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Earthingsystem
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Inelectricitysupplysystems,anearthingsystemorgroundingsystemiscircuitrywhichconnectspartsoftheelectric
circuitwiththeground,thusdefiningtheelectricpotentialoftheconductorsrelativetotheEarth'sconductivesurface.
Thechoiceofearthingsystemcanaffectthesafetyandelectromagneticcompatibilityofthepowersupply.Inparticular,
itaffectsthemagnitudeanddistributionofshortcircuitcurrentsthroughthesystem,andtheeffectsitcreateson
equipmentandpeopleintheproximityofthecircuit.Ifafaultwithinanelectricaldeviceconnectsalivesupply
conductortoanexposedconductivesurface,anyonetouchingitwhileelectricallyconnectedtotheearthwillcompletea
circuitbacktotheearthedsupplyconductorandreceiveanelectricshock.
Aprotectiveearth(PE),knownasanequipmentgroundingconductorintheUSNationalElectricalCode,avoidsthis
hazardbykeepingtheexposedconductivesurfacesofadeviceatearthpotential.Toavoidpossiblevoltagedropno
currentisallowedtoflowinthisconductorundernormalcircumstances.Intheeventofafault,currentswillflowthat
shouldtriporblowthefuseorcircuitbreakerprotectingthecircuit.Ahighimpedancelinetogroundfaultinsufficient
totriptheovercurrentprotectionmaystilltriparesidualcurrentdevice(groundfaultcircuitinterrupterorGFCIin
NorthAmerica)ifoneispresent.Thisdisconnectionintheeventofadangerousconditionbeforesomeonereceivesa
shock,isafundamentaltenetofmodernwiringpracticeandinmanydocumentsisreferredtoasautomatic
disconnectionofsupply(ADS).Thealternativeisdefenceindepth,wheremultipleindependentfailuresmustoccurto
exposeadangerousconditionreinforcedordoubleinsulationcomeintothislattercategory.
Incontrast,afunctionalearthconnectionservesapurposeotherthanshockprotection,andmaycarrypowerorsignal
currentaspartofnormaloperation.Themostimportantexampleofafunctionalearthistheneutralinanelectrical
supplysystem.Itisacurrentcarryingconductorconnectedtoearth,often,butnotalways,atonlyonepointtoavoid
flowofcurrentsthroughtheearth.TheNECcallsitagroundEDsupplyconductortodistinguishitfromtheequipment
groundINGconductor.Otherexamplesofdevicesthatusefunctionalearthconnectionsincludesurgesuppressorsand
electromagneticinterferencefilters,certainantennasandmeasurementinstruments.Greatcaremustbetakenwhen
functionalearthsfromdifferentsystemsmeettoavoidunwantedandpossiblydangerousinteractions,forexample
lightningconductorsandtelecomsystemsmustonlybeconnectedinawaythatcannotcausetheenergyofthelightning
striketoberedirectedintothetelephonenetwork.
Regulationsforearthingsystemsvaryconsiderablyamongcountriesandamongdifferentpartsofelectricsystems.Most
lowvoltagesystemsconnectonesupplyconductortotheearth(ground).
Peopleuseanearthingsystemmainlyfortheseapplications:
Toprotectastructurefromlightningstrike,directingthelightningthroughtheearthingsystemandintothe
groundrodratherthanpassingthroughthestructure.
Partofthesafetysystemofmainselectricity,preventingproblemsassociatedwithfloatingground.
Themostcommongroundplaneforlargemonopoleantennaandsomeotherkindsofradioantenna.
Other,lesscommonapplicationsofearthingsystemsinclude:
singlewireearthreturn.
oneateachendofagrounddipoleELFantenna.

Contents
1 Lowvoltagesystems
1.1 IECterminology
1.1.1 TNnetworks
1.1.2 TTnetwork
1.1.3 ITnetwork
1.2 Comparison
1.3 Otherterminologies
1.3.1 Earthleakageprotection
1.3.2 Earthconnectivitycheck
1.4 Properties
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1.4.1 Cost
1.4.2 Safety
1.4.3 Electromagneticcompatibility
1.5 Regulations
1.6 Applicationexamples
2 Highvoltagesystems
2.1 Solidearthedneutral
2.2 Unearthedneutral
3 Seealso
4 References

Lowvoltagesystems
Inlowvoltagedistributionnetworks,whichdistributetheelectricpowertothewidestclassofendusers,themain
concernfordesignofearthingsystemsissafetyofconsumerswhousetheelectricappliancesandtheirprotection
againstelectricshocks.Theearthingsystem,incombinationwithprotectivedevicessuchasfusesandresidualcurrent
devices,mustultimatelyensurethatapersonmustnotcomeintotouchwithametallicobjectwhosepotentialrelativeto
theperson'spotentialexceedsa"safe"threshold,typicallysetatabout50V.
Onelectricitynetworkswithasystemvoltageof240Vto1.1kV,whicharemostlyusedinindustrial/miningequipment
/machinesratherthanpubliclyaccessiblenetworks,theearthingsystemdesignisasequallyimportantimportantfrom
safetypointofviewasfordomesticusers.
Inmostdevelopedcountries,220/230/240Vsocketswithearthedcontactswereintroducedeitherjustbeforeorsoon
afterWorldWarII,thoughwithconsiderablenationalvariationinpopularity.IntheUnitedStatesandCanada,120volt
poweroutletsinstalledbeforethemid1960sgenerallydidnotincludeaground(earth)pin.Inthedevelopingworld,
localwiringpracticemaynotprovideaconnectiontoanearthingpinofanoutlet.
Intheabsenceofasupplyearth,devicesneedinganearthconnectionoftenusedthesupplyneutral.Someused
dedicatedgroundrods.Many110Vapplianceshavepolarizedplugstomaintainadistinctionbetween"live"and
"neutral",butusingthesupplyneutralforequipmentearthingcanbehighlyproblematical."Live"and"neutral"might
beaccidentallyreversedintheoutletorplug,ortheneutraltoearthconnectionmightfailorbeimproperlyinstalled.
Evennormalloadcurrentsintheneutralmightgeneratehazardousvoltagedrops.Forthesereasons,mostcountrieshave
nowmandateddedicatedprotectiveearthconnectionsthatarenowalmostuniversal.
Ifthefaultpathbetweenaccidentallyenergizedobjectsandthesupplyconnectionhaslowimpedance,thefaultcurrent
willbesolargethatthecircuitovercurrentprotectiondevice(fuseorcircuitbreaker)willopentoclearthegroundfault.
Wheretheearthingsystemdoesnotprovidealowimpedancemetallicconductorbetweenequipmentenclosuresand
supplyreturn(suchasinaTTseparatelyearthedsystem),faultcurrentsaresmaller,andwillnotnecessarilyoperatethe
overcurrentprotectiondevice.Insuchcasearesidualcurrentdetectorisinstalledtodetectthecurrentleakingtoground
andinterruptthecircuit.

IECterminology
InternationalstandardIEC60364distinguishesthreefamiliesofearthingarrangements,usingthetwolettercodesTN,
TT,andIT.
Thefirstletterindicatestheconnectionbetweenearthandthepowersupplyequipment(generatorortransformer):
"T"Directconnectionofapointwithearth(Latin:terra)
"I"Nopointisconnectedwithearth(isolation),exceptperhapsviaahighimpedance.
Thesecondletterindicatestheconnectionbetweenearthandtheelectricaldevicebeingsupplied:
"T"Earthconnectionisbyalocaldirectconnectiontoearth(Latin:terra),usuallyviaagroundrod.
"N"EarthconnectionissuppliedbytheelectricitysupplyNetwork,eitherasaseparateprotectiveearth(PE)
conductororcombinedwiththeneutralconductor.
TNnetworks
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InaTNearthingsystem,oneofthepointsinthegeneratorortransformerisconnectedwithearth,usuallythestarpoint
inathreephasesystem.Thebodyoftheelectricaldeviceisconnectedwithearthviathisearthconnectionatthe
transformer.
Theconductorthatconnectstheexposedmetallicpartsoftheconsumer'selectricalinstallationiscalledprotectiveearth
(PEseealso:Ground).Theconductorthatconnectstothestarpointinathreephasesystem,orthatcarriesthereturn
currentinasinglephasesystem,iscalledneutral(N).ThreevariantsofTNsystemsaredistinguished:
TNS
PEandNareseparateconductorsthatareconnectedtogetheronlynearthepowersource.Thisarrangementisa
currentstandardformostresidentialandindustrialelectricsystemsparticularlyinEurope.
TNC
AcombinedPENconductorfulfillsthefunctionsofbothaPEandanNconductor.
TNCS
PartofthesystemusesacombinedPENconductor,whichisatsomepointsplitupintoseparatePEandNlines.
ThecombinedPENconductortypicallyoccursbetweenthesubstationandtheentrypointintothebuilding,and
separatedintheservicehead.IntheUK,thissystemisalsoknownasprotectivemultipleearthing(PME),
becauseofthepracticeofconnectingthecombinedneutralandearthconductortorealearthatmanylocations,to
reducetheriskofelectricshockintheeventofabrokenPENconductorwithasimilarsysteminAustraliaand
NewZealandbeingdesignatedasmultipleearthedneutral(MEN).

TNS:separateprotectiveearth(PE)
andneutral(N)conductorsfrom
transformertoconsumingdevice,
whicharenotconnectedtogetherat
anypointafterthebuilding
distributionpoint.

TNC:combinedPEandNconductor TNCSearthingsystem:combined
allthewayfromthetransformertothe PENconductorfromtransformerto
consumingdevice.
buildingdistributionpoint,but
separatePEandNconductorsinfixed
indoorwiringandflexiblepower
cords.

ItispossibletohavebothTNSandTNCSsuppliestakenfromthesametransformer.Forexample,thesheathson
someundergroundcablescorrodeandstopprovidinggoodearthconnections,andsohomeswhere"badearths"are
foundmaybeconvertedtoTNCS.ThemainattractionofaTNnetworkisthelowimpedanceearthpathallowseasy
automaticdisconnection(ADS)onahighcurrentcircuitinthecaseofalivetoPEshortcircuitasthesamebreakeror
fusewilloperateforeitherLNorLPEfaults.
TTnetwork
InaTT(TerraTerra)earthingsystem,theprotectiveearthconnectionfortheconsumerisprovidedbyalocalearth
electrode,(sometimesreferredtoastheTerraFirmaconnection)andthereisanotherindependentlyinstalledatthe
generator.Thereisno'earthwire'betweenthetwo.Thefaultloopimpedanceishigher,andunlesstheelectrode
impedanceisverylowindeed,aTTinstallationshouldalwayshaveanRCD(GFCI)asitsfirstisolator.
ThebigadvantageoftheTTearthingsystemisthereducedconductedinterferencefromotherusers'connected
equipment.TThasalwaysbeenpreferableforspecialapplicationsliketelecommunicationsitesthatbenefitfromthe
interferencefreeearthing.Also,TTnetworksdonotposeanyseriousrisksinthecaseofabrokenneutral.Inaddition,
inlocationswherepowerisdistributedoverhead,earthconductorsarenotatriskofbecomingliveshouldanyoverhead
distributionconductorbefracturedby,say,afallentreeorbranch.

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InpreRCDera,theTTearthingsystemwasunattractiveforgeneralusebecauseofthedifficultyofarrangingreliable
automaticdisconnection(ADS)inthecaseofalivetoPEshortcircuit(incomparisonwithTNsystems,wherethe
samebreakerorfusewilloperateforeitherLNorLPEfaults).Butasresidualcurrentdevicesmitigatethis
disadvantage,theTTearthingsystemhasbecomemuchmoreattractiveprovidingthatallACpowercircuitsareRCD
protected.Insomecountries(suchastheUK)isrecommendedforsituationswhereanlowimpedanceequipotential
zoneisimpracticaltomaintainbybonding,wherethereissignificantoutdoorwiring,suchassuppliestomobilehomes
andsomeagriculturalsettings,orwhereahighfaultcurrentcouldposeotherdangers,suchasatfueldepotsormarinas.
TheTTearthingsystemisusedthroughoutJapan,withRCDunitsinmostindustrialsettings.Thiscanimposeadded
requirementsonvariablefrequencydrivesandswitchedmodepowersupplieswhichoftenhavesubstantialfilters
passinghighfrequencynoisetothegroundconductor.

ITnetwork
InanITnetwork,theelectricaldistributionsystemhasnoconnectiontoearthatall,orithasonlyahighimpedance
connection.

Comparison
TT

IT

TNS

TNC

TNCS

Earthfaultloop
impedance

High

Highest

Low

Low

Low

RCDpreferred?

Yes

N/A

Optional

No

Optional

Needearthelectrodeat
Yes
site?

Yes

No

No

Optional

PEconductorcost

Low

Highest

Least

High

Riskofbrokenneutral No

No

High

Highest

High

Safety

Safe

LessSafe

Safest

LeastSafe

Safe

Electromagnetic
interference

Least

Least

Low

High

Low

Safetyrisks

Highloopimpedance(step
voltages)

Doublefault,
overvoltage

Broken
neutral

Broken
neutral

Broken
neutral

Advantages

Safeandreliable

Continuityof
operation,cost

Safest

Cost

Safetyand
cost

Low

Otherterminologies

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WhilethenationalwiringregulationsforbuildingsofmanycountriesfollowtheIEC60364terminology,inNorth
America(UnitedStatesandCanada),theterm"equipmentgroundingconductor"referstoequipmentgroundsand
groundwiresonbranchcircuits,and"groundingelectrodeconductor"isusedforconductorsbondinganearthground
rod(orsimilar)toaservicepanel."Groundedconductor"isthesystem"neutral".AustralianandNewZealandstandards
useamodifiedPMEearthingsystemcalledMultipleEarthedNeutral(MEN).Theneutralisgrounded(earthed)ateach
consumerservicepointtherebyeffectivelybringingtheneutralpotentialdifferencetozeroalongthewholelengthofLV
lines.
Earthleakageprotection
EarthLeakageofcurrentcanbeveryharmfulforhumanbeings,shoulditpassthroughthem.Toavoidaccidentalshock
byelectricalappliances/equipmentearthleakagerelay/sensorareutilizedatthesourcetoisolatethepowerwhen
leakageexceedcertainlimit.Earthleakagecircuitbreakerareusedforthepurpose.Currentsensingbreakerarecalled
RCB/RCCB.Intheindustrialapplications,EarthleakagerelaysareusedwithseparateCT(currenttransformer)called
CBCT(corebalancedcurrenttransformer)whichsenseleakagecurrent(zerophasesequencecurrent)ofthesystem
throughthesecondaryoftheCBCTandthisoperatestherelay.[1]ThisprotectionworksintherangeofmilliAmpsand
canbesetfrom30mAto3000mA.
Earthconnectivitycheck
Aseparatepilotcorepisrunfromdistribution/equipmentsupplysysteminadditiontoearthcore.Earthconnectivity
checkdeviceisfixedatthesourcingendwhichcontinuouslymonitorearthconnectivity.Thepilotcorepinitiatefrom
thischeckdeviceandrunsthroughconnectingtrailingcablewhichgenerallysupplypowertomovingmining
machinery(LHD).Thiscorepisconnectedtoearthatthedistributionendthroughadiodecircuit,whichcompletethe
electriccircuitinitiatedfromthecheckdevice.[2]Whenearthconnectivitytovehicleisbroken,thispilotcorecircuitget
disconnected,theprotectingdevicefixedatsourcingendactivateand,isolatethepowertomachine.Thistypeofcircuit
isamustforportableheavyelectricequipment(likeLHD(Load,Haul,Dumpmachine))beingusedinunderground
mines.

Properties
Cost
TNnetworkssavethecostofalowimpedanceearthconnectionatthesiteofeachconsumer.Suchaconnection
(aburiedmetalstructure)isrequiredtoprovideprotectiveearthinITandTTsystems.
TNCnetworkssavethecostofanadditionalconductorneededforseparateNandPEconnections.However,to
mitigatetheriskofbrokenneutrals,specialcabletypesandlotsofconnectionstoearthareneeded.
TTnetworksrequireproperRCD(Groundfaultinterrupter)protection.
Safety
InTN,aninsulationfaultisverylikelytoleadtoahighshortcircuitcurrentthatwilltriggeranovercurrent
circuitbreakerorfuseanddisconnecttheLconductors.WithTTsystems,theearthfaultloopimpedancecanbe
toohightodothis,ortoohightodoitwithintherequiredtime,soanRCD(formerlyELCB)isusuallyemployed.
EarlierTTinstallationsmaylackthisimportantsafetyfeature,allowingtheCPC(CircuitProtectiveConductoror
PE)andperhapsassociatedmetallicpartswithinreachofpersons(exposedconductivepartsandextraneous
conductiveparts)tobecomeenergizedforextendedperiodsunderfaultconditions,whichisarealdanger.
InTNSandTTsystems(andinTNCSbeyondthepointofthesplit),aresidualcurrentdevicecanbeusedfor
additionalprotection.Intheabsenceofanyinsulationfaultintheconsumerdevice,theequationIL1+IL2+IL3+IN
=0holds,andanRCDcandisconnectthesupplyassoonasthissumreachesathreshold(typically10500mA).
AninsulationfaultbetweeneitherLorNandPEwilltriggeranRCDwithhighprobability.
InITandTNCnetworks,residualcurrentdevicesarefarlesslikelytodetectaninsulationfault.InaTNC
system,theywouldalsobeveryvulnerabletounwantedtriggeringfromcontactbetweenearthconductorsof
circuitsondifferentRCDsorwithrealground,thusmakingtheiruseimpracticable.Also,RCDsusuallyisolate
theneutralcore.SinceitisunsafetodothisinaTNCsystem,RCDsonTNCshouldbewiredtoonlyinterrupt
theliveconductor.
InsingleendedsinglephasesystemswheretheEarthandneutralarecombined(TNC,andthepartofTNCS
systemswhichusesacombinedneutralandearthcore),ifthereisacontactprobleminthePENconductor,then
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allpartsoftheearthingsystembeyondthebreakwillrisetothepotentialoftheLconductor.Inanunbalanced
multiphasesystem,thepotentialoftheearthingsystemwillmovetowardsthatofthemostloadedliveconductor.
Suchariseinthepotentialoftheneutralbeyondthebreakisknownasaneutralinversion.[3]Therefore,TNC
connectionsmustnotgoacrossplug/socketconnectionsorflexiblecables,wherethereisahigherprobabilityof
contactproblemsthanwithfixedwiring.Thereisalsoariskifacableisdamaged,whichcanbemitigatedbythe
useofconcentriccableconstructionandmultipleearthelectrodes.Duetothe(small)risksofthelostneutral
raising'earthed'metalworktoadangerouspotential,coupledwiththeincreasedshockriskfromproximityto
goodcontactwithtrueearth,theuseofTNCSsuppliesisbannedintheUKforcaravansitesandshoresupplyto
boats,andstronglydiscouragedforuseonfarmsandoutdoorbuildingsites,andinsuchcasesitisrecommended
tomakealloutdoorwiringTTwithRCDandaseparateearthelectrode.
InITsystems,asingleinsulationfaultisunlikelytocausedangerouscurrentstoflowthroughahumanbodyin
contactwithearth,becausenolowimpedancecircuitexistsforsuchacurrenttoflow.However,afirstinsulation
faultcaneffectivelyturnanITsystemintoaTNsystem,andthenasecondinsulationfaultcanleadtodangerous
bodycurrents.Worse,inamultiphasesystem,ifoneoftheliveconductorsmadecontactwithearth,itwould
causetheotherphasecorestorisetothephasephasevoltagerelativetoearthratherthanthephaseneutral
voltage.ITsystemsalsoexperiencelargertransientovervoltagesthanothersystems.
InTNCandTNCSsystems,anyconnectionbetweenthecombinedneutralandearthcoreandthebodyofthe
earthcouldendupcarryingsignificantcurrentundernormalconditions,andcouldcarryevenmoreundera
brokenneutralsituation.Therefore,mainequipotentialbondingconductorsmustbesizedwiththisinminduse
ofTNCSisinadvisableinsituationssuchaspetrolstations,wherethereisacombinationoflotsofburied
metalworkandexplosivegases.
Electromagneticcompatibility
InTNSandTTsystems,theconsumerhasalownoiseconnectiontoearth,whichdoesnotsufferfromthe
voltagethatappearsontheNconductorasaresultofthereturncurrentsandtheimpedanceofthatconductor.
Thisisofparticularimportancewithsometypesoftelecommunicationandmeasurementequipment.
InTTsystems,eachconsumerhasitsownconnectiontoearth,andwillnotnoticeanycurrentsthatmaybe
causedbyotherconsumersonasharedPEline.

Regulations
IntheUnitedStatesNationalElectricalCodeandCanadianElectricalCodethefeedfromthedistribution
transformerusesacombinedneutralandgroundingconductor,butwithinthestructureseparateneutraland
protectiveearthconductorsareused(TNCS).Theneutralmustbeconnectedtoearthonlyonthesupplysideof
thecustomer'sdisconnectingswitch.
InArgentina,France(TT)andAustralia(TNCS),thecustomersmustprovidetheirowngroundconnections.
JapanisgovernedbyPSElaw,andusesTTearthinginmostinstallations.
InAustralia,theMultipleEarthedNeutral(MEN)earthingsystemisusedandisdescribedinSection5ofAS
3000.ForanLVcustomer,itisaTNCsystemfromthetransformerinthestreettothepremises,(theneutralis
earthedmultipletimesalongthissegment),andaTNSsysteminsidetheinstallation,fromtheMainSwitchboard
downwards.Lookedatasawhole,itisaTNCSsystem.
InDenmarkthehighvoltageregulation(Strkstrmsbekendtgrelsen)andMalaysiatheElectricityOrdinance
1994statesthatallconsumersmustuseTTearthing,thoughinrarecasesTNCSmaybeallowed(usedinthe
samemannerasintheUnitedStates).Rulesaredifferentwhenitcomestolargercompanies.
InIndiaasperCentralElectricityAuthorityRegulations,CEAR,2010,rule41,thereisprovisionofearthing,
neutralwireofa3phase,4wiresystemandtheadditionalthirdwireofa2phase,3wiresystem.Earthingisto
bedonewithtwoseparateconnections.Groundingsystemalsotohaveminimumtwoormoreearthpits
(electrode)suchthatpropergroundingtakesplace.Aspertherule42,installationwithloadabove5KW
exceeding250VoltshallhavesuitableEarthleakageprotectivedevicetoisolatetheloadincaseofearthfaultor
leakage.[4]

Applicationexamples
IntheareasofUKwhereundergroundpowercablingisprevalent,theTNSsystemiscommon.[5]
InIndiaLTsupplyisgenerallythroughTNSsystem.Neutralandearthrunseparatelyonoverheadline/cables.
Separateconductorforoverheadlinesandarmoringofcablesareusedforearthconnection.Additionalearth
electrodes/pitsareinstalledatuserendsforproperearth.
MostmodernhomesinEuropehaveaTNCSearthingsystem.Thecombinedneutralandearthoccursbetween
thenearesttransformersubstationandtheservicecutout(thefusebeforethemeter).Afterthis,separateearthand
neutralcoresareusedinalltheinternalwiring.
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OlderurbanandsuburbanhomesintheUKtendtohaveTNSsupplies,withtheearthconnectiondelivered
throughtheleadsheathoftheundergroundleadandpapercable.
OlderhomesinNorwayusestheITsystemwhilenewerhomesuseTNCS.
Someolderhomes,especiallythosebuiltbeforetheinventionofresidualcurrentcircuitbreakersandwiredhome
areanetworks,useaninhouseTNCarrangement.Thisisnolongerrecommendedpractice.
Laboratoryrooms,medicalfacilities,constructionsites,repairworkshops,mobileelectricalinstallations,and
otherenvironmentsthataresuppliedviaenginegeneratorswherethereisanincreasedriskofinsulationfaults,
oftenuseanITearthingarrangementsuppliedfromisolationtransformers.Tomitigatethetwofaultissueswith
ITsystems,theisolationtransformersshouldsupplyonlyasmallnumberofloadseachandshouldbeprotected
withaninsulationmonitoringdevice(generallyusedonlybymedical,railwayormilitaryITsystems,becauseof
cost).
Inremoteareas,wherethecostofanadditionalPEconductoroutweighsthecostofalocalearthconnection,TT
networksarecommonlyusedinsomecountries,especiallyinolderpropertiesorinruralareas,wheresafety
mightotherwisebethreatenedbythefractureofanoverheadPEconductorby,say,afallentreebranch.TT
suppliestoindividualpropertiesarealsoseeninmostlyTNCSsystemswhereanindividualpropertyis
consideredunsuitableforTNCSsupply.
InAustralia,NewZealandandIsraeltheTNCSsystemisinusehowever,thewiringrulescurrentlystatethat,
inaddition,eachcustomermustprovideaseparateconnectiontoearthviabothawaterpipebond(ifmetallic
waterpipesentertheconsumer'spremises)andadedicatedearthelectrode.InAustraliaandNewZealandthisis
calledtheMultipleEarthedNeutralLinkorMENLink.ThisMENLinkisremovableforinstallationtesting
purposes,butisconnectedduringusebyeitheralockingsystem(locknutsforinstance)ortwoormorescrews.In
theMENsystem,theintegrityoftheNeutralisparamount.InAustralia,newinstallationsmustalsobondthe
foundationconcretereenforcingunderwetareastotheearthconductor(AS3000),typicallyincreasingthesizeof
theearthing,andprovidesanequipotentialplaneinareassuchasbathrooms.Inolderinstallations,itisnot
uncommontofindonlythewaterpipebond,anditisallowedtoremainassuch,buttheadditionalearthelectrode
mustbeinstalledifanyupgradeworkisdone.Theprotectiveearthandneutralconductorsarecombineduntilthe
consumer'sneutrallink(locatedonthecustomer'ssideoftheelectricitymeter'sneutralconnection)beyondthis
point,theprotectiveearthandneutralconductorsareseparate.

Highvoltagesystems
Inhighvoltagenetworks(above1kV),whicharefarlessaccessibletothegeneralpublic,thefocusofearthingsystem
designislessonsafetyandmoreonreliabilityofsupply,reliabilityofprotection,andimpactontheequipmentin
presenceofashortcircuit.Onlythemagnitudeofphasetogroundshortcircuits,whicharethemostcommon,is
significantlyaffectedwiththechoiceofearthingsystem,asthecurrentpathismostlyclosedthroughtheearth.Three
phaseHV/MVpowertransformers,locatedindistributionsubstations,arethemostcommonsourceofsupplyfor
distributionnetworks,andtypeofgroundingoftheirneutraldeterminestheearthingsystem.
Therearefivetypesofneutralearthing:[6]
Solidearthedneutral
Unearthedneutral
Resistanceearthedneutral
Lowresistanceearthing
Highresistanceearthing
Reactanceearthedneutral
Usingearthingtransformers(suchastheZigzagtransformer)

Solidearthedneutral
Insolidordirectlyearthedneutral,transformer'sstarpointisdirectlyconnectedtotheground.Inthissolution,alow
impedancepathisprovidedforthegroundfaultcurrenttocloseand,asresult,theirmagnitudesarecomparablewith
threephasefaultcurrents.[6]Sincetheneutralremainsatthepotentialclosetotheground,voltagesinunaffectedphases
remainatlevelssimilartotheprefaultonesforthatreason,thissystemisregularlyusedinhighvoltagetransmission
networks,whereinsulationcostsarehigh.[7]

Unearthedneutral

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Inunearthed,isolatedorfloatingneutralsystem,asintheITsystem,thereisnodirectconnectionofthestarpoint(or
anyotherpointinthenetwork)andtheground.Asaresult,groundfaultcurrentshavenopathtobeclosedandthus
havenegligiblemagnitudes.However,inpractice,thefaultcurrentwillnotbeequaltozero:conductorsinthecircuit
particularlyundergroundcableshaveaninherentcapacitancetowardstheearth,whichprovidesapathofrelatively
highimpedance.[8]
Systemswithisolatedneutralmaycontinueoperationandprovideuninterruptedsupplyeveninpresenceofaground
fault.[6]However,whilethefaultispresent,thepotentialofothertwophasesrelativetothegroundreaches ofthe
normaloperatingvoltage,creatingadditionalstressfortheinsulationinsulationfailuresmayinflictadditionalground
faultsinthesystem,nowwithmuchhighercurrents.[7]
Presenceofuninterruptedgroundfaultmayposeasignificantsafetyrisk:ifthecurrentexceeds45Aanelectricarc
develops,whichmaybesustainedevenafterthefaultiscleared.[8]Forthatreason,theyarechieflylimitedto
undergroundandsubmarinenetworks,andindustrialapplications,wherethereliabilityneedishighandprobabilityof
humancontactrelativelylow.Inurbandistributionnetworkswithmultipleundergroundfeeders,thecapacitivecurrent
mayreachseveraltensofamperes,posingsignificantriskfortheequipment.
Thebenefitoflowfaultcurrentandcontinuedsystemoperationthereafterisoffsetbyinherentdrawbackthatthefault
locationishardtodetect.[9]

Seealso
Groundandneutral
Electricalwiring
Singlewireearthreturn
Soilresistivity

References
1.[1](https://books.google.com/books?id=oOUuBAAAQBAJ)ElectricalNotes,Volume1,BySirArthurSchuster,p.317
2.Laughton,MASay,MG(2013).ElectricalEngineer'sReferenceBook.Elsevier.p.32.ISBN9781483102634.
3.Gates,B.G.(1936).Neutralinversioninpowersystems(http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=https%3A%2F%2F2.zoppoz.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fieeex
plore.ieee.org%2Fiel5%2F5308791%2F5317038%2F05317048.pdf%3Farnumber%3D5317048&authDecision=203).In
JournaloftheInstitutionofElectricalEngineers78(471):317325.Retrieved20120320.
4.[2](http://as1.ori.nic.in/eicelectricity/ECNotification/Safety%20Regulation%20English.pdf)CentralElectricityAuthority
(MeasuresrelatingtoSafetyandElectricSupply).Regulations,2010rule41and42
5.TrevorLinsley(2011).BasicElectricalInstallationWork.Routledge.p.152.ISBN9781136427480.
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05/16earthingquestions.cfm?type=pdf).IEEWiringMatters,Autumn2005.
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