Mansoura University
Faculty of Engineering
Electrical Power & Machine Dept.
TYPES OF EARTHING
SYSTEMS
By
Khaled Ibrahim Abdulaziz
Section 3 (no.12)
Supervised By
Dr. Mohamed Qotb
1. Introduction
Earthing configurations can be arranged differently at the supply and load side while
achieving the same overall outcome. The international standard IEC 60364 identifies
three types of earthing, defined using a two-letter identifier of the form ‘XY’. In the
context of AC systems, ‘X’ defines the configuration of neutral and earth conductors on
the supply side of the system (i.e. generator/transformer), and ‘Y’ defines the
neutral/earth configuration on the system’s load side (i.e. the main switchboard and
connected loads). ‘X’ and ‘Y’ can each take the following values: T – Earth (from French
‘Terre’), N – Neutral and I – Isolated. And subsets of these configurations can be defined
using the values: S – Separate and C – Combined. Using these, the three earthing types
are TN, where the electrical supply is earthed and the customer loads are earthed via
neutral, TT, where the electrical supply and customer loads are separately earthed, and
IT, where only the customer loads are earthed.
2. TN Earthing System
A single point on the source side (usually the neutral reference point in a star-connected
three-phase system) is directly connected to earth. Any electrical equipment connected to
the system is earthed via the same connection point on the source side. These type of
earthing systems require earth electrodes at regular intervals throughout the installation.
The TN family has three subsets, which vary by method of combination of earth and
neutral conductors.
2.1 TN-S System
Describes an arrangement where separate conductors for Protective Earth (PE) and
Neutral are run to consumer loads from a site’s power supply (i.e. generator or
transformer). The PE and N conductors are separated in nearly all parts of the system and
are only connected together at the supply itself. This type of earthing is typically used for
large consumers who have one or more HV/LV transformers dedicated to their
installation, which are installed adjacent to or within the customer’s premises.
Figure 1 – TN-S System
2.2 TN-C System
Describes an arrangement where a combined Protective Earth-Neutral (PEN) is
connected to the earth at the source. This type of earthing is not commonly used due to
the risks associated with fire in hazardous environments and due to the presence of
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harmonic currents making it unsuitable for electronic equipment.
Figure 2 – TN-C System
2.3 TN-C-S System
Denotes a setup where the supply side of the system uses a combined PEN conductor for
earthing, and the load side of the system uses a separate conductor for PE and N. For a
LV customer, a TN-C system is installed between the site transformer and the premises,
(the neutral is earthed multiple times along this segment), and a TN-S system is used
inside the property itself (from the Main Switchboard downstream). When considering
the system as a whole, it is treated as TN-C-S.
Figure 3 – TN-C -S System
3. TT Earthing System
With a TT configuration, consumers employ their own earth connection within the
premises, which is independent of any earth connection on the source side. This type of
earthing is typically used in situations where a distribution network service provider
(DNSP) cannot guarantee a low-voltage connection back to the power supply.
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Figure 4 – TT System
4. IT Earthing System
In an IT earthing arrangement, there is either no earthing at the supply, or it is done via a
high impedance connection. This type of earthing is not used for distribution networks
but is frequently used in substations and for independent generator-supplied systems.
These systems are able to offer good continuity of supply during operation.
Figure 5 – IT System
5. Reference
GSES. (2018, March 29). Getting down to earth: earthing explained. Retrieved from
https://www.gses.com.au/technical-articles/getting-down-to-earth-earthing-explained/
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