Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
EC323: Electrical Installations
Lab 01: Measurement of Earth Resistance and Resistivity

Name

S.A.D.T.P Kaushalya

Index Number

EN14535468

Group

3A

Submission Date

18/03/2016

Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 3
Observations ............................................................................................................................................... 4
Part 1 ....................................................................................................................................................... 4
Part 2 ....................................................................................................................................................... 5
Part 3 ....................................................................................................................................................... 7
Discussion ................................................................................................................................................... 8
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 11
References ................................................................................................................................................. 11

Table of Figures
Figure 1: Ground resistance testing kit ....................................................................................................... 3
Figure 2: Resistance vs Immersion depth of electrode ............................................................................... 4
Figure 3: Earth resistance vs Distance from Earth electrode ...................................................................... 6
Figure 4: Earth resistance vs distance for overlapping case ....................................................................... 7
Figure 5: Electrode Arrangement................................................................................................................ 8
Figure 6: Non Overlapping area ................................................................................................................. 9
Figure 7: Overlapping area ......................................................................................................................... 9
Figure 8: Earth resistance vs Depth of rod................................................................................................ 10
Figure 9: Ground Electrode ...................................................................................................................... 10

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Introduction
In todays rapidly changing world of technological advancements, good grounding is more important than
ever to prevent costly damage and downtime due to service interruptions and inoperative surge protection
caused by poor grounds. Grounding systems offer protection from natural phenomenon such as lightning
by channeling the lightening current to the current, protecting system components from damage. In
electrical power systems with ground returns, grounds help ensure rapid operation of the protection relays
by providing low resistance fault paths in the events of an unexpected potentials due to faults.
Soil resistivity is the key factor that determines what the resistance of grounding electrode will be, and to
what depth it must be driven to obtain low ground resistance. The resistivity of the soil varies widely
throughout the world and changes seasonally. Soil resistivity is determined largely by its content of
electrolytes, which consist of moisture, minerals and dissolved salts. A dry soil has high resistivity if it
contains no soluble salts.
Soil resistivity measurements are often corrupted by the existence of ground currents and their harmonics.
To prevent this from occurring, testing equipment uses an Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) System.
This automatically selects the testing frequency with the least amount of noise enabling us to get a clear
reading.

Figure 1: Ground resistance testing kit

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Observations
Part 1
Variation of Earth resistance with the depth of the earth electrode
Table 1: Variation of earth resistance with the Depth of Earth electrode

Depth of the Electrode (m)

Earth Resistance ()

0.1

550

0.2

400

0.3

340

0.4

320

0.5

300

0.6

300

600

Resistance ()

500
400
300
200
100
0
0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Depth (m)
Figure 2: Resistance vs Immersion depth of electrode

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Part 2
Table 2 : Earth resistance for different distances of potential electrode

Distance from E to P (m)

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Earth Resistance()

0.5

260

1.0

300

1.5

300

2.0

300

2.5

300

3.0

300

3.5

300

4.0

300

4.5

300

5.0

300

5.5

300

6.0

320

6.5

320

7.0

320

7.5

320

8.0

320

8.5

320

9.0

320

9.5

320

10.0

320

10.5

320

11.0

320

11.5

320

12.0

320

12.5

320

13.0

320

13.5

340

14.0

340

14.5

340

15.0

480

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Earth Resistance()
500

Resistance()

450
400
350
300
250
200
0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 5.5 6.5 7.5 8.5 9.5 10.5 11.5 12.5 13.5 14.5

Distance (m)
Earth Resistance()

Figure 3: Earth resistance vs Distance from Earth electrode

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Part 3
Table 3: Earth resistances for different distances in an overlapping area

Distance from E to P (m)

Resistance ()

0.5

260

1.0

300

1.5

300

2.0

300

2.5

320

3.0

320

3.5

320

4.0

340

4.5

380

5.0

720

Earth resistance for a 5m Array

800
700

Resistance

600
500
400
300
200

100
0
0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

4.5

Distance
Figure 4: Earth resistance vs distance for overlapping case

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Discussion
In this 3-Point measurement experiment The potential difference between rods X and Y is measured by a
voltmeter, and the current flow between rods X and Z is measured by an ammeter. In this method two
auxiliary earth electrode, besides the test electrode, are placed at suitable distance from the test electrode.

Figure 5: Electrode Arrangement

A measured current is passed between the electrode X to be tested and auxiliary current electrode Z
and the potential difference between the electrode X and auxiliary electrode Y is measured.
The potential probes detect the voltage due to the current injected in the earth by the current terminals.
The test set measures both the current and the voltage and internally calculates and then displays the
resistance. [1]
The goal in precisely measuring the resistance to ground is to place the auxiliary current electrode Z far
enough from the ground electrode under test so that the auxiliary potential electrode Y will be outside of
the effective resistance areas of both the ground electrode and the auxiliary current electrode. The best
way to find out if the auxiliary potential rod Y is outside the effective resistance areas is to move it between
X and Z and to take a reading at each location. If the auxiliary potential rod Y is in an effective resistance
area by displacing it the readings taken will vary noticeably in value. Under these conditions, no exact
value for the resistance to ground may be determined.
The earth electrode resistance can be estimated by examining the curves or field data at the 61.8% point
from the test 2 for a larger area (Non-Overlapping area)

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Total distance between Earth and Current probes = 20m

Distance of 62% of total= 20 * (62/100) = 12.4m

Therefore, Resistance of the area approximately = 320

Figure 6: Non Overlapping area

From the test 3 for an overlapping area, in figure 5, the resistance of the overlapping area for the 62% of
the total distance is given by

Total distance between E and C = 5m

Distance of 62% from 5m = 5* (62/100) = 3.1m

Resistance of the area approximately = 320

Figure 7: Overlapping area

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Variation of Earth resistance with depth of the Electrode

After measuring the earth resistance for different depths of insertion of the earth electrode, it was found
that when ground rod is driven deeper into the earth, its resistance is substantially reduced. An electrode
driven into earth of uniform resistivity radiates current in all directions. The earth shell nearest the
electrode naturally has the smallest surface area and so offers the greatest resistance. The next earth shell
is somewhat larger in area and offers less resistance. Finally, a distance from the electrode will be reached
where inclusion of additional earth shells does not add significantly to the resistance of the earth
surrounding the electrode

Figure 9: Ground Electrode

Figure 8: Earth resistance vs Depth of rod

Four variables affect the ground resistance of a ground system.

Length/depth of the ground electrode

Driving ground electrodes deeper is a very effective way to lower ground resistance.

Diameter of the ground electrode

Increasing the diameter of the ground electrode has very little effect in lowering the resistance.

Number of ground electrodes

Using multiple ground electrodes provides another way to lower ground resistance.

Driven rod.

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Conclusion
The main objective of this lab is to determine the earth resistance and resistivity of earth. The purpose of
electrical ground testing is to determine the effectiveness of the grounding medium with respect to true
earth. Most electrical systems do not rely on the earth to carry load current (this is done by the system
conductors) but the earth may provide the return path for fault currents, and for safety, all electrical
equipment frames are connected to ground.
Soil resistivity directly affects the design of a grounding system. When designing an extensive grounding
system, it is advisable to locate the area of lowest soil resistivity in order to achieve the most economical
grounding installation. Resistance to earth can vary with changes in climate and temperature. To avoid
errors due to galvanic currents in the earth, ground test instruments use an AC current source

References

[1] U. G. T. principles.

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