This article was posted 11/22/2005 and is most likely outdated.

Earthing System World Wide and it’s Evolution
 

 
Topic - Grounding and Bonding
Subject - Earthing System World Wide and it’s Evolution

November 22, 2005

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Earthing System World Wide and it’s Evolution

In my work I meet consulting engineers who have recently immigrated from Europe or Asia, and who find North American grounding and bonding terminology to be confusing.  So I read up on the attached cahier techniques by Schneider Electric to understand what language they were used to, so that I could better explain the equivalent concepts here. 

Our ungrounded and impedance grounded systems are called “IT” systems in IEC lingo.

  • A solidly grounded system with a separate bonding conductor and neutral conductor is called a “TN-S” system. 
  • Our “bonding conductor” is their “protective conductor”, abbreviated as “PE.”
  • Where the neutral and bonding conductors are in parallel, or often the same conductor from the utility transformer to the customer service equipment, this portion of the circuit would be their “TN-C” system.

I find the subject of grounding and bonding fascinating, as you do, and I learned new perspectives reading about how they do it in IEC countries.  After all, the physics and objectives are the same across the oceans.

Best Regards,
David Murray
I-Gard (formerly IPC Resistors)

Click here for – The IT Earthing System
Click here for – Earthing System in LV
Click here for – Earthing Systems Worldwide and Evolutions

Mike’s Comment: Dave thank you and your organization so much for your technical support at our Grounding versus Bonding seminars across the country. Click here to view a schedule of all my seminars.

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Comments

  • it is my personal feeling that if they don't like our terminology it's disheartening, however if they want to be members of the engineering proffession here in the United States of America they must learn the american ways, you as a person that works with these people should insist that they learn the new ways, as well as the language.it's not up to our electrical industry to change to accomidate the new arrivals, it's up to them to BLEND INTO THE MELTING POT.

    george

    • Reply from: David Murray   
    An enlightened soul.

    The large majority of immigrant engineers absolutely learn and adapt to North American grounding terminology. Why not help them learn faster by relating to terminology they are used to? Those that do not adapt move on to other lines of work, anyway, so don't worry. Nobody's going to make you say "earthing" instead of "grounding".

    However, there is another benefit to learning how the 50 Hz world understands grounding (I mean, earthing). Are not a lot of North American electrical engineers working overseas, or on overseas projects? Would it not help for them to be "bilingual" with international grounding and earthing terminology?

    Besides, it's not that difficult. Get over it.
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