PCL

Wiring, Grounding, and Power Distribution Equipment

For safety

Wiring & Grounding

Why is it important to be aware of building wiring, grounding, and power distribution equipment ? Because:
Understanding the proper design and installation of building wiring, grounding, and power distribution equipment can Assure a safe operating system Help reduce power quality problems. Understanding the most common wiring and grounding errors can quickly help identify the source of power quality problems.

The purposes of grounding are:

1. Safety
reduce fire hazard ? prevent electric shock ? avoid equipment damage
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2. Performance
control stray currents ? create equal-potential plane ? reduce communication noise
?

3. Lightning and Surge Mitigation

control transients ? remove static charge ? bond between all services ? equalize surge reference points
?
Source: National Geographic

NEC Code for Wiring and Grounding - Safety

The purpose of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity1 .....not necessarily efficient, convenient, or adequate for good service or future expansion of electrical services.2

1. 2.

NEC 2002, 90.1(A), Pg NEC 2002, 90.1(B)

Power and Grounding Standards in IEEE Performance & Transient Protection

IEEE 141 - Industrial Power Distribution (red) IEEE 142 - Grounding (green) IEEE 446 - Emergency & Standby Power (orange) IEEE 1100 - Powering & Grounding Electronics (emerald) IEEE 1159 - Monitoring Power Quality IEEE 1250 - Service to Critical Loads IEEE P1346 - System Compatibility in Industrial Environment

Grounding-Related Definitions from National Electric Code

Ground: A conducting connectionintentional or accidentalbetween an electrical circuit or equipment and the earth, or some conducting body that serves in place of the earth. Grounded conductor: A system or circuit (current carrying) conductor that is intentionally grounded. The neutral wire. White Wire Grounding conductor: A conductor used to connect equipment or the grounded circuit of a wiring system to grounding electrode(s). Not intended to conduct current. Green Wire Premises wiring: Interior and exterior wiring, including power, lighting, . from service point of utility or a separately derived power source.
(NFPA 70)

Solidly Grounded Wye System

13,200-480Y/277V 13,200-208Y/120V Electric Utility Transformer 480Y/277V 3, 4W 208Y/120V 3, 4W Main Service Entrance Disconnect A B C

Grounded Electrode Conductor 6

Grounded System1 Grounded Conductor2 (Neutral3) Main Bonding Jumper7

Notes: 1. Effectively (Intentionally) Grounded System. Intentionally connected to earth through a ground connection(s) of sufficiently low impedance and having sufficient current -carrying capacity to prevent the buildup of voltages that may result in undue hazards to connected equipment or to persons. 2. Grounded Conductor. A system or circuit conductor that is intentionally grounded. 3. Neutral. A grounded conductor intended to carry imbalanced load current. 4. Bonded (Bonding). The permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrically conductive path . 5. Grounding Electrode System (GES). A system created by intentionally bonding together Ground Rod(s), Underground Water Pipe, Concrete Encased Electrodes, Ground Ring and Building Structural Steel. Provides a low impedance path which can carry lightning currents and system fault currents. 6. Grounding Electrode Conductor (GEC). Conductor used to connect the GES to the equipment grounding conductor. Keeps a;; equipment and utilities at a common ground potential . 7. Main Bonding Jumper. The connection between the grounded circuit conductor and the equipment grounding conductor at the service. Allows short circuit current to return to the source required for protective device operation.

Telephone G Cable TV

Ground Rod

Building Steel Underground Water Pipe Ground Ring Concrete Encased Electrode

Grounding Electrode System (GES)5

Common Grounding Electrode Conductor For Non-metallic Structure

NEC2002 HB, Exhibit 250.15, Page189 Common GEC sized based on total secondary cross-sectional area and table 250.66

Premises Grounding Techniques

(Service Entrance at 60 Hz)

Exhibit 250.29, NEC Handbook, Page 102

250.58 Use one common grounding electrode for all enclosures and equipment within a building. 250.50 Bond all elements of grounding electrode system. water pipe, building steel, ground ring. 250.56 A grounding electrode of more than 25 ohms shall be augmented by one additional electrode.

Listed Bonding Devices

Exhibit 250.32 Bonding of a metal raceway that contains a grounding electrode conductor to the conductor at both ends, as required by 250.64(E).

Exhibit 250.30

10

Exhibit 250.31

Ground Fault Return Comparisons

KAUFMAN EXPERIMENT
Steel Building Columns

IAC
S
11

G A B C H

100 Feet
2.5-inch Steel Conduit

1 foot
B vs. C: ? C vs. H: ? C vs. G:
?

B = 80% C = 20% C = 90% H = 10% C = 95% G = 5%

Classic Kaufman Experiment in 1954 led to NEC 250.91, thou shall run the equipment grounding conductor with or enclosing the circuit conductors Ground Fault Return Conductor

Listed Bonding Devices

Exhibit 250.35 Grounding-andbonding bushings used to connect a copper bonding or grounding wire to conduits. (Courtesy of Thomas & Betts Corp.)

Exhibit 250.36 A threaded grounding bushing with set screws used to ensure electrical and mechanical connection. (Courtesy of Thomas & Betts Corp.)

Bonding Jumper Sizing Service same as GEC Branch Circuit same as EGC
12

Basic Equipment Grounding

Effective grounding path. The path to ground from circuits,
equipment, and conductor enclosures shall: a) b) c) Be permanent and continuous, Have capacity to conduct safely any fault current likely to be imposed on it, Have sufficiently low impedance to limit the voltage to ground and to facilitate the operation of the circuit protective devices in the circuit, The earth shall not be used as the sole equipment ground conductor.

d)

"NEC", Article 250.4(A)(5)

Types of Electric Service

Grounded Ungrounded
Wye
480 V 3, 3W

? Grounded Wye
480Y/277 V 3, 4W 208Y/120 V 3, 4W

High-Impedance Grounded Wye

480 V 3, 4W

Delta
480 V 3, 3W 240 V 3, 3W

Corner Grounded Delta

480 V 3, 3W 240V 3, 3W

Mid-Point Grounded Delta

240 V 3, 3W &120/240 V 1, 3W

Single-Phase
120/240 V 1, 3W

14

Impedance Grounded Wye System

480V 3, 3W Main Service Entrance Disconnect

13,200-208Y/120V Electric Utility Transformer

A B C

N Grounding Impedance G

Telephone Cable TV
Building Steel

Ground Rod Underground Water Pipe Ground Ring Concrete Encased Electrode

Corner Grounded Delta System

13,200-240V Electric Utility Transformer

480V 3, 3W 240 3, 3W Main Service Entrance Disconnect A B C

Telephone G Cable TV

Corner Ground
Ground Rod Underground Water Pipe

Building Steel

Ground Ring Concrete Encased Electrode

Center-Tap Grounded Delta System

13,200-240V Electric Utility Transformer

240V 3, 3W & 120/240 1, 3W Main Service Entrance Disconnect A B C

N Telephone G Cable TV

Center-Tap Ground
Ground Rod Underground Water Pipe

Building Steel

Ground Ring Concrete Encased Electrode

Grounded Split-Phase (Residential) System

13,200-240V Electric Utility Transformer

120/240 1, 3W Main Service Entrance Disconnect L1

L2

N Telephone G Cable TV

Center-Tap Ground
Ground Rod Underground Water Pipe

Building Steel

Ground Ring Concrete Encased Electrode

Ungrounded Delta System

13,200-240V Electric Utility Transformer 480V 3, 3W 240 3, 3W Main Service Entrance Disconnect A B C

Telephone G Cable TV

Ungrounded
Ground Rod Underground Water Pipe

Building Steel

General Notes: 1. 2. 3. Ungrounded systems typically consist of a 3-phase 3-Wire 480 Volt or a 240 Volt Delta system. An ungrounded system is a system which does not contain a grounded conductor (neutral) . An ungrounded system is generally considered more reliable than a grounded system because short circuit faults involving only one phase and ground will not cause the overcurrent protection to operate. The system will continue to operate with no problems and the fault can be located at a convenient time. The grounding electrode conductor provides a low impedance path which can carry lighting currents into the earth and is connected between the equipment grounding conductor and the grounding electrode system (NEC 250.24). The grounding electrode conductor keeps all equipment and utilities at a common ground potential by connecting the equipment grounding conductors and the service equipment enclosures to the grounding electrodes in the earth {NEC 250.24, .28}.

Ground Ring Concrete Encased Electrode

4.

5.

Ungrounded Delta System With GFDs

13,200-240V Electric Utility Transformer 480V 3, 3W 240 3, 3W Main Service Entrance Disconnect GFDs A B C

Telephone Cable TV
Ground Rod
Notes: 1. The proper use of suitable ground fault detectors (GFDs) on ungrounded systems can indicated when a single ground fault has occurred so it can be cleared before a second ground fault occurs on another phase. Ground faults on more than one phase can cause damage arcing overvoltages, equipment brownouts, and building fires [(NEC 250.21(3)(d)]

Underground Water Pipe Ground Ring Concrete Encased Electrode

Building Steel

Ungrounded Wye System

480V 3, 3W Main Service Entrance Disconnect

13,200-208Y/120V Electric Utility Transformer

A B C

Telephone
G

Cable TV
Building Steel Ground Rod Underground Water Pipe Ground Ring Concrete Encased Electrode

Ungrounded

Ungrounded Wye System With GFDs

480V 3, 3W Main Service Entrance Disconnect

13,200-208Y/120V Electric Utility Transformer

GFDs

A B C

Telephone

Ungrounded
Cable TV Ground Rod Building Steel Underground Water Pipe Ground Ring Concrete Encased Electrode

Correctly Grounded Equipment Normal Operation

? 250.80 All metallic enclosures (conduit, raceway, panel boards) must be bonded.
120 Vac Load Current

~0 Volts

Im ok
age only k a le rent cur

HOT

NEUTRAL

Equipment Grounding Conductor 0 Volts 0 Volts

THE GREEN WIRE SHOULD NORMALLY SEE NO CURRENT

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Phase to Ground Fault Path

Metallic enclosure

Source

Breaker trips in 2-3 cycles (less than .05 seconds) maybe

Ground Fault

Load

Grounding Conductor
A low impedance path for the return of fault current to trip the circuit breaker.

Bonded

24

Incorrectly Grounded Equipment and Ground Fault Path

This breaker wont trip, prolonging the fault, because: I = E/R = 120/10 = 12 Amps

Source
20 A

Phase A

120 V
Ground Fault

Load

Phase B Phase C Grounded Circuit Conductor

Code violation, no grounding conductor! This enclosure is not effectively grounded!

10 ohms
25

Unsafe Practice of Isolating Equipment

Im not ok!

Ground Fault

HOT 120 Vac

Load Current

~ 120V

NEUTRAL
Unknown earth resistance

0Volts

Equipment grounding conductor disconnected violates NEC!

Volts? Current Flow

26

Misapplied Neutral to Ground Bonds

Improper N-G bonds can cause unsafe situations as well as performance problems, violates 250-24
Distribution Panel Load Equipment

Main Electrical Panel Transformer Ground Hot 40 A

Receptacle

Grounded Conductor (Neutral)

?A
N N G

N G
Conduit Ground Equipment Ground

Ground ?A G Wire ?A Conduit Ground

Service Ground
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Proper Neutral to Ground Bond

?

Neutral to ground bonds are required at main service (NEC 250-24) and at any separately derived power sources (NEC 250-30) and shall not be made at any grounded circuit conductor (neutral) on the load side of the service disconnect.

Main Electrical Panel

Transformer Ground

Distribution Panel

Separately Derived System

Receptacle

Computer System

Hot
Grounded Conductor (Neutral)

N G

N G

N-G bond per 250-24

28

Ground Wire

N-G bond per 250-30

Separately Derived ac System per NEC 250.30

Transformer
Phase A

Load

3-Wire Input
Neutral Ground

Phase B Phase C Neutral Ground

Ground

A neutral to ground bond between the source and the first disconnect.

Per 250.50 form a common premises grounding electrode system by connecting to nearest effectively grounded: 1. Building Steel 2. Metal Water Pipe, or 3. Other Electrode

Isolation Transformer Neutral to Ground Bond

30

Separately Derived ac System Input-side Ground Fault

Transformer Fault
3 Wire Input
Phase A

Load

Phase B Phase C

Ground

Neutral Ground

Grounded

Common Building Grounding Electrode System

Separately Derived ac System with External Ground Fault

Transformer
Phase A

Load
Fault

3-Wire Input
Neutral Ground

Phase B Phase C

Ground

Grounded

To Computer Room Signal Reference Grid

Common building grounding electrode system

Grounding Application For Separately Derived Systems

Exhibit 250.13, NEC Handbook, Page 187, Neutral-ground bond established at transformer 33

Exhibit 250.14, NEC Handbook, Page 187, Neutral-ground bond established at first disconnecting means

Grounding and Transfer with Standby Generator and 3-W Load

Service Entrance

3-Pole Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)

Generator

N G G

N G

Grounding Electrode

3W+G Load

Local Grounding Electrode

Incorrect Grounding with Standby Gen, 4-Wire Load and 3-Pole ATS

Service Entrance

3-Pole Automatic Transfer Switch

Generator

N G

N G

N G

Grounding Electrode

4W+G Load

Local Grounding Electrode

Correct Grounding with Standby Gen, 4-Wire Load and 4-Pole ATS

Service Entrance

4-Pole Automatic Transfer Switch

Generator

N G G

N G

Grounding Electrode

4W+G Load

Local Grounding Electrode

Wiring & Grounding Evaluation

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Check rms voltage levels Check for extra neutral-ground bonds Check for overloaded neutral conductors Check grounding electrode system Check isolated ground receptacle wiring Check overall circuit layouts Check for use of separately derived systems Check for ground loops Apply protection to data lines and communications lines if ground loop potential exists

37

DETAILS, DETAILS
Where Is the Grounding Electrode Connection?

CASE #1

3-Wire Input
Neutral Ground

38

GROUND, THERE IT IS !

HERES THE BLDG GRD?

3-Wire Input
Neutral Ground

39

Improper Isolated Ground

Problem: Erratic computer operation occurred in a large office building during lightning storms. Findings: Isolated ground conductors from all computers were connected to an isolated grounding electrode system. Voltages were being developed between the isolated computer ground and the building ground.
Service Entrance Distribution Panelboard Isolated Ground Receptacle ITE Equipment Ground Fault

N N G N IG IG

Grounding Electrode

Isolated Grounding Electrode

Look for special quiet isolated ground!

Isolated Grounding System

Problem: A new ten-story office building included a 1/4x1 copper busbar installed from the basement to the top floor. The busbar was insulated from the building and connected to a ground rod driven through the basement floor. All isolated ground receptacles throughout the building were connected to this isolated ground busbar. Solution: The electrical inspector would not allow occupancy of the building until the IG receptacles were rewired.

Multiple Interconnected Buildings

Problem: Four separate nearby buildings contained control for chemical processing. There were interconnecting data cables between buildings. Each of the four computer systems was separately grounded to its respective buildings grounding system. Operation of the computer systems was erratic. Solution: The interconnecting data lines were replaced with fiber-optic communication links in buried plastic conduits.

Supplemental Ground Rod Properly Installed May Still Invite Stray Ground Currents

OPEN CONCENTRIC ONE OF WORST CONDITIONS POSSIBLE

Incorrect and Unsafe Installation of Isolated, Dedicated Ground Rod

Building Premises
Cable Tray (Raceway)

Service Transformer

Service Entrance Switch

CNC Machine

Attempts To Isolate
Frame Create an Unknown Resistance Path Back to Service

0A 0B 0C

N G
G

Grounding Electrodes

PVC Isolator

Dedicated Ground Rod

If Dedicated Ground Rod Is Required Use Isolation Transformer

Building Premises
Cable Tray (Raceway)

Service Transformer

Service Entrance Switch Isolation Transformer N G

CNC Machine

0A 0B 0C

Grounding Electrodes Dedicated Ground Rod

SAFETY FIRST!

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?s
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