Grounding Systems and Their 3-Letter

Classification
Posted Apr 12 2013 by Edvard in Energy and Power with 3 Comments

Grounding Systems and Their 3-Letter Classification
Protective Ground Connection
Low voltage systems supplying to consumer premises are predominantly solidly grounded.
Protective ground connection to consumer premises (or extending the supply system ground to
consumer premises) is however done in different ways. The common system categories are
defined below using a 3-letter classification (based on IEE Standards).
Note that in these descriptions, system includes both the supply and the consumer installation,
and live parts include the neutral conductor.
First letter
T The live parts in the system have one or more direct connections to ground.
I The live parts in the system have no connection to ground or are connected only through a
high impedance.
Second letter
T All exposed metal parts / enclosures of electrical equipment are connected to the ground
conductor which is then connected to a local ground electrode.
N All exposed metal parts / enclosures of electrical equipment are connected to the ground
conductor which is then connected to the ground provided by the supply system.
Remaining letter(s)
C Combined neutral and protective ground functions (same conductor).
S Separate neutral and protective ground functions (separate conductors).
Common types of systems
TN system
A system having one or more points of the source directly grounded with the exposed metal
parts being connected to that point by protective conductors. It is further subdivided into the
following types depending on the neutral-ground connection configuration.
TN-C system
A system in which the same conductor functions as the neutral and protective conductor
throughout the supply and consumer installation (Figure 1).

Figure 1 - Schematic of a TN-C system
TN-S system
A system in which separate conductors are provided for neutral and protective ground
functions throughout the system. In this type of system, the utility provides a separate ground
conductor back to the substation.
This is most commonly done by having a grounding clamp connected to the sheath of the supply
cable which provides a connection to the ground conductor of the supply side and the grounding
terminal of the consumer installation (Figure 2).

Figure 2 - Schematic of a TN-S system
TN-C-S system
A system in which the neutral and protective functions are done by a single conductor in a part
of the system. In this system, in supply side neutral and ground are combined, but they are
separated in the installation.
This is also called as protective multiple earthing (PME for short). The grounding terminal of
the consumer installation is connected to the suppliers neutral.
Any breakage of the common neutral cum ground wire, called sometimes as PEN (protective
earth and neutral) conductor, can result in the enclosures of electrical equipment inside the
premises assuming line voltage when there is insulation failure.
It is therefore essential to maintain the connection integrity of this common neutral-cum-ground
conductor (Figure 3).

Figure 3 - Schematic of a TN-C-S system
TT System
No ground provided by supplier; installation requires own ground rod (common with overhead
supply lines) (Figure 4).

Figure 4 - Schematic of a TT system
IT System
Supply is, for example, portable generator with no ground connection, installation supplies own
ground rod (Figure 5).

Figure 5 - Schematic of an IT system

Resource: Practical grounding, bonding, shielding and surge protection G. Vijayaraghavan
(Get this book from Amazon)
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TAGS
ground, ground conductor, grounding system, neutral conductor, protective ground, tnc, tnc-s,
tns,
FILED UNDER CATEGORY
Energy and Power






Edvard - Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of
LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, buildings and industry
fascilities. Designing of LV/MV switchgears. Professional in AutoCAD programming and web-
design. Present on Google+.

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3 Comments
1.
Nadir
Feb 06, 2014
Good site
(reply)
2.
How to Determine Correct Number of Earthing Electrodes (Strips, Plates and Pipes)
part 2 | EEP
May 13, 2013
[...] of Earthing Strip/Conductor (R)== 1.7 4. Calculate Min. Cross Section area of
Earthing ConductorCross Section Area of Earthing Conductor As per IS 3043(A) =(If
xt) / KWhere:t = Fault current [...]
(reply)
3.
eroncelli
Apr 12, 2013
Just a simple clarification to this subject:
N All exposed metal parts / enclosures of electrical equipment are connected to the
ground conductor is then connected to the ground provided by the supply system
The sentence is incorrect: the real meaning is that metal parts/enclosures are connected to
the same earth as neutral.
That is the typical case of installation of a MV/LV transformer by the consumer (where a
common grounding for neutral and metal parts is a preferrable solution)
Thanks for the attention
Eugenio Roncelli