING: NO COMMON-MODE
Asingle physical location (ground-reference point)
To prevent currents from different subsystems result in common-
impedance coupling
“daisy chain” or series connection and “star” or parallel connection
CONCEPT
Daisy chain: only one grounding conductor interconnects all
circuits, equipment racks, most sensitive closest to the ground-
reference
common-impedance coupling between circuits sharing the same
return path, long large reactive self-impedance of the ground
(>λ/20), resonances
bus
CONCEPT
• Different length transmission-line radiating resonant effects along
the long return conductors ~ 300kHz
• audio circuits, analog instrumentation,
DC and AC (50/60 Hz) power
• systems,
GROUNDING TYPES
MULTI-POINT GROUND
GROUNDING TYPES
• Multipoint grounding: higher frequencies, return conductors
>0.05λ, to avoid standing-wave and resonance effects
• System partition for effectivity
GROUNDING TYPES
HYBRID GROUNDING
GROUNDING TYPES
GROUNDING TYPES
FLOATING GROUNDING
GROUNDING TYPES
FLOATING GROUNDING
• circuits are electrically isolated from the signal reference
structure or enclosure
• Spark, static, flashover, parasitic cap (HF)
GROUNDING TYPES
Single point: < 1 MHz (LF)
GROUNDING TYPES
MESH POINT
>10 MHz (HF); Ground loop; Interfered close loop
GROUNDING TYPES
GROUNDING TYPES
GROUNDING TYPES
PRACTICES
PRACTICES
PRACTICES
ISOLATED GROUNDING
Normally trouble-free ;
but dangerous during surges due to different potential rise
PRACTICES
SINGLE-EARTHING POINT GROUNDING
Clean and dirty grounding bonded with arrester only during surge
Arrester
4
PRACTICES
PRACTICES
L < λ/20
PRACTICES
Acceptable
Compromising
Serious Violation
Grounding
CABLE SHIELD GROUNDING
Power System Earthing
OBJECTIVES:
No shock hazard to living beings (limiting touch and step voltages )
Discharging fault current
Maintaining voltage level during fault
Corect operation, good power quality and EMC
Max. safe step voltage depends upon duration and earth
resistivity
Power System Earthing
Typical Wiring and Grounding Problems and Causes
Power System Earthing
SHORT-CIRCUIT FAULT
Power System Earthing
EARTH FAULT
Power System Earthing
Step voltage
Power System Earthing
Touch voltage
Power System Earthing
1Ω 1-50Ω
51
Power System Earthing
1. Solid earthing
2. Resistance earthing
3. Reactance earthing
4. Unearthed
LV Earthing
TN, TT, IT systems (T=Terre, N=Neutral, I=Isolee)
TN-S, TN-C (S = separee, C = combinee)
The selection criteria depend on:
Regulatory and functional requirements,
The type of supply network,
The required continuity of service,
The operating conditions.
Protection against electromagnetic disturbances
LV Earthing
LV Earthing
TN grounding system.
IT grounding system.
TT grounding system.
LV Earthing
TN-S (high fault current – 40kA: voltage dip & interferencing
impulse, SC-fault energy > lightning energy)
Best EMC
LV Earthing
LV Earthing
TN-C
PEN = cost-effective, lower fault current, but bad EMC
(stray current). Not suitable for IT or explosive area
LV Earthing
LV Earthing
TN-C-S
Protective multiple earthing (PME), low fault current
(C out, S in building)
LV Earthing
TN-C grounding system. TN-S grounding system.
