16th Edition (reference only) – NOW superseded by the 17th Edition IEE Regulations.

chapter 5
Earthing

chapter 6
Circuits

Earthing
  5.1 - The earthing principle 5.6 - Protective multiple earthing (PME)
  5.2 - Earthing Systems 5.7 - Earthed concentric wiring
  5.3 - Earth fault loop impedance 5.8 - Other protection methods
5.4 - Protective conductors 5.9 - Residual current devices (RCDs)
5.5 - Earth electrodes

5.10 - Combined functional and protective
---------earthing


5.8.4 - Electrical separation

Safety from shock can sometimes be ensured by separating a system completely from others so that there is no complete circuit through which shock current could flow. It follows that the circuit must be small to ensure that earth impedance's are very high and do not offer a path for shock current (see {Fig 5.3(b)}). The source of supply for such a circuit could be a battery or a generating set, but is far more likely to be an isolating transformer with a secondary winding providing no more than 500 V. Such a transformer must comply with BS EN 60742, having a screen between its windings and a secondary winding which has no connection to earth.

There must be no connection to earth and precautions must he taken to ensure, as far as possible, that earth faults will not occur. Such precautions would include the use of flexible cords without metallic sheaths, using double insulation, making sure that flexible cords are visible throughout their length of run, and so on. Perhaps the most common example of a separated circuit is the bathroom transformer unit feeding an electric shaver. By breaking the link to the earthed supply system using the double wound transformer, there is no path to earth for shock current (see {Fig 5.21}).

Fig 5.21 Bathroom shaver socket to BS EN 60742

 

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Extracted from The Electricians Guide Fifth Edition
by John Whitfield

Published by EPA Press Click Here to order your Copy.

Click here for list of abbreviations