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Earthing Interview Questions

[Q:-01] What do you mean by 'Earth' in Electrical Engineering ?
Ans :
      In electrical engineering 'earth' means the conductive mass of the earth whose electric potential at any point is conventionally taken as zero.

[Q:-02] What is an earthing ?
Ans :
      Earthing means connecting the non current carrying metallic parts of electrical apparatus or the neutral point of the supply system to the general mass of earth by means of an earth electrode in such a manner that immediate discharge of electrical energy can take place at all time without effecting any danger.

[Q:-03] What is the difference between system earthing and equipment earthing ?
Ans :
      System earthing means the intentional connection of the neutral point i.e the star point of generator, transformer, rotating machine and grounding transformer to the general mass of earth whereas equipment earthing means the intentional connection of the non current carrying metal parts of the motor body, generator body, switchgear structure, transformer core and tank, sheaths of cable, body of portable apparatus etc. to the general mass of earth.

[Q:-04] What are the objects of equipment earthing ?
Ans :
      The objects of equipment earthing are
(i) to eliminate the danger of serious injury from electric shock to persons who may come in contact with the metal frames of electrical equipment which may have become live due to the insulation failure.
(ii) to flow the earth fault current easily through earthing causing operation of over current protective system or earth fault relay without creating a fire or explosive hazards to building and contents and
(iii) To contribute to better performance of the electrical system.

[Q:-05] What is good earthing ?
Ans :
      Good earthing is that earthing which gives very low resistance to the flow of heavy leakage current of a circuit to earth.

[Q:-06] What are the advantages of neutral point earthing ?
Ans :
      The advantages of neutral point earthing are as follows :—
(1) Under earth fault condition the phase to earth voltages do not rise to high values.
(2) Under earth fault condition it ensures efficient and fast operation of protective gear.
(3) Earth fault relays can be provided to isolate the faulty portion.
(4) Arcing ground can be avoided by using suitable protective gear.
(5) The magnitude of the transient voltage can be limited to a very small value.
(6) The induced static charges can be conducted to earth immediately before creating any disturbance to the power system.
(7) The operation and maintenance expenditure becomes less than that of isolated neutral system.
(8) From the safety point of view earthed neutral system is much better.

[Q:-07] What are the methods of neutral earthing ?
Ans :
      The different methods of neutral earthing are
(i) Solid earthing,
(ii) Resistance earthing,
(iii) Reactance earthing &
(iv) Arc suppression coil earthing.

[Q:-08] What Is called solid earthing ?
Ans :
      When a direct metallic connection is made between the system neutral and earth then it is called as solid neutral earthing.

[Q:-09] What Is called resistance earthing ?
Ans :
      When a current limiting device resistance, metallic or liquid, is introduced in between neutral and earth connection to limit the earth fault current then it is called as resistance neutral earthing.

[Q:-10] What Is called reactance earthing ?
Ans :
      When an impedance, predominantly inductive, is inserted in between the neutral point of generator or transformer and earth connection then it is called as reactance earthing.

[Q:-11] What are the advantages of reactance earthing over resistance earthing ?
Ans :
      The advantages are as follows :
(i) For the same maximum earth fault current the reactor device can be made smaller than the corresponding resistance and
(ii) Dissipation of electrical energy in the reactor device is very much less.

[Q:-12] What is arc suppression coil earthing ?
Ans :
      Arc suppression coil earthing is a logical development of reactance earthing and is based on a value of reactance in the system neutral such that the reactance current due to the coil exactly neutralizes the network capacitance current at the fault. The resultant current being nil is quite inadequate to maintain any arc at the earth fault point. Hence the inductive coil is named as arc suppression coil which is usually provided with tappings so that its value can be adjusted to suit the capacitances of the system. It is also called in the name of its inventor as Peterson coil earthing.

[Q:-13] What are the essential elements of an earthing system of an electrical installation ?
Ans :
      The essential elements of an earthing system are earth electrode, earthing conductor, earthing terminal or earthing bar, protective conductors, and earth continuity conductor.

[Q:-14] What is an earth electrode ?
Ans :
      Earth electrode is a metal plate, pipe or other conductor or an array of conductors in intimate contact with and providing an electrical connection to the general mass of earth.

[Q:-15] What types of electrodes are generally used for earthing ?
Ans :
      The following types of electrodes are generally used :
(i) Pipe electrode,
(ii) Plate electrode,
(iii) Rod electrode and
(iv) Strip electrode.

[Q:-16] What should be the minimum size of (i) Pipe electrode, (ii) Plate electrode, (iii) Rod electrode, (iv) Strip electrode ?
Ans :
(i) Pipe electrodes shall not be smaller than 38 mm internal diameter if made of galvanised iron or steel and 100 mm internal diameter if made of cast iron. The length of the pipe electrode shall not be less than 2.5 metres.
(ii) Plate electrodes when made of galvanised iron or steel the size shall not be less than 60 cm x 60 cm x 6.30 mm and the plate electrodes when made of copper the size shall not be less than 60 cm x 60 cm x 3.15 mm.
(iii) Rod electrodes of steel or galvanised iron shall be at least 16 mm in diameter and those of copper shall be at least 12.5 mm in diameter. The length of rod electrode shall not be less than 2.5 metres.
(iv) Strip electrodes shall not be smaller than 25 mm x 1.60 mm if of copper and 25 mm x 4 mm if of galvanised iron or steel. The length shall not be less than 15 metres.

[Q:-17] What should be the distance of the earth electrode from the building ?
Ans :
Not less than 1.5 metres (5 ft).

[Q:-18] What do you mean by the resistance area of an earth electrode ?
Ans :
      The surface area of ground around an earth electrode on which a significant voltage gradient may exist is known as the resistance area of that electrode.

[Q:-19] What do you mean by earth grid ?
Ans :
      Earth grid means a system of grounding electrodes consisting of interconnected connectors buried in the earth to provide a common ground for electrical devices and metallic structures.

[Q:-20] What do you mean by earth mat ?
Ans :
      Earth mat means a grounding system formed by a grid of horizontally buried conductors and which serves to dissipate the earth fault current to earth and also as an equipotential bonding conductor system.

[Q:-21] What do you mean by protective conductor and how is it marked ?
Ans :
      When a conductor is used as a measure of protection against electric shock and intended for connecting exposed conductive parts, extraneous conductive parts, main earthing terminal or any earthed point of the source then it is called as protective conductor. The protective conductor shall be marked with alphanumeric notation `PB' and bicolour combination of green and yellow.

[Q:-22] What is extraneous conductive part ?
Ans :
      Extraneous conductive part is that conductive part which is liable to transmit a potential including earth potential and not forming part Of the electrical installation such as gas pipes, other service pipes, and ducting, risers and pipes of fire protection equipment, exposed metallic parts of the building structure, lightning conductors etc.

[Q:-23] What do you mean by earthing conductor and how is it marked ?
Ans :
      Earthing conductor is the final protective conductor by which the earth electrode is connected to the main earthing terminal (or the equipotential bonding conductor of an installation where there is no earth bus). Earthing conductor shall be marked with alphanumeric notation 'E' .

[Q:-24] What is main earthing terminal ?
Ans :
      Main earthing terminal or earth busbar is the intermediate connecting link between the protective conductor and the earthing conductor used in large installation.

[Q:-25] What do you mean by earth continuity conductor of wiring Installation ?
Ans :

      Earth continuity conductor of wiring installation means the protective conductor, including any clamp, running along the wiring installation and connected to all metal parts which are required to be earthed and finally to earthing terminal or earthing conductor.

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