Basic Importance Of Electrical Earthing

what is an electrical earthing?

The relationship between electrical appliances at homes, offices, etc., and the earth plate electrodes through a thick wire of low resistance to ensure safety is known as ‘Earthing’.

Earthing system in an Electrical network which works as a safety measure to protect human lives and equipment. Earthing system is majorly to create an alternative path for dangerous currents to flow, avoiding accidents due to electric shock and damage to equipment.

Metal parts of equipment are connected to the earth and if the equipment insulation fails perhaps, then the high voltages that can be present in the outer box or equipment covering will make use of some path to get discharged. Dangerous voltages can be transferred to anyone who touches it, resulting in an electric shock if the equipment is not earthen. The fuse blows immediately the circuit gets shorted; if a life wire touches the earthed case.

Why is it necessary to have an Earthing system?

This question comes up when you have sockets, wires, all the required equipment and well maintained electrical devices. So, why is there a need for an earthing system?

The answer is easy…

Earthing system gives you safety by making the equipment electrically shock free.

Some advantages of Earthing system are:

  • Human lives and electrical devices are safe from electrical shock which can cause death and damage of equipment by blowing a fuse, while buildings are safe from structural damages when a safe path for lightning and short circuit currents are provided.
  • Earthing also helps in stabilizing voltage, because electricity comes from different sources and every transformer can be seen as a separate source. Also in the electrical system, electrical paths are created to minimize the dangerous effects which happen at the time of lightening and unintentional contact with high voltage lines by the Earthing system.
  • For high frequency transients (such as switching transients or lightning strikes), earthing provides a path/place to dissipate this energy, as opposed to travelling to earth through something more sensitive.

IEC60364 is a universally acceptable standard which formally defines the different types of Earthing arrangement; it also defines the three families of earthing arrangement which are;

  • TN-Network
  • TT-Network
  • IT-Network

Other notable standard includes, BS7671, BSEN50522, BS7430 and BS7354.

The conventional method of Earthing is the plate type and pipe type Earthing.

A cast iron plate, galvanized iron plate or a copper plate are some basic components of plate Earthing. The plate is buried 8feet into the ground with bolts in a vertical position. These pits are usually filled up with layers of salt and charcoal up to 4feets starting from the bottom. On the other hand, earthing pipes are used in the electrical installation and transmission lines. Copper pipes are generally used in pipe type Earthing. There’s also rod earthing and strip/wire earthing.

For almost 12 years, GIL Automation LTD has been working to provide the best services, with affordable prices for quality earthing services. Now that you know this, let’s set up Earthing system at your homes, offices or business places.

We believe in safe Electricity, and you can believe in us. Don’t wait for an Electrical Emergency, contact us for any queries, and set up an earthing system today!