SINGLE POINT BONDING

1 Single-Point Bonding
It is the simplest form of cable bonding but it is an arrangement which provides no path for the flow of
circulating current or fault currents and. The scheme graphically is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Single Point Bonding Scheme

In this scheme,

• The sheath or shielding wires of individual cable spans are solidly grounded at one end.
• At the opposite end of the cable spans, the sheaths are left open ended by grounding through
sheath voltage limiter (SVL).
• Grounding boxes and link boxes with SVLs are normally used at joint and terminations.
• Combination grounding and link boxes with SVLs are used.
• SVLs consisting of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) arresters, Figure 3, must be installed at the sheath open
end to limit the magnitude of transient over‐voltages, otherwise sheath sectionalizing insulators
at joints, and support insulators at terminations and the cable jacket could break down.
• Joints must be provided with sectionalizing insulators to electrically separate sheaths and shields
and stand-off insulators must be provided at terminations to isolate the cable sheaths from
ground.
• Sheaths and shields must be insulated from ground otherwise circulating currents could result
which would cause the cables to overheat and also present a safety hazards.

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• The induced sheath voltage builds linearly and will be highest at ungrounded ends.
• Since the open‐ended sheaths do not provide a path for fault currents (from internal cable faults
or external system faults), a separate ground continuity conductor (ECC) must be used.

2 Single Point Bonding Configuration and Earth (Ground) Continuity

Conductor Configurations
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show configurations of single point bonding schemes with the ground continuity
conductor and SVL link boxes

Figure 4. Single Point Bonding with Grounding at One End

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Figure 5. Single Point Bonding with Grounding at Middle Point

Figure 6. Single Point Bonding with Grounding at Both Ends and with Interruption at of Screens at the
Middle Point

3 Advantages
The advantages of the single point bonding system are simplicity, low cost and the elimination
of sheath losses through the elimination of the circulating current.

4 Disadvantages
The main disadvantage of the single point bonding system is that it requires an ECC along the entire
circuit length which increases cost and equipment to be maintained. Plus, the scheme requires SVLs at
the open end of the cable end and an induced standing voltage appears at the open end.

5 Applicability
This scheme is normally used for short circuit or in conjunction with other schemes such as crossbonding
when the number of minor sections or cable spans in a circuit is not divisible by 3.

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SINGLE POINT BONDING
SECTION 8 -110