Earthing Arrangements Explained + Photo's

[Paul.M]

This is for the people still in or has just left their electrical education or for those of us that need a refresher in domestic earthing arrangements. It's all very well looking at prity diagrams in college and in books but its different when your out in the field for the first time. Hope this thread helps you and I hope that other members will post up their pictures of main incomers/earthing so others can learn and understand this subject better. I wish I could refer to something like this when I was in college.



First of all we have 3 types of earthing arrangements, TN-S, TN-C-S and TT.

TN-C-S

This is where the main earth cable from the main earth terminal (met) is connected to the neutral at the suppliers main fuse. A good way to remember the name of this arrangement is to think of the C meaning COMBINED.


TN-S

This is where the main earth cable from the met is clamped or solderd to the steel of the SWA or the led outer sheath of the incoming supply cable. Again a good way to remember this is to think that the S stands for SHEATH.

TT

The main earth cable from the met is connect to an earth electrode (aka earth rod). This is because not all properties are supplied with a TN system by the supplier so we have to insert a rod into the ground.


Notice how the earth cable on the TN systems go back to the main incomer, one goes to the main fuse (TN-C-S) and the other goes to the incoming cable (TN-S). If the main earth cable doesn't go back to the fuse or incoming cable it will be a TT. This is the simplest way I can put it without going into extended detail.



Now that we've seen some prity diagrams (am I starting to sound like a teacher lol) we will now look at real world photos that are not as straight forward as the diagrams.


First example, is it a TN-S or a TN-C-S or both?

 

[SJD]

It kind of looks like TN-C-S, plus an extra earth to the incoming cable sheath, as if the supply was once TN-S, but perhaps has been converted to TN-C-S?

 

[Paul.M]

It kind of looks like TN-C-S, plus an extra earth to the incoming cable sheath, as if the supply was once TN-S, but perhaps has been converted to TN-C-S?

Ten out of ten for SJD!

Yes its in an area where the DNO is installing TN-C-S to all the houses so at the time of the picture it was both so they could switch over without disconnecting an earth path from anyone's house. Just a good example to get the ball rolling on this thread.

 

[Paul.M]

TN-S

You can clearly see the main earth cable connected to the 'S'heath.

 

[Engineer54]

If you have a neutral connected to an installations earth terminal (eg PME/TNC-S) then the incoming supply cables metallic sheath connection must be disconnected. Especially important where a supply cable is suppling both TN-S and TNC-S earthing arrangements!! eg, ....where the DNO cable is in the process of being PME'd....

 

[Paul.M]

TN-C-S

Another obvious one, were is the earth cable going? Ho to the main fuse therefore its a TN-C-S. C = Combined.

 

[telectrix]

post deleted

 

[Paul.M]

TN-S , paul, not TNC-S.

Predicted text Tel lol. Now edited and me looking like a muppet again .


@ E54, the DNO "forgot" to come back and disconnect the TN-S. A Ze was taken on the pme to establish continuity before my snips came out. I also called the DNO to make sure, now that's twenty minutes of my life that I won't get back.

 

[telectrix]

deleted post now you've edited. i knew it was a typo. LOL.

 

[Engineer54]

Haha, ....I hope you wrapped the remaining exposed sheath in amalgamating tape, as it'll still be an extraneous earth?? lol!!

 

[sedgy34]

its got to be an old tns changed to a pme but if think there its been left like that cause of corrosion to there incoming cable
i remember something the DNO mentioned to me a few months back regarding an installation query i had

 

[Engineer54]

its got to be an old tns changed to a pme but if think there its been left like that cause of corrosion to there incoming cable
i remember something the DNO mentioned to me a few months back regarding an installation query i had

Please Explain what you mean??

 

[Paul.M]

Below is an install done by member Dave85. You can't get any clearer than that. Nice job Dave.

 

[Top Cat]

Below is an install done by member Dave85. You can't get any clearer than that. Nice job Dave.

Still waiting for the meter guy to to put main fuse in and seal up i see! Lol

 

[Paul.M]

Still waiting for the meter guy to to put main fuse in and seal up i see! Lol

TC let's not confuse matters lol. Besides this was an emergency job because the 3036 cu was melting.

 

[Dave 85]

To be quite honest, and I know, this is a running joke and we always say it, but this time I can, hand on my heart, say that the cut out seal had already been removed before I got there.

 

[Top Cat]

Just a quick point as this is for training purposes Paul, on the drawn TT system someone may think that water and gas do not need earthing! I know it's a stupid point but someone will..................!

Edit:- As kindly pointed out to me it should read bonding not earthing!

 

[telectrix]

TC... that TT system has all plastic water pipes and there is no gas.

 

[Paul.M]

To be quite honest gents I want other members to say things like what TC has said on this thread to expand it into a great source of information for everyone. Please continue with positive posts.

 

[Dave 85]

To be quite honest gents I want other members to say things like what TC has said on this thread to expand it into a great source of information for everyone. Please continue with positive posts.

Wow man, I must be the new Derren Brown, I just influenced your actions without you realising it. I start a post with 'to be quite honest' you 'like' it and then you start your next post with 'to be quite honest'.
Nuts to this electrics lark Im going into mind control.....