(Seminar, on “Earthing Systems” - 21-22 May, 2008 pp. 88-97)
Present Scenario: SEBs unaware of 42 year old IE Rule-33, mandating Discoms to provide / maintain a suitable, efficient, extremely low earth resistance oriented Earthed Terminal at consumer premises fot consumer use. Extremely high earth resistance based crudely executed ‘TT’/‘TN’ Earthing systems, not conforming to IS-3043, followed by State Discoms do not provide any primary protection, nor contain Neutral Shift / Neutral Potential/power loss. Pvt Discoms like Tatas, Reliance, Torrent implement the Rule-33.
Remedy: Adopt cost effective ‘TN’ system and its sub systems.
Correction Process: Simple, fast and cost effective.
Emerging Scenario: Consumer activists efforts bear fruit. Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission directs Discoms to provide Earthed Terminal conforming to Rule-33. Discoms still unresponsive. Steps underway to get Discoms to comply.
Rule-33 Analysed: At the crux is extremely low earth res. orientation / how to calculate and achieve it. Logical approach to arrive at Max permissible earth res. value.
Various Earthing Systems: ‘TT’/‘TN’ and their sub-systems explained. Discoms apprehensions / submissions answered.
