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Home / Technical Articles / How to Determine Correct Number of Earthing Electrodes (Strips, Plates and Pipes) – part 2
How to Determine Correct Number of Earthing Electrodes (Strips, Plates and Pipes) – part 2
How to Determine Correct Number of Earthing Electrodes (Strips, Plates and Pipes) – part 2

Continued from first part:
How to Determine Correct Number of Earthing Electrodes (Strips, Plates and Pipes) – part 1


2. Calculate Number of Plate Earthing

The Earth Resistance of Single Plate electrode is calculated as per IS 3040:

R=ρ/A√(3.14/A)

Where:

ρ = Resistivity of Soil (Ω Meter),
A = Area of both side of Plate (m2),

Example: Calculate Number of CI Earthing Plate of 600×600 mm, System has Fault current 65KA for 1 Sec and Soil Resistivity is 100 Ω-Meters.

Current Density At The Surface of Earth Electrode (As per IS 3043):

  • Max. Allowable Current Density  I = 7.57×1000/(√ρxt) A/m2
  • Max. Allowable Current Density  = 7.57×1000/(√100X1)=757 A/m2
  • Surface area of both side of single 600×600 mm Plate= 2 x lxw=2 x 0.06×0.06 = 0.72 m2
  • Max. current dissipated by one Earthing Plate = Current Density x Surface area of electrode
  • Max. current dissipated by one Earthing Plate =757×0.72= 545.04 Amps
  • Resistance of Earthing Plate (Isolated)(R)=ρ/A√(3.14/A)
  • Resistance of Earthing Plate (Isolated)(R)=100/0.72x√(3.14/.072)=290.14 Ω
  • Number of Earthing Plate required =Fault Current / Max.current dissipated by one Earthing Pipe.
  • Number of Earthing Plate required= 65000/545.04 =119 No’s.
  • Total Number of Earthing Plate required = 119 No’s.
  • Overall resistance of 119 No of Earthing Plate=290.14/119=2.438 Ω.

3. Calculating Resistance of Bared Earthing Strip

1) Calculation for earth resistance of buried Strip (As per IEEE)

The Earth Resistance of  Single Strip of Rod buried in ground is:

R=ρ/Px3.14xL (loge (2xLxL/Wxh)+Q)

Where:

ρ = Resistivity of Soil (Ω Meter),
h = Depth of Electrode (Meter),
w = Width of Strip or Diameter of Conductor (Meter)
L = Length of Strip or Conductor (Meter)
P and Q are Koefficients


2) Calculation for earth resistance of buried Strip (As per IS 3043)

The Earth Resistance of  Single Strip of Rod buried in ground is:

R=100xρ/2×3.14xL (loge (2xLxL/Wxt))

Where:

ρ = Resistivity of Soil (Ω Meter),
L = Length of Strip or Conductor (cm)
w = Width of Strip or Diameter of Conductor (cm)
t = Depth of burial (cm)

Example: Calculate Earthing Resistance of Earthing strip/wire of 36mm Diameter, 262 meter long buried at 500mm depth in ground, soil Resistivity is 65 Ω Meter.

Here:

R = Resistance of earth rod in W.
r = Resistivity of soil(Ω Meter) = 65 Ω Meter
l = length of the rod (cm) = 262m = 26200 cm
d = internal diameter of rod(cm) = 36mm = 3.6cm
h
= Depth of the buried strip/rod (cm)= 500mm = 50cm

  • Resistance of Earthing Strip/Conductor (R)=ρ/2×3.14xL (loge (2xLxL/Wt))
  • Resistance of Earthing Strip/Conductor (R)=65/2×3.14x26200xln(2x26200x26200/3.6×50)
  • Resistance of Earthing Strip/Conductor (R)== 1.7 Ω

4. Calculate Min. Cross Section area of Earthing Conductor

Cross Section Area of Earthing Conductor As per IS 3043

(A) =(If x√t) / K

Where:

t = Fault current Time (Second).
K = Material Constant.

Example: Calculate Cross Section Area of GI Earthing Conductor for System has 50KA Fault Current for 1 second. Corrosion will be 1.0 % Per Year and No of Year for Replacement is 20 Years.

Cross Section Area of Earthing Conductor (A) =(If x√t) / K

Here:

If = 50000 Amp
T = 1 Second
K = 80 (Material Constant, For GI=80, copper K=205, Aluminium K=126).

  • Cross Section Area of Earthing Conductor (A) = (50000×1)/80
  • Cross Section Area of GI Earthing Conductor (A) = 625 Sq.mm
  • Allowance for Corrosion = 1.0 % Per Year & Number of Year before replacement say = 20 Years
  • Total allowance = 20 x 1.0% = 20%
  • Safety factor = 1.5
  • Required Earthing Conductor size = Cross sectional area x Total allowance x Safety factor
  • Required Earthing Conductor size = 1125 Sq.mm say 1200 Sq.mm
  • Hence, Considered 1Nox12x100 mm GI Strip or 2Nox6 x 100 mm GI Strips

Thumb Rule for Calculate Number of Earthing Rod

The approximate earth resistance of the Rod/Pipe electrodes can be calculated by:

Earth Resistance of the Rod/Pipe electrodes:

R= K x ρ/L

Where:

ρ = Resistivity of earth in Ohm-Meter
L = Length of the electrode in Meter.
d = Diameter of the electrode in Meter.
K = 0.75 if 25< L/d < 100.
K = 1 if 100 < L/d < 600
K = 1.2 o/L if 600 < L/d < 300

Number of Electrode if find out by Equation of R(d) = (1.5/N) x R

Where:

R(d) = Desired earth resistance
R = Resistance of single electrode
N = No. of electrodes installed in parallel at a distance of 3 to 4 Meter interval.

Example: Calculate Earthing Pipe Resistance and Number of Electrode for  getting Earthing Resistance of 1 Ω ,Soil Resistivity of ρ=40, Length=2.5 Meter, Diameter of Pipe = 38 mm.

Here:

L/d = 2.5/0.038=65.78 so K = 0.75

  • The Earth Resistance of the Pipe electrodes R= K x ρ/L = 0.75×65.78 = 12 Ω
  • One electrode the earth resistance is 12 Ω.
  • To get Earth resistance of 1 Ω  the total Number of electrodes required = (1.5×12)/1 = 18 No


Calculating Resistance & Number of Earthing Rod

Reference: As per EHV Transmission Line Reference Book page: 290 and Electrical Transmission & Distribution Reference Book Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Section-I Page: 570-590.

Earthing Resistance of Single Rods:

R = ρx[ln (2L/a)-1]/(2×3.14xL)

Earthing Resistance of Parallel Rods:

R = ρx[ln (2L/A]/ (2×3.14xL)

Where:

L = length of rod in ground Meter,
a = radius of rod Meter
ρ = ground resistivity, ohm-Meter
A = √(axS)
S = Rod separation Meter

Earthing rod arrangements
Earthing rod arrangements

Factor affects on Ground resistance

The NEC code requires a minimum ground electrode length of 2.5 meters (8.0 feet) to be in contact with the soil.  But, there are some factor that affect the ground resistance of a ground system:

  • Length / Depth of the ground electrode: double the length, reduce ground resistance by up to 40%.
  • Diameter of the ground electrode: double the diameter, lower ground resistance by only 10%.
  • Number of ground electrodes: for increased effectiveness, space additional electrodes at least equal to the depth of the ground electrodes.
  • Ground system design: single ground rod to ground plate.

The GI earthing conductor sizes for various equipment

NoEquipmentEarth strip size
1HT switchgear, structures, cable trays & fence, rails, gate and steel column55 X 6 mm (GI)
2Lighting Arrestor25 X 3 mm (Copper)
3PLC Panel25 X 3 mm (Copper)
4DG & Transformer Neutral50X6 mm (Copper)
5Transformer Body50×6 mm (GI)
6Control & Relay Panel25 X 6 mm (GI)
7Lighting Panel & Local Panel25 X 6 mm (GI)
8Distribution Board25 X 6 mm (GI)

9

Motor up to 5.5 kw4 mm2 (GI)
10Motor 5.5 kw to 55 kw25 X 6 mm (GI)
11Motor 22 kw to 55 kw40 X 6 mm (GI)
12Motor Above 55 kw55 X 6 mm (GI)

Selection of Earthing System:

Installations/Isc CapacityIR Value RequiredSoil Type/ResistivityEarth System
House hold earthing/3kA8 ohmNormal Soil/ up to 50 ohm-meterSingle Electrode
Sandy Soil/ between 50 to 2000 ohm-meterSingle Electrode
Rocky Soil/ More than 2000 ohm-meterMultiple Electrodes
Commercial premises,Office / 5kA2 ohmNormal Soil/ up to 50 ohm-meterSingle Electrode
Sandy Soil/ between 50 to 2000 ohm-meterMultiple Electrodes
Rocky Soil/ More than 2000 ohm-meterMultiple Electrodes
Transformers, substation earthing, LT line equipment/ 15kAless than 1 ohmNormal Soil/ up to 50 ohm-meterSingle Electrode
Sandy Soil/ between 50 to 2000 ohm-meterMultiple Electrodes
Rocky Soil/ More than 2000 ohm-meterMultiple Electrodes
LA, High current Equipment./ 50kAless than 1 ohmNormal Soil/ up to 50 ohm-meterSingle Electrode
Sandy Soil/ between 50 to 2000 ohm-meterMultiple Electrodes
Rocky Soil/ More than 2000 ohm-meterMultiple Electrodes
PRS, UTS, RTUs, Data processing centre etc./5KAless than 0.5 ohmNormal Soil/ up to 50 ohm-meterSingle Electrode
Sandy Soil/ between 50 to 2000 ohm-meterMultiple Electrodes
Rocky Soil/ More than 2000 ohm-meterMultiple Electrodes

Size of Earthing Conductor

Ref IS 3043 and Handbook on BS 7671: The Lee Wiring Regulations by Trevor E. Marks.

Size of Earthing Conductor
Area of Phase Conductor S (mm2)Area of Earthing conductor (mm2) When It is Same Material as Phase ConductorArea of Earthing conductor (mm2) When It is Not Same Material as Phase Conductor
S < 16 mm2SSX(k1/k2)
16 mm2<S< 35 mm216 mm216X(k1/k2)
S > 35 mm2S/2SX(k1/2k2)
K1 is value of Phase conductor,k2 is value of earthing conductor
Value of K for GI=80, Alu=126,Cu=205 for 1 Sec

Standard earthing strip/plate/pipe/wire weight

GI Earthing Strip:

Size (mm2)Weight
20 x 3500 gm Per meter
25 x 3600 gm Per meter
25 x 61/200 Kg Per meter
32 x 61/600 Kg Per meter
40 x 62 Kg Per meter
50 x 62/400 Kg Per meter
65 x 105/200 Kg Per meter
75 x 127/200 Kg Per meter

GI Earthing Plate

PlateWeight
600 x 600 x 3 mm10 Kg App.
600 x 600 x 4 mm12 Kg App.
600 x 600 x 5 mm15 Kg App.
600 x 600 x 6 mm18 Kg App.
600 x 600 x 12 mm36 Kg App.
1200 x 1200 x 6 mm70 Kg App.
1200 x 1200 x 12 mm140 Kg App.

GI Earthing Pipe

PipeWeight
3 meter Long BISE5 Kg App.
3 meter r Long BISE9 Kg App.
4.5 meter (15′ Long BISE)5 Kg App.
4.5 meter (15′ Long BISE)9 Kg App.
4.5 meter (15′ Long BISE)14 Kg App

GI Earthing Wire

PlateWeight
6 Swg5 meter in 1 Kg
8 Swg9 meter in 1 Kg

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Jignesh Parmar

Jignesh Parmar has completed M.Tech (Power System Control), B.E (Electrical). He is member of Institution of Engineers (MIE), India. He has more than 20 years experience in transmission & distribution-energy theft detection and maintenance electrical projects.

28 Comments


  1. Atul Thakur
    Mar 08, 2024

    As per IS 3043, There is amendment in formula of earthing plate,

    Old formula Resistance of earthing plate R=ρ/A √(π/A)

    New formula Resistance of earthing plate R=ρ/4 √(π/A)


  2. Feleke
    Mar 06, 2023

    Excuse me sir;
    what is 7.57 in Max. allowable current density formula?


  3. maher
    Jul 26, 2022

    hi
    it is eng maher from SAK1.COM palestinan state
    we work in solar field capacity of 7.5mw
    could you help us by making GROUNDING SYSTEM DESIGN


  4. Shambhu sharma
    May 29, 2022

    What is required machine preventive maintenance


  5. Amit
    Mar 05, 2021

    The formula used is old. KIndly Calculate resistance as per new formula re-affirmed IS 3043 (2006)


    • Alphonse Nelson
      Mar 13, 2021

      How do aerial conductors be identified?


  6. Sobia Arif
    Feb 11, 2020

    i need its part 1. can you please tell me where is it?


  7. Vallinayagom
    Aug 21, 2019

    sir
    for extending earth connection earth copper strip say (25×3)mm to be used.in strip three types of copper strips available( soft, half hard, hard). which type to be used for extent the earth, why. please kindly explain
    thanks sir


  8. Subrata Kumar Bera
    Jul 15, 2019

    Dear Mr. Jignesh

    You have mentioned the inter distance of earth electrode of 3/4 mtrs. How do you aririve 3 to 4 mtrs. As per thumb rule, the inter distance shall be maintained twice of the length of pipe electrode. This distance shall be maintained to avoid any back flow of fault current.

    Regards
    Subrata Kumar Bera


  9. edwin
    Apr 09, 2019

    Can you please provide earthing calculation formula using lattice instead of earth electrode


  10. Ajay Kaul
    Jun 21, 2018

    We want to provide earthing for 10 KW DC solar power plant. Please suggest the weight of the copper plate that should be placed in the earthing pit.
    In case you can SMS it will help.
    Thanks.


  11. Deval
    Jan 27, 2018

    How we considered costant K in 4. Calculate Min. Cross Section area of Earthing Conductor ?


  12. Reza laali
    Jan 24, 2018

    Dear sir
    In oil and gas projects we earth pipes and structures every 25 or 30 meter
    Do you have any calculation for this?
    Best regard


  13. J.Ganapathy
    Sep 04, 2015

    Dear sir
    This article is very useful for me.Thank you for the same.will you please furnish lighting calculation detail.
    Tanks & regards


  14. Niket Deshmukh
    Apr 16, 2015

    hello sir
    if i want to replace 6 sq. mm copper wire with gi wire then how much area i want for gi wire


  15. Niket Deshmukh
    Apr 09, 2015

    Hello sir,
    can we use same area GI bare bundled conductor instead of GI earthing Strip?


  16. bhargava
    Feb 01, 2015

    I would like to download these articles for my personal reference. So please help me to get those.


  17. m.gunasekaran
    Dec 11, 2014

    Good sir.


  18. Lumlang Nongkhlaw
    Nov 16, 2014

    I would like to download varoius electrical manuals for my personal learning


  19. Prashant
    Apr 25, 2014

    Can u please provide me the formula for treated plate electrode.


  20. Prashant
    Apr 25, 2014

    Dear Sir,
    I have seen practice of providing plate electrode for main equipment earthing (HT switchgear, transformer body etc) while pipe electrodes for whole earthing system why plate electrode we used for main equipment (as we know pipe electrode is superior to plate electrode).


  21. Rekha
    Apr 03, 2014

    How to determine the fault MVA at the generating station having two DGs and two transformers


  22. sariqth
    Feb 08, 2014

    How to calculate the internal earthing cable for the panel?

    Please try to sort it out and gave me reply on my mail ID.


  23. Sufi
    Dec 25, 2013

    Can you tell me please, where is the Part 1?


  24. kushant
    Dec 06, 2013

    i put two parallel earthpit so pls suggest me the standard distance between them as per ISO…
    kindly do needfull


  25. Ashok Parikh
    Jun 04, 2013

    Article for calculating nos. of electrodes of different types is very much useful to designers like me. I would like to draw your attention to formula for calculating resistance bare earthing conductor or strip, where diameter of conductor is to be used. As provided in IS:3034, twice the diameter of conductor is to be taken, whereas for bare strip only width of strip is to be taken. In example given in the article, probably single diameter of conductor is used. Moreover, formula starts with 100x(soil resistivity – raw), whereas in calculation only 65 (ohm-m) is shown and is not multiplied with 100. I am unable to get 1.7 ohm while making calculations as per formula. Kindly check up and revert back.


  26. beshoy adel
    May 14, 2013

    thnx alot


  27. Somu
    May 14, 2013

    The article is very much useful Sir.
    Thanks a lot.

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