Print this page Ground-fault Protection
Course Outline
This 3-hour course covers the recommended practice for proper ground-fault protection in electric distribution circuits.
The course materials are based entirely on Chapter 8 Ground-fault Protection of IEEE 242-2001 IEEE Recommended Practice for Protection and Coordination of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems. It will be necessary for the student to obtain a copy of IEEE 242-2001 IEEE Recommended Practice for Protection and Coordination of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems. This is a very useful resource and is recommended that all practicing electrical or project engineers involved in ground-fault protection in electric distribution circuits obtain a copy or have access to this important recommended practice.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be familiar with:
- Definitions of the terms that are used in this recommended practice;
- Types of systems relative to ground-fault protection;
- Classifications of system grounding;
- Nature, magnitudes, and damage of ground-faults;
- Selection of low-voltage protective device settings;
- Frequently used ground-fault protective schemes;
- Typical applications;
- Ground-fault coordination;
- Special applications; and
- Ground-fault identification and location on ungrounded systems.
Intended Audience
The intended audience is professional electrical engineers, project managers, and project engineers, involved in ground-fault protection in electric distribution circuits.
Benefit to Attendees
This course is primarily directed toward ground-fault protection of major portions of circuits and equipment. The discussions relate to various forms of ground-fault protection to prevent excessive damage to electrical equipment with current sensitivity in the order of amperes to hundreds of amperes.
Course Introduction
This 3-hour course covers the recommended practice for proper ground-fault protection in electric distribution circuits.
In recent years, interest has been increasing in the use of ground-fault protection in electric distribution circuits. This interest in ground-fault protection is a reaction to a disturbing number of electric failures. One editor reports the cost of arcing faults as follows: “One five year estimate places the figure between $1 billion and $3 billion annually for equipment loss, production downtime, and personal liability”. This course will explore the need for better ground-fault protection, pinpoints the areas where that need exists, and discusses the solutions that are being applied today. This course is primarily directed toward ground-fault protection of major portions of circuits and equipment. The discussions relate to various forms of ground-fault protection to prevent excessive damage to electrical equipment with current sensitivity in the order of amperes to hundreds of amperes. Although its purpose is to disconnect faulty parts of an electric system, to preserve service continuity in other parts, and to limit ejection of gases and molten metal or to localize faults, ground-fault protection does not satisfy rigid requirements regarding employee flash hazard protection, shock hazards, or touch potentials that are designed for protection of people and necessitate milliampere sensitivity and may only be feasible for small loads.
Course Content
The course materials are based entirely on Chapter 8 Ground-fault Protection of IEEE 242-2001 IEEE Recommended Practice for Protection and Coordination of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems. It will be necessary for the student to obtain a copy of IEEE 242-2001 IEEE Recommended Practice for Protection and Coordination of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems. This is a very useful resource and is recommended that all practicing electrical or project engineers involved in ground-fault protection in electric distribution circuits obtain a copy or have access to this important recommended practice.
IEEE 242-2001 IEEE Recommended Practice for Protection and Coordination of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems can be purchased from the following websites:
http://www.api.com/
http://www.global.ihs.com/
IEEE 242-2001 IEEE Recommended Practice for Protection and Coordination of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems
Chapter 8 Ground-fault Protection
Table of Contents
8.1 General discussion
8.2 Types of systems relative to ground-fault protection
8.3 Nature, magnitudes, and damage of ground-faults
8.4 Frequently used ground-fault protective schemes
8.5 Typical applications
8.6 Special applications
8.7 References
8.8 Bibliography
You need to obtain a copy of IEEE 242-2001 IEEE Recommended Practice for Protection and Coordination of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems to successfully take this course.
Course Summary
This course is primarily directed toward ground-fault protection of major portions of circuits and equipment. The discussions relate to various forms of ground-fault protection to prevent excessive damage to electrical equipment with current sensitivity in the order of amperes to hundreds of amperes. This course explores the need for better ground-fault protection, pinpoints the areas where that need exists, and discusses the solutions that are being applied today.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:
http://www.ansi.com/
http://www.ieee.com/
http://www.api.com
http://www.nema.com
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
