Principles of Electrical Grounding By: John C. Pfeiffer, P.E. Pfeiffer Engineering Co., Inc. 3 ^6 V5 W2 t7 k4 P6 y; h! y/ J0 l
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Abstract: . N% b( Y& [6 w2 [+ k 5 V. {% o* |4 Z0 XThis is a discussion of the basic principles behind grounding systems and how grounding is 9 Z5 y5 }6 j4 O# Mrelated to safety and the effective operation of circuit protection devices such as fuses and circuit ( S2 N- x- g9 H, L5 B1 Ubreakers. The discussion moves quickly from a basic study of grounding to simple examples of a T8 f( h* g0 \; h8 X3 g' G' \) E4 V% I
single building installation and onto facilities with multiple buildings and structures. Finally the : V" T' ?1 @" ?
discussion will briefly cover grounding as it applies to lightning protection and the control of " k& T% C9 I* w4 i6 Sstatic electricity. 5 V3 Z4 n l0 [8 \3 t8 O0 K0 o ' Q/ ^+ W% c+ J# P9 kintroduction: ( a' U# v* \5 |! l* @5 D2 J! a X( z, \3 O6 B! w
Grounding to most engineers, technicians and electricians is a simple subject and little attention , i: F$ G& Y+ `- T4 n& Z8 n
is paid to it other than knowing that something is required. To some people there are grounds and # @, c' z4 U; g+ k) ]. B8 w" E
then there are “Clean Grounds”. Thirty years ago when computers were relatively new, there $ B$ u) K! ~ N% V- h zwere many approaches to grounding, particularly for electronics and computers. Some of these 5 i5 f/ Z0 E) x. ?& ~9 K9 `' a
approaches established what was called a “Clean Ground” which was often isolated from the ; {' j2 O1 u$ g2 F
power grounds. 7 q8 T' a& P. E7 h7 f
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Many of these ideas have been proven to be ineffective and sometimes dangerous to equipment ! `: U5 P+ }* Iand personnel. As frequencies became higher and higher (computer speeds faster and faster) 0 {, p6 L4 z$ Q+ `0 L0 \9 G6 z- h+ N
research accelerated into the subject of grounding, shielding, EMI, lightning protection and static 7 b9 w2 O/ T/ ?5 m* a* w; W( zelectricity. The research resulted in the basic science behind grounding. This subject is not as ) V& r6 A/ A- S& d, w1 I" Ssimple as once thought and one needs a clear understanding of the basic principles. 5 b! i1 M+ ^3 E+ K) M: a1 D3 F$ r5 H* w' i k. a
First, the ground or grounding of a circuit is a misnomer. For most purposes the term means : l" e; ^. p! _/ }! ~4 E1 Oearthing or connecting the circuit to earth. In actuality, it=s connecting the circuit to a common / M; n) |% S* K8 Mpoint of reference; for most systems that is the earth. - o p( m I7 f0 G/ {2 ]+ F
z4 S* r# I: G8 F' DGrounding=s main purpose is to provide a common point of reference between various sources of ) s2 v/ l5 o8 i8 h# y5 N
electrical energy, i.e. ; w; ^3 y+ f1 r6 n- d; {
Different power systems - Public Utilities, on-site generation, battery systems 7 J+ q! S7 s0 j( ?* f2 V- s Different voltage systems - 138,000v, 13,800v, 480v, 120v, etc. - E# |# N0 O. Y( `% e2 G
Different energy sources - Electrical Energy, Lightning, Static Electricity, RF ( y* P* O, J% j$ r) n) d% _
Energy % h" s9 K5 a% O3 ^! G 8 n+ {4 D7 S& d# s. s5 O8 E* ?5 @In any discussion of the grounding of electrical systems, particularly as it applies to power ; X- r$ z! j1 q- z. I* ]systems, there also needs to be a consideration of how the grounding system relates to 5 |& J9 L' N/ U+ K1 Y8 oovercurrent protection. They go hand in hand. & v2 g: x* C/ W; d: ^7 v/ E# ^% t* }. T0 ~3 F4 X( Q
There are also a number of misconceptions that affect how a ground system works. The # Q& a [3 s# B% o
following facts are generally not known or are misunderstood. ! n* C( k$ X3 L$ D' S; L5 W The earth is NOT always a good ground. : u( y( p' }/ i5 r6 Q0 ^0 e) U What is acceptable at 60 Hz does not always work at high frequencies. 9 I7 M' n% I/ w2 E The interconnection of systems with even large conductors may be ineffective when